No matter how many Biographical or Autobiographical novels about the famous personalities you read, the magic of a biopic is always different. Though biographical novels give you an elaborate version of the complete life, a biopic can help visualize and experience the lives of these famous personas.
Hollywood has been producing biopic films for more than a century. Most of these biographical movies are based on sports stars, musicians, scientists, iconic entrepreneurs, world leaders, and even criminals.
Today, we have accumulated a list of the best biographical films ever made in Hollywood history. Make sure to watch them once in your life.
Top 25 Hollywood Biopics Films
Gandhi (1982)
Gandhi is a 1982 Biopic film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who was a pioneer in the non-cooperative independence movement against the British rule over India during the 20th century. Under the direction of Richard Attenborough, Ben Kingsley portrays the role of Gandhi to perfection in spite of being from a foreign origin. The movie dramatizes the transformation of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as Mahatma.
Chaplin (1992)
A 1992 biographical film based on the iconic British comedian Charlie Chaplin, Chaplin is produced and directed by Richard Attenborough. The story of the biopic is derived from Chaplin’s autobiography, titled My Autobiography as well as Chaplin: His Life and Art written by critic David Robinson. Robert Downey Jr., the Ironman fame, stars in the lead role portraying the titular role of Charlie Chaplin.
Malcolm X (1992)
Malcolm X is a 1992 Hollywood biographical drama film based on the life of an Afro-American activist Malcolm X. Written and directed by Spike Lee, the film stars one of the best actors of Hollywood, Denzel Washington in the titular role of Malcolm X. Being a biopic, the film revolves around the life of Malcolm X and his religious conversion to Islam.
Schindler’s List (1993)
Based on the novel Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally, Schindler’s List is a 1993 biographical film based on the life of Oskar Schindler. This biopic is directed as well as co-produced by none other than Steven Spielberg whereas Liam Neeson plays the lead role as Schindler. The film displays the gratitude offered by Oskar Schindler during the Holocaust by saving the lives of more than a thousand Polish-Jewish refugees by providing them employment at his factories.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Erin Brokovich stars Julia Robers in the titular role as a single mother of three children, who came into limelight when she fought against the energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and won. This biopic that dramatizes the life of Erin Brokovich during the case was directed by Steven Soderbergh. Other than being a commercial success, the film also won Roberts her first Academy Award that year.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
A Beautiful Mind is a cinematic adaptation of the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. Directed by Ron Howard, this biographical film about John Nash is inspired by Pulitzer Prize-nominated book of the same title penned by Sylvia Nasar. Playing the character of a mathematical genius, Russell Crowe grabbed his first Oscar for the portrayal of John Nash.
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Ali (2001)
There would be hardly anyone who is not aware of the great boxer by the name of Muhammad Ali. However, if you don’t or you want to know more about this great boxing legend, then I recommend you to watch the 2001 Hollywood film Ali, which is a biopic based on the life of Muhammad Ali. Will Smith justifies the character portrayal of the legend and displays one of the best performances of his career. The film talks about his stardom after becoming the 2nd youngest heavyweight champion and his conversion to Islam. The film is one of the Best Hollywood Films on Sports.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 crime drama biographical film based on the life of Frank Abagnale. The film stars Leonardo Di Caprio as Frank, who is a successful con artist and responsible for cons worth millions of dollars while posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Louisiana parish prosecutor, and a Georgia doctor. His cons were primarily based on check fraud which eventually became an asset for FBI in identifying check forgers.
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The Aviator (2004)
A German-American collaboration, The Aviator is a 2004 biographical Hollywood film based on the life of the famous Howard Hughes, who was an American business magnate, investor, entrepreneur, aerospace engineer, aviator, philanthropist and a filmmaker. The Aviator is directed by Martin Scorosese and written by John Logan. Leonardo Di Caprio also won his first nomination at the Academy Awards for the Best Actor in a Leading Role for his brilliant portrayal of Hughes.
Ray (2004)
Written, directed and produced by Taylor Hackford, Ray is a 2004 musical biographical film about famous rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles. Jamie Fox was roped in to play the titular role of Ray which also grabbed him the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role that year.
The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)
Starring Anthony Hopkins as the speed bike racer Burt Munro, The World’s Fastest Indian is a 2005 sport biographical movie about Munro’s racing career and his highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle. Directed by Roger Donaldson, this Hollywood biopic quickly became one of the highest grossing films at the New Zealand box-office.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Featuring Will Smith and Jaden Smith as father and son, The Pursuit of Happyness is a Hollywood biopic is the real life struggle of Chris Gardener’s nearly one-year homeless salesman. Directed by Gabriele Muccino, The Pursuit of Happyness is an inspirational movie featuring a father and son relationship in the most beautiful way.
American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster is a 2007 crime drama that is based on the criminal career of an American gangster named Frank Lucas, who smuggled heroin into the United States on American service planes returning from the Vietnam War and later detained by Richie Roberts. Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe were roped in to play the lead roles as Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts respectively in this biopic directed by Ridley Scott.
Milk (2008)
Based on the life of gay rights activist Harvey Milk, Milk is a 2008 American biographical movie directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Dustin Lance Black. The character of Harvey Milk, who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, is portrayed by versatile actor Sean Penn in the movie. The film won accolades all around the world and also won 2 Academy Awards that year, including Sean Penn’s Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side is a 2009 sports drama film based on the life of Michael Oher, an American Football offensive tackle, who played previously for the Baltimore Ravens as well as the Tennessee Titans and currently plays for the Carolina Panthers. Directed by John Lee Hancock, this semi-biographical sports film is adapted from the 2006 book of the same title written by Michael Lewis. For her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy, Sandra Bullock also grabbed an Academy Award for the Best Actress in a Leading Role that year.
The King’s Speech (2010)
The King’s Speech is a British biographical drama film based on the friendship between King George VI and his Australian speech and language therapist, Lionel Logue. Directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler, the film stars Colin Firth as King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as his friend and language therapist Lionel Logue. In addition to so many accolades from around the world, the film also won 4 Academy Awards that year for Best Picture, Best Director for Hooper, Best Actor for Firth and Best Original Screenplay for Seidler.
The Social Network (2010)
Showcasing the life of the Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, The Social Network follows the story of the birth of Facebook, the No.1 social networking portal on the web today. Directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, the film is adapted from Ben Mezrich’s 2009 novel, The Accidental Billionaires. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg while Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake play Eduardo Saverin and Sean Parker respectively.
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The Fighter (2010)
Based on boxing, The Fighter is a 2010 sports drama starring Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Directed by David O. Russel, this biopic is focused on the life of professional boxer Micky Ward played by Mark Wahlberg and his older half-brother Dicky Eklund portrayed by Christian Bale. For his best performance, Bale also grabbed his first and only Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
The Iron Lady (2011)
Based on the life of long-serving British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, The Iron Lady is directed by Phyllida Lloyd, starring Meryl Streep in the lead role of The Iron Lady herself. Owing to her iconic performance as Thatcher, Meryl Streep also received an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role that year.
Jobs (2013)
Jobs is a 2013 biographical film based on the life of visionary business magnate of the digital era, Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Directed by Joshua Michael Stern and written by Matt Whitney, the film stars Ashton Kutcher as Jobs. The film dramatizes the life of Steve Jobs from 1974 while he was a student at Reed College to the introduction of iPod in 2001. Although, it is not as qualified to be listed among the great biographical movies in the list, Jobs is mentioned here because it is only the 2nd biopic based on a Tech entrepreneur from the digital era.
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Marked as one of the best performances by Leonardo Di Caprio, The Wolf of Wall Street is a biographical black comedy based on the career of Jordan Belfort as a stock broker in New York City. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the screenplay for this biopic by Terence Winter is adapted from the memoir of the same name by the real Belfort himself.
Rush (2013)
Written by Peter Morgan and directed by Ron Howard, Rush is a 2013 sports biographical drama film based on the rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 F1 motor-racing season. The film stars Chris Hemsworth as Hunt while Daniel Bruhl plays Lauda.
American Sniper (2014)
Starring Bradley Cooper in the lead role, American Sniper is a 2014 Hollywood biographical film based on the life of Chris Kyle, a United States Navy SEAL and the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. Under the direction of Clint Eastwood, the screenplay for this biopic is adapted from the autobiography of Chris Kyle titled American Sniper: The Autobiography of The Most Lethal Sniper In U.S. Military History.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
The Theory of Everything is a 2014 romantic biographical film based on the life of the great theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking that deals with his relationship with his wife Jane Wilde Hawking, his diagnosis of motor neurone disease and his huge success in Physics. Directed by James Marsh, the screenplay of the movie by Anthony McCarten is adapted from Jane Wilde Hawking’s memoir, Travelling to Infinity: My Life With Stephen.
The Imitation Game (2014)
The Imitation Game dramatizes the life of Alan Turing, a real-life British crypt-analyst who decrypted German intelligence codes for the British government during World War II. This historical drama thriller is directed by Morten Tyldum and is based on the biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma written by Andrew Hodges. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing.
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