The 8 Best Biographical Movies Based On Real-Life Icons

These are the best biopics of real-life figures.

By Kevin C. Neece | Published

Icons come in many shapes and sizes, with some becoming famous for their valuable contributions and heroic deeds, others for their crimes and struggles, and some for all of the above. Their stories attract artists like Salma Hayek, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Steven Spielberg. No list of films about legendary people can be exhaustive, but these are some of our favorites in recent memory.

The Imitation Game (2014)

Based on the 1983 biography, Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Andrew Hodges, this 2014 film tells a lesser-known story from World War II that is nonetheless incredibly important. During the war, mathematician Alan Turing and a team of gifted arithmetical minds helped turn the tide against Germany by cracking the Enigma code used in Third Reich communications. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, this taut drama never fails to keep the audience engaged with both the critical work of Turing’s behind-the-scenes contribution to the war effort, but also with the struggles of his personal life.

With eight Oscar nods and a win for Graham Moore’s adapted screenplay, this is a film that, if you haven’t seen it, definitely deserves your attention.

The Social Network (2010)

There once was a Harvard student named Mark who had (or maybe stole, allegedly) an idea for a way to connect college students. That idea, of course, became Facebook and Zuckerberg became immensely famous, and then essentially infamous. The film depicting the rise of the social media giant is one of David Fincher’s best and most successful films, featuring Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg, Andrew Garfield as co-founder Eduardo Saverin and Armie Hammer as both of the Winklevoss twins, who sued Zuckerberg for the aforementioned alleged theft.

Though it was nominated for a slew of awards, including Oscars for Best Cinematography, Actor, Director, and Picture, only its innovative score composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, film editors Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin all took home gold.

Ray (2004)

movie soundtrack

There are few performances in biographical films as spot-on as Jamie Foxx’s portrayal of music legend Ray Charles in this breakout 2004 success. His work alone is reason enough to see this moving, heartfelt portrait of a musical genius who lived in much of the popular imagination as only a symbol or even a caricature. The film chronicles Charles’ life, from his early days through the loss of his sight, and on to the development of his musical talents that would make him a progenitor of soul music.

Combining rhythm and blues, jazz, and gospel influences into his music, Charles created something both original and deeply rooted in the past, both timeless and new. His life is lovingly captured in this film, which shows the makings of a true American icon.

Walk the Line (2005)

Perhaps in some contrast to Foxx, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon might not have seemed the most obvious choices to play Johnny Cash and June Carter (later June Carter Cash). Not only does their onscreen relationship crackle with spark and energy, but Phoenix is at times spookily evocative as Cash. The story follows the two as their paths begin to cross, from Johnny listening to June and her country music royalty family on the radio to sharing a stage and then sharing life together. The screenplay, based on Cash’s autobiography and another biography and approved by the Cashes before their deaths in 2003, was co-written by Gill Dennis and director James Mangold.

The film is passionate and remarkably accurate, serving as a sensitive, honest tribute to two beloved legends of American music.

Lincoln (2012)

political movies

Steven Spielberg enters our list with one of his most monumental and important films, chronicling the life of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Daniel Day-Lewis was Spielberg’s first choice for the title role, but he initially turned the offer down, leading the director to cast Liam Neeson instead. Neeson studied for the role, but discovered the part was not right for him and bowed out, opening the door for Day-Lewis to take on one of the greatest roles of his career.

With empathy and heart, Spielberg captures textured and moving performances from Day-Lewis and Sally Field, who brings a genuine emotional depth to her portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones also won praise for his role as Thaddeus Stevens. 

Frida (2002)

Directed by Julie Taymor, who is responsible for the wildly successful stage adaptation of The Lion King, this intimate portrait of surrealist Mexican artist Frida Kahlo helped Kahlo become an even greater popular icon of the empowerment and creativity of women. Salma Hayek stars as Kahlo in a role that seems to fit her talents perfectly, while the brilliant colors of Rodrigo Prieto’s cinematography give life to the artist and her art. Hayek is unflinching as Kahlo, embracing her spirit and carrying her triumphs and struggles with grace and honesty.

Though Hayek had acted in Mexican cinema, she was unknown in the U.S. at the time and this is the film that brought her to the eyes of American audiences and solidified her as an international star. 

Gandhi (1982)

If you grew up in the ‘80s, this is the definition of a biographical film, one of the most enduring and lauded in the genre. Following the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the widely revered spiritual leader who led a movement for Indian independence from the British Empire, this 1982 Richard Attenborough film stretches from 1893 to 1948. Ben Kingsley, now known for his roles in Marvel films, broke out in the part of Gandhi, winning broad acclaim and awards for his performance.

Born Krishna Pandit Bhanji, Kingsley is the son of an Indian father and an English mother, giving him a unique connection to the story of Gandhi. The film swept the Academy Awards, winning eight of the 11 trophies for which it was nominated, including Best Cinematography, Screenplay, Actor, Director, and Picture.

Schindler’s List (1993)

We return again to Spielberg, who won the first Academy Award of his legendary career for this masterpiece, chronicling the work of German industrialist Oskar Schindler, who, by putting hundreds of Jews, including children, to work in his factories, saved them from Nazi concentration camps. The film’s incredibly stark and unflinching portrait of the Holocaust is one of the most gripping, heart-rending depictions of human suffering in recent film history and Liam Neeson’s compassionate, deeply felt performance as Schindler is a redemption story in more ways than one. 

Gandhi himself, Ben Kingsley is subtle and moving as Itzhak Stern, the Polish-Israeli Jewish man who helped Schindler compile his list of those who were to be saved from the camps. In a world of despair and death, “The list,” Stern says, “is life.” and it is that life and hope in the midst of the darkest of sorrows that holds this film—and our hearts—together.