10 Best Music Biopics of the Last 5 Years, Ranked
As a rule, biopics, particularly those about musicians, can be hit or miss. It can be difficult to capture the nuances of an artist’s life, particularly if they’ve faced especially challenging circumstances. However, over the past five years, the music biopic genre has seen a remarkable renaissance, offering audiences a blend of electrifying performances, intimate storytelling, and nuanced explorations of iconic artists’ lives.
In recent years, music biopics have moved beyond simple “rise and fall” narratives, and instead dive deeper into the personal struggles, creative processes, and the social or political contexts that shaped these musicians. The result is a new wave of biopics that do more than celebrate fame. Instead, the best music biopics of the last five years humanize legends, revealing the vulnerabilities, conflicts, and triumphs that made their art resonate so powerfully.
10
‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ (2022)
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody follows the life and career of iconic singer Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie). The movie follows her journey from a church choir girl in Newark, New Jersey, to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists in history. It explores her discovery by Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci), her struggles with fame, addiction, and her complex personal relationships with her family, Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams), and husband Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders).
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is one of the best music biopics of the last five years because it balances emotional depth with an authentic celebration of Whitney Houston’s musical legacy. Ackie delivers a deeply human portrayal of Houston, capturing both her dazzling stage presence and her private vulnerabilities. Rather than sensationalizing her struggles, the movie treats her life with empathy and reverence, emphasizing her artistry and cultural impact.
9
‘Respect’ (2021)
Respect stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, and charts the singer’s journey from being a gifted church choir prodigy in Detroit to the globally acclaimed “Queen of Soul.” The movie explores Franklin’s struggles with personal trauma, family pressures, and an oppressive music industry as she fights to find her voice and artistic freedom. Respect highlights how Franklin’s faith, resilience, and unmatched talent helped her transform pain into timeless music and become a symbol of empowerment and self-determination.
Respect stands out as one of the best music biopics of the last five years because it delivers both an emotionally powerful character study and a fitting celebration of Aretha Franklin’s musical genius. Hudson embodies Franklin’s spirit and vocal power, delivering a performance that is both reverent and electrifying. Respect is not just a biopic, but a moving tribute to one of music’s most influential voices.
8
‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ (2022)
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is a satirical comedy that playfully reimagines the life of parody musician “Weird Al” Yankovic (Daniel Radcliffe). Featuring over-the-top performances, the film exaggerates Yankovic’s rise to fame with absurd humor. It turns his real-life story into a wild, fictionalized tale filled with rock-star excess, romance, and action-movie absurdities. Weird: The Al Yankovic celebrates Yankovic’s legacy as the king of musical satire while hilariously mocking the genre it belongs to.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story is considered one of the best music biopics of the last five years because it brilliantly subverts the genre while still honoring Yankovic’s unique career. The movie turns the idea of a music biopic on its head, blending fact and outrageous fiction in a way that mirrors Yankovic’s comedic style. It skewers Hollywood clichés, fame culture, and the self-seriousness tone that characterizes many traditional biopics while still celebrating creativity and individuality.
7
‘Bob Marley: One Love’ (2024)
Bob Marley: One Love chronicles the life of legendary reggae musician Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir), focusing on the years leading up to his rise to global fame and his message of peace and unity. The movie explores Marley’s journey from political turmoil and an assassination attempt in Jamaica to creating the groundbreaking Exodus album and his efforts to heal a divided nation through music. One Love celebrates his enduring legacy as a cultural icon.
Bob Marley: One Love stands out as one of the best music biopics of the last five years because it combines emotional storytelling, cultural authenticity, and the unifying power of Marley’s music to create something special. Ben-Adir delivers a heartfelt and immersive portrayal of Marley, capturing both his quiet spirituality and his passionate charisma on stage. Instead of attempting to cover his entire life, the movie centers on a pivotal period in his life and career, making the story more personal and profound.
6
‘Back to Black’ (2024)
Back to Black tells the story of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse (Marisa Abela), tracing her journey from a talented North London teen with a passion for jazz to an international star whose raw honesty and soulful voice defined a generation. The movie delves into Winehouse’s creative process, her deep love for music, and her tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O’Connell), which inspired her Grammy-winning album Back to Black.
Back to Black stands out immediately as a music biopic because it’s so devastating. Abela delivers a raw, heartfelt performance that captures Amy’s spirit, vulnerability, and creative brilliance without resorting to caricature. The movie shifts the narrative away from tabloid sensationalism, and instead celebrates Winehouse’s songwriting talent and her connection to her roots and community. It handles Amy’s struggles with addiction and fame with empathy, showing the pressures she faced without exploiting her pain.
5
‘Elvis’ (2022)
Elvis chronicles the life and career of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler), told from the perspective of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). The movie highlights the impact fame had on Elvis from an early age, and how “The Colonel” was able to take advantage of his talent. It also highlights the fact that Elvis struggled with personal demons, and the pressures of the music industry throughout his life, and eventually lost himself.
Elvis stands out as one of the best music biopics of the last five years because it provides a nuanced look at the complexities behind one of music’s most iconic figures. Butler embodies Elvis’ charisma, vulnerability, and stage presence, delivering a portrayal that feels both electrifying and deeply human. The movie puts Elvis within the broader social and musical revolutions of his time, showing his influence on American culture and the music industry.
4
‘Better Man’ (2024)
Better Man follows the life of Robbie Williams, from his childhood in Stoke-on-Trent, England, to his rise as a global pop star. The movie shows young Robert discovering a love for performing through school plays, which foreshadows his future career. Better Man delves into the highs and lows of his career, including the pressures of fame, indulgence in partying and substances, and the challenges in his romantic life, notably his relationship with Nicole Appleton.
Unlike many typical biopics that rely purely on conventional drama, Better Man uses bold and surreal visual metaphors, most notably portraying Robbie Williams as a CGI chimpanzee. This choice is a critical one, since it conveys the alienation and pressure of fame, giving the audience a fresh lens through which to experience the emotional core of the story. Better Man is more than a career retrospective. Instead, it’s a unique venue for Williams to reflect on his life using his own words.
3
‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ (2021)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday chronicles the life of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday (Andra Day), focusing on her struggles against systemic racism and government persecution. Set in the 1940s and 1950s, the movie follows Holiday as she becomes a cultural icon with her haunting voice and powerful performances, particularly her signature song, which condemns racial injustice. At the same time, she faces harassment from the federal government, in part to silence her politically charged music.
While other music biopics focus on artists’ rise and fall, The United States vs. Billie Holiday stands out because it addresses the systemic racism and government persecution Holiday faced. It showcases her artistry and activism, and highlights how her music, particularly her politically pointed songs, challenged societal injustices. Ultimately, the movie succeeds in providing a balanced look at Holiday’s vulnerabilities with her resilience, making her story both moving and inspiring.
2
‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ (2025)
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is a moody, introspective biopic of Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) that focuses specifically on the creation of his 1982 album Nebraska. Rather than charting the full sweep of Springsteen’s career, the movie focuses on how Springsteen stepped away from stadium success, retreated to a quiet New Jersey house, and confronted his childhood traumas all while questioning his artistic abilities and vision.
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere stands out as one of the best music biopics of recent years because its narrow focus allows for a deep exploration of Springsteen’s creative process, personal struggles, and artistic philosophy. This adds a layer of intimacy to the story. Additionally, the movie is memorable because Jeremy Allen White delivers a performance that captures both Springsteen’s quiet intensity and vulnerability.
1
‘A Complete Unknown’ (2024)
A Complete Unknown tells the story of Bob Dylan‘s (Timothée Chalamet) meteoric rise from a little‑known 19‑year‑old folk singer arriving in New York City in 1961 to his electrifying transformation into a rock‑fueled musical icon. The movie shows him navigating the Greenwich Village folk scene, building relationships with mentors and peers like Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), and pushing against the expectations of the folk establishment.
A Complete Unknown is the best music biopic of the last five years because it highlights Dylan’s challenge in navigating the tension between public expectation and his personal vision. It explores the courage and controversy behind the Newport Folk Festival performance, illustrating how he challenged norms to redefine himself, a theme that resonates universally with audiences. Ultimately, viewers are invited to consider the weight of Dylan’s choices as he comes into his own.
