Best biopics about real people
Biopics are films that tell the lives of real people. They can inspire, shock, educate, and move us by showing how individuals dealt with big events, personal struggles, genius, crime, art, politics, sport, or science. The films below are presented to help you find great biopics across different styles and subjects. Each entry explains who the real person was, what the film focuses on, why the movie matters, and what makes it worth watching. The aim is to be simple, clear, and thorough so you can pick a movie that fits your taste or learn which true stories have been turned into powerful cinema.
How I chose these films
– I include classic and modern biopics, worldwide examples, and a variety of topics so the list feels broad and useful.
– I focus on films that are widely recommended, acclaimed, or culturally important.
– I describe both celebrated films that aim for historical sweep and smaller, more intimate films that reveal character.
– The list avoids spoilers about key plot twists when possible, while still explaining major themes and facts.
Important note about historical accuracy
– Biopics mix fact and invention. Filmmakers compress time, combine characters, and dramatize events for clarity and emotional impact.
– A strong performance or a powerful story does not guarantee strict historical accuracy. For many of these films, watching them can prompt curiosity to read the real history afterward.
The films
1. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
– Real person and focus: T. E. Lawrence, a British officer who played a major role in the Arab Revolt during World War I, and his complex personality and shifting loyalties.
– Why it matters: A sweeping epic that captures desert landscapes, political ambition, and a man torn between heroism and hubris.
– What to expect: Monumental cinematography, a deep central performance, and an interest in leadership, identity, and empire.
2. Schindler’s List (1993)
– Real person and focus: Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.
– Why it matters: One of the most powerful cinematic portrayals of the Holocaust, focused on rescue amid atrocity.
– What to expect: Stark black-and-white visuals, intense emotional weight, and a portrayal of moral transformation under extreme circumstances.
3. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
– Real person and focus: John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who struggled with schizophrenia and later received the Nobel Prize.
– Why it matters: It brings attention to genius, mental illness, and the long road to acceptance and support.
– What to expect: A narrative that explores perception and reality, anchored by a performance that humanizes a complex thinker.
4. Walk the Line (2005)
– Real person and focus: Johnny Cash and his relationship with June Carter, chronicling Cash’s rise, his music, and his personal struggles.
– Why it matters: A successful music biopic that balances performance, romance, and the toll of fame.
– What to expect: Strong musical performances, attention to period detail, and a portrayal of how art and personal life collide.
5. Malcolm X (1992)
– Real person and focus: Malcolm X, his transformation from street life to a Muslim leader, and his political awakening and evolving beliefs.
– Why it matters: A major exploration of race, identity, and political activism in America.
– What to expect: A performance that tracks radical change and a film that treats its subject’s complexity seriously.
6. The Social Network (2010)
– Real person and focus: Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook, including lawsuits and questions of credit, ambition, and ethics.
– Why it matters: A modern business biopic that reads like a character study of ambition and disruption.
– What to expect: Sharp dialogue, brisk pacing, and an interest in how success reshapes relationships.
7. Raging Bull (1980)
– Real person and focus: Jake LaMotta, a boxer whose career and violence inside and outside the ring dominate the story.
– Why it matters: A study of anger, self-destruction, and the price of competitiveness.
– What to expect: Raw performances, an intimate look at a tortured athlete, and stylistic black-and-white filmmaking.
8. The Last Emperor (1987)
– Real person and focus: Puyi, the last Emperor of China, from his childhood enthronement to life after the emperor’s role ended.
– Why it matters: An epic that traces historical change through one life, giving human shape to massive political shifts.
– What to expect: Lavish production, cross-cultural storytelling, and a portrait of a man shaped by history more than he shaped it.
9. The Aviator (2004)
– Real person and focus: Howard Hughes, a movie mogul and aviation pioneer, and his battles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and ambition.
– Why it matters: A portrait of innovation, fame, and personal decline set against the golden age of Hollywood.
– What to expect: Grand period detail, show-business spectacle, and a study of genius mixed with vulnerability.
10. Ray (2004)
– Real person and focus: Ray Charles, his rise from poverty and blindness to become a music legend.
– Why it matters: A music biopic that celebrates artistry and resilience while not shying from personal flaws.
– What to expect: Energetic performances, lip-synced and acted musical sequences, and a story of persistence.
11. Selma (2014)
– Real person and focus: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches that led to the Voting Rights Act.
– Why it matters: A focused historical drama showing political strategy, moral courage, and grassroots activism.
– What to expect: Political tension, strong ensemble acting, and an emphasis on organizing and sacrifice.
12. The King’s Speech (2010)
– Real person and focus: King George VI overcoming a stammer with the help of a speech therapist amid looming war.
– Why it matters: It shows leadership under pressure and the human side of public figures.
– What to expect: Warm performances, a story of friendship, and the linking of private struggle to public duty.
13. Goodfellas (1990)
– Real person and focus: Based on Henry Hill and his life in the mob, focusing on criminal rise and fall.
– Why it matters: A vivid, immersive look at organized crime and its seduction and consequences.
– What to expect: Fast-paced style, moral decay, and an often dazzling cinematic voice.
14. The Imitation Game (2014)
– Real person and focus: Alan Turing, a mathematician and codebreaker whose work at Bletchley Park helped end World War II and whose personal life faced persecution.
– Why it matters: It highlights scientific achievement and moral failure by society toward LGBTQ people.
– What to expect: Tension, ethical questions about secrecy and recognition, and a tragic personal story.
15. Schindler’s List (already listed above) — an essential inclusion for its cultural and historical impact.
16. Spotlight (2015)
– Real people and focus: The Boston
