Let’s face it—biopics are the big stars of movies. Whether you like politics, music, art, or history, it’s thrilling to watch real lives play out on the screen. They show us a peek behind the scenes—into the wild, mixed-up, and often cool stories of folks who have changed the world. Not every biopic is the same. Some shine with great acts, others in the tales they share—or miss. But the ones that stick with us? They change how we view history—and, at times, even ourselves. Here’s a top eight list of biopics that made a mark on today’s films and TV.
8. Blonde (2022)
This one certainly caused a stir. Blonde explores the life of Marilyn Monroe, but does not necessarily play it by the book. Ana de Armas delivers a haunting, emotional performance that earned her an Oscar nomination, but the movie itself was causing a lot of controversy. Some felt it ventured too far into fiction and profited off Monroe’s suffering instead of respecting her legacy. Nevertheless, love it or loathe it, it rekindled discussions of how Hollywood treats its legends—and that in itself makes it difficult to ignore.
7. Jackie (2016)
Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy? Captivating. Jackie is not a broad biopic—it’s a lean, inwardly focused film set immediately after JFK’s assassination. What makes it so effective is how deeply it gets into the grief, the resilience, and how she kept it all together while the entire world was watching. Portman’s quiet intensity in the role is overwhelming, so you can feel every beat of loss and poise. It’s strong in its silence.
6. Hidden Figures (2016)
This one was a revelation. Hidden Figures shares the long-forgotten story of three stellar Black women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who assisted NASA in winning the Space Race. It’s the type of film that leaves you frustrated that this story wasn’t well-known sooner. Intelligent, sincere, and long overdue, it provided these actual heroes with the accolades they had always merited—and ignited a new generation along the way.
5. Bohemian Rhapsody (2019)
Rami Malek did not just act Freddie Mercury—he inhabited him. Bohemian Rhapsody was a huge success, and although it took a few artistic liberties with Queen’s history, it got the energy and vibe of the band right in a way that delighted Queen fans everywhere. That Live Aid performance recreation? Chills. It’s not necessarily a great biopic, but it got people loving Queen all over again—and exposing their music to a whole new generation.
4. Frida (2002)
Frida is that exceptional biopic that somehow captures the essence of the person it’s portraying. Salma Hayek gives it her all playing Frida Kahlo, and the movie itself is as fearless and unapologetic as Kahlo’s paintings. It doesn’t shy away from her agony or her nuance—it owns it. The visual aesthetic, the feeling, the unvarnished truth—it all comes together as something that is less film and more walking into somebody’s soul. This one lingers.
3. Selma (2014)
There have been numerous depictions of Martin Luther King Jr., but Selma is remarkable for how earthy and relatable it feels. David Oyelowo infuses the role of King with fire and restraint, and the film only takes on one single moment—the Selma to Montgomery marches. By condensing its scope, it makes the effect even more powerful. It’s emotional, urgent, and tragically, still extremely relevant. A reminder of how far we’ve come—and how far we have yet to go.
2. Elvis (2022)
If you thought you knew Elvis, this film may surprise you. Baz Luhrmann’s version is flashy, boisterous, and emotional, just like the King himself. But what truly makes it succeed is Austin Butler’s performance. He doesn’t merely impersonate Elvis—he gets at something deeper, something tender. The movie explores his ascension, his demons, and the forces that drove him, creating a richer picture than the jumpsuits and singles. It reminded Elvis in a big way—and us why he was important.
1. Oppenheimer (2023)
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer isn’t a normal biopic—is a character study, a historical drama, and a gutshot all rolled into one. Cillian Murphy gives a rich, inner, multi-layered performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who assisted in developing the atomic bomb. The movie doesn’t sentimentalize him or dumb down his narrative. Rather, it makes you sit with the regrets, the what-ifs, and the unchosen choices. It’s large, heavy, and not forgettable. And more than any other biopic in recent memory, it raises the bar on how effective this genre is.
At their finest, biopics don’t simply recount what occurred—they make us experience it. They take larger-than-life characters and remind us that they were human, complete with flaws, aspirations, and contradictions that go along with that. Whether they instigate controversy, pique interest, or break your heart, these eight films illustrate just how great a well-told true story can be.