There's something soul-baring about a biopic. It's the kind of film genre that seems to draw us in like no other – feeding our fascination for the intimate lives of other people. In particular: the lives of people we've long admired. Whether they be geniuses, creators, musicians or architects – the mercurial lives of the extraordinary are endlessly fascination on the silver screen.
While you might have seen some of the heavy-hitters – the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody or Oppenheimer (2023) – we thought we'd appease the biopic lovers amongst us with a list of the best biopics we've ever watched, for your viewing pleasure.
1. Capote (2005)
Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-winning performance is really what anchors this study of writer Truman Capote as he researches In Cold Blood (where he develops a complex relationship with convicted murderer Perry Smith). The film examines the sort of ethical tensions that exist between journalism and empathy.
2. Frida (2002)
Set against the vivid cultural landscape of Mexico, this biopic follows artist Frida Kahlo through her creative breakthroughs, political life and turbulent marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera. Salma Hayek delivers a career-defining performance, and with a serialised Netflix biopic about Kahlo en-route, perhaps it's the perfect time for a re-watch of this classic.
3. Hidden Figures (2016)
Focusing on mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson (played by the inimitable trio of Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe), this biopic highlights the overlooked contributions of Black women at NASA during the 1960s Space Race.
4. Malcolm X (1994)
Denzel Washington gives one of the defining performances of his career in Spike Lee’s sweeping portrait of civil rights leader Malcolm X. The film spans decades of political and personal transformation, and honestly remains one of the most ambitious American biopics ever made.
5. I, Tonya (2017)
Presented with a sort of darkly comic edge, the film revisits the rise and very public downfall of Olympic American skater Tonya Harding and the scandal that dominated 1990s headlines. Margot Robbie and Oscar-winner Allison Janney bring complexity to a story that was often reduced to tabloid gossip.
6. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
A personal favourite that is part crime caper, part coming-of-age story. This biopic follows real-life conman Frank Abagnale Jr. as he impersonates pilots, lawyers and doctors while evading authorities. The pairing of Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks gives the film much of its charm.
7. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
Based on the life of country music icon Loretta Lynn, the film charts her journey from rural poverty to stardom. Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for Best Actress in this one too.
8. The Social Network (2010)
A biopic we'll watch over and over again. There's something deliciously moreish about The Social Network. More interested in power and ambition than technology itself, the film dramatises the founding of Facebook and the disputes surrounding its creation. The trio of Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake is also golden.
9. Erin Brockovich (2000)
A legal drama grounded in a true environmental case, the film follows a single mother who uncovers corporate misconduct affecting a small community. Julia Roberts won an Oscar for portraying the real-life activist with intelligence, determination and humour.
10. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Jordan Belfort’s excess-filled rise and fall provides the basis for this kinetic collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. Equal parts satire and cautionary tale, it became one of Scorsese’s biggest box-office successes and a biopic heralded by party boys in suits everywhere.
11. Walk the Line (2005)
The life of Johnny Cash is explored through his music, personal struggles and enduring relationship with June Carter Cash. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon performed their own vocals here too, adding unusual credibility to the film.
12. The Iron Lady (2011)
Rather than a conventional political chronicle, this film examines the later years of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher through memory and reflection. Meryl Streep earned *yet another* Academy Award for her nuanced central performance too.
13. The Big Short (2015)
Using humour, fourth-wall breaks and an ensemble cast, the film unpacks the causes of the 2008 financial crisis through the eyes of real-life investors who saw it coming. Don't be fooled – it's not a dense economic drama. It's instead became an unexpectedly entertaining commercial and critical hit.
14. Into the Wild (2007)
Adapted from the true story of Christopher McCandless, the film follows a young man who abandons conventional life to travel across North America. The biopic itself is shot in some pretty striking natural locations, capturing both the idealism and isolation at the heart of his journey.
15. The Pianist (2002)
Adrien Brody won Best Actor for his portrayal of Polish pianist Władysław Szpilman, who survived the Nazi occupation of Warsaw. Directed by Roman Polanski, it is widely regarded as one of the most affecting Holocaust films ever made.
16. Rocket Man (2019)
Unlike many music biopics of the 20-teens, this portrait of Elton John embraces fantasy and musical spectacle rather than strict realism. Taron Egerton’s energetic performance is magic. And we're still waiting for this one to be adapted for the stage.
17. A Complete Unknown (2024)
Set during the early years of Bob Dylan’s career, the film explores his emergence from the folk scene and his transformation into a defining cultural figure. Timothée Chalamet takes on one of music history’s most elusive personalities in a performance that got him an Oscar nomination.
