9 Biopics to Sing Along To
The most memorable music biopics are the ones you can sing along to. So warm up your vocal chords, because here are 9 of the best!
Elvis – If you love The King, then watching this one is a no-brainer. But I think it might be even more interesting for those of us who weren’t alive during the height of Elvis’s career and popularity. Because with Austin Butler as the jumpsuited, hip-thrusting crooner, you will very quickly get what all of the fuss was about.
Rocketman – Taron Egerton truly transforms into Elton John to show audiences how many of the bespectacled performer’s greatest hits came to be—or what they meant to his life. Jamie Bell co-stars as John’s lifelong friend and writing partner Bernie Taupin, and Richard Madden portrays John’s manager and on-again-off-again love interest John Reid.
Straight Outta Compton – Follow the fraught journey from South-Central LA to the height of fame for gangsta-rap group N.W.A., as Dr. Dre (O’Shea Jackson), Ice Cube (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), MC Ren (Aldis Hodge) and DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr.) reluctantly let businessman Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti) manage them in the mid-‘80s.
Respect – Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin, the iconic Queen of Soul? Say no more.
The Runaways – If you’ve ever sung along to, “I LOVE ROCK ‘n ROLL! So put another dime in the jukebox, baby!”, then you need to see Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie in the prequel-of-sorts to the rest of Jett’s career. For this ‘70s-set biopic shows how Jett and Currie first came to be a part of The Runaways, the rise and fall of the band, and why Jett ended up eventually starting a new group (The Blackhearts) that would take her to the next level of stardom.
Get On Up – You’ll learn exactly why one of James Brown’s many nicknames was “the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business” through the late Chadwick Boseman’s absolutely phenomenal portrayal of the Godfather of Soul.
Selena – See a pre-fame Jennifer Lopez as the beloved Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Pérez before Selena’s life was cut tragically short at age 23.
Bohemian Rhapsody – This 2019 Best Picture nominee earned its lead, Rami Malek as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, a Best Actor Oscar. His performance is truly not to be missed. Plus, you won’t be able to stop yourself from stomping and singing along to “We Will Rock You,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and, of course, the title track!
Walk the Line – And finally, if you’re feeling a little bit country, you must watch Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as Johnny Cash and his girlfriend (and eventual wife), fellow country star June Carter. Both leads earned Oscar nominations for their performances, with Witherspoon winning the gold on the big night in 2006. You’ll marvel at everything June had to put up with during Johnny’s tumultuous life and career, in addition to being amazed at just how much Phoenix sounds like Cash.