Do you sometimes worry that you’re not a very interesting person? That when it comes down to it, your life really isn’t that special at all? If that sounds like you, then I’m here to tell you that you’re probably right – and these biopic films prove it. Influential politicians. Daring adventurers. Regal royals. Brilliant painters. This list is full of them, and something tells me that you don’t belong to any of those categories. That’s okay though! Because you know what? If there’s anything these 10 best biopics of all time will teach you, it’s that an extraordinary life and a good life are not one and the same. After seeing what some of these people had to go through to get where they got, you might not feel so bad about your ordinariness after all!
Malcolm X
Adapted largely from Alex Haley’s The Autobiography of Malcom X, Spike Lee’s Malcom X is the story of one of the most significant civil rights leaders in American history. The film explores lesser known aspects of Malcom X’s life – the Klan attacks his family suffered in his youth, his young adult years spent as a career criminal in Boston and Harlem, and the faith that he found in prison which led him to change his name and his life. Brought to life with a career best performance by Denzel Washington, Malcom X’s brief but extraordinary life is shown in its full and fiery splendor. History teaches us about his legendary social impact, but this film explores the man behind the myth.
Milk
Directed by Gus Van Sant, Milk is a picture of the life of Harvey Milk – the first ever openly gay man be elected to California public office. After beginning with an announcement of Milk’s tragic end – his assassination at the hands of his former supervisor Dan White – the film flashes back in time to show Milk and his lover Scott Smith moving to San Francisco in the hopes of finding acceptance. After experiencing the same oppression on the west coast as he did on the east, Milk decides to become an activist for gay rights – and unknowingly make history in the process. One of the most important LGBTQ+ figures in American history, Harvey Milk’s life and legacy are celebrated with a full cinematic flourish.
Into The Wild
Directed by Sean Penn, Into The Wild is the story of a modern American legend: adventurer Chris McCandless. The child of privileged parents, McCandless became dissatisfied with his life soon after graduating college – leading him to donate his trust fund to savings and depart across the country in his Datsun. Leaving friends and family behind, McCandless criss-crossed the country before finally meeting his tragic end in the Alaskan wilderness. The film follows McCandless on his two year journey across the North American wild, providing an intimate portrait of a controversial figure. Was he a naive fool? A selfish loner? Or maybe just another twenty-something looking for his place in the world the only way he knew how? According to Into The Wild, he may have been a bit of all of these things – and so much more.
I, Tonya
Directed by Craig Gillespie, I, Tonya is the story of figure skater Tonya Harding, a young woman whose pursuit of greatness proved to be the source of her personal destruction. The film details the abuse that Tonya was forced to endure as a young girl – pressured into figure skating by her domineering mother. After overcoming classism and prejudice due to her impoverished background, Tonya’s pursuit of the sport ultimately led her to the bright lights of an Olympic rink – though darkness followed all along the way. She rose to infamy after she tried to sabotage her rival Nancy Kerrigan by hiring an attacker to strike her in the knee, and was banned from competing as punishment. Veering between dark comedy and total absurdity, the film is ultimately a tragic exploration of the psyche of a woman pressured into believing that her best was never good enough – and her fervent efforts to prove that she is worthy of the spotlight.
Frida
A portrait of one of the most celebrated artists in history, Julie Taymor’s Frida is the story of Mexican surrealist painter Frida Kahlo. After suffering a gruesome accident in her youth, Frida found solace in painting while recovering from her injuries. Catapulted into the spotlight by her budding talent, Kahlo’s life became a whirlwind of art and passion – triumphant works, tumultuous relationships, and a fraught relationship with her own body and its illnesses. Salma Hayek is stunning in the lead role, and was nominated for a slew of Best Actress awards at the Oscars and The Golden Globes. An international icon, Kahlo was a titanic figure in art, political, and queer history – Frida shows why.
Ray
Directed by Taylor Hackford, Ray is the story of one of the 20th century’s most significant figures in music – soul singer Ray Charles. While everyone knows Charles’ hits like “Gold Digger,” “Hit The Road, Jack” and “Georgia on My Mind,” far fewer people are familiar with the man behind the music. Chronicling 30 years of the singer’s life, the film begins with young Ray Charles Robinson living in poverty with his mother and brother in Florida. After witnessing the drowning death of his little sibling, Charles fully lost his vision by age seven. He learned to play piano as an adolescent, jumped around between bands in his youth, had his first hit in 1953 with “Mess Around” – and the rest is history. While Charles’ life was full of glitz and glamour, it had its bleak moments – brought on by heroin addiction and exploitation from the music industry. Jamie Foxx’s musical talent is put on full display in his performance as Ray Charles – rivaled only by his acting chops.
Amadeus
Adapted from a landmark play by Peter Shaffer, Miloš Forman’s Amadeus explores the life of one of the most important figures in the history of music – and the forgotten legacy of his greatest rival. Unfolding with the tortured drama of period pieces like Interview With A Vampire, the film follows composer Antonio Salieri and his envious relationship with the musical genius Mozart. Jealous of Mozart’s success, Salieri hatches an Iago-esque plot to destroy his rival. He’s also trying to get revenge on God in the process? I didn’t even know that was possible. Maybe if he stopped focusing on revenge he’d make better art? Just a thought. Despite Salieri’s mismatched priorities, Amadeus is a sumptuous historical drama about the glorious light of genius, and the dark shadows cast in its wake.
The Last Emperor
A biopic epic directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, The Last Emperor offers glimpse into the life of Puyi – who was (spoiler alert) China’s last emperor. Coronated while still a toddler, the film follows Puyi throughout his royal life – though his imperial days were soon cut short by communist revolution. The film explores the end of an era in world history – when empires were brought low by political upheaval across the world. The Tsars of Russia, the Emperors of China, the royal families of Eastern Europe – all ended by the rise of communist thought. Despite its epic scope, The Last Emperor provides an equally intimate portrait of a man unlucky enough to be born as a symbol of the old, dying ways – a man forced to pay the price for a life he never chose.
Shirley
One of the most underrated biopics around, Josephine Decker’s Shirley is an adaption of Susan Scarf Merrell’s novel of the sane name. The plot centers around seminal American horror writer Shirley Jackson, responsible for “The Lottery” – a famous short story about a sweepstakes where death is awarded to the winner. The mostly fictional film takes place during the period Jackson was writing her novel Hangsaman, and follows newlywed couple Fred and Rose who recently relocated to Bennington College – where Jackson taught. A huge fan of Jackson, Rose is thrilled when she’s asked by Shirley’s husband to help the agoraphobic author around the house. The film quickly devolves into a cerebral love affair between Shirley and Rose, while Stanley and Fred soon find each other increasingly at odds. As emotions spiral, the film becomes as messy and macabre as the novel Jackson is writing.
Selma
Directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma chronicles multiple figures during one of the most important civil rights events in American history: the Selma to Montgomery marches. In order to demonstrate their desire to vote, thousands of Black Americans and allies marched along a 54 mile highway in Alabama – and were met with political violence all along the way. The film provides a glimpse into the lives of numerous civil rights leaders involved with the march, including Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, Andrew Young, John Lewis and many more. A triumphant film about the perseverance in the face of oppression, Selma is a stirring story of courage.
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