Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna in ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ on Roku Channel.
Rock and Roll musicians always make interesting subjects for biographical films, and often win Oscars as in the case of ‘Ray’ or Bohemian Rhapsody.’
We saw the release of director Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ earlier this year, and Naomi Ackie will play Whitney Houston in ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody,’ opening in December.
Meanwhile, ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ premieres on The Roku Channel on November 4 and stars Daniel Radcliffe as Yankovic, and Evan Rachel Wood as Madonna.
In honor of the new film, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best Rock and Roll biographies of all time. Since the term “Rock and Roll” can cover several different genres of music, we only include films about musical artists who are known to perform popular music in the rock genre, including jazz, blues, country, rap, etc.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
“Notorious” is the story of Christopher Wallace (Jamal Woolard). Through raw talent and sheer determination, Wallace transformed himself from a Brooklyn street con artist (once selling crack to pregnant women) to one of the greatest rappers of all time: The Notorious BIG Follow his meteoric rise to fame and his refusal to give up hope – redefining our ideas about the “American Dream”.
Famous
“No dream is too BIG”
69
2 hours 2 minutesJanuary 16, 2009
Los Angeles teenager Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips) becomes an overnight rock ‘n’ roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called “Donna” he wrote for his girlfriend. But as his star rises, Valens comes into conflict with his jealous brother, Bob (Esai Morales), and is haunted by recurring nightmares of a plane crash as he embarks on his first national tour with Buddy Holly (Marshall Crenshaw).
La Bamba
“Born into poverty. Destined to be a star. He lives the American dream.”
72
1 hour 48 minutesJuly 24, 1987
Dirt
“Their Music Makes Them Famous, Their Life Makes Them Famous”
75
1 hour 48 minutesMarch 22, 2019
This drama tells the story of John Lennon’s (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) youth in Liverpool and the beginning of his journey to become a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on the early lives and personalities of the two dominant women in his childhood.
Not going anywhere
“As a boy all John Lennon needed was love.”
72
1 hour 38 minutesJanuary 27, 2010
Joan Jett (Kristen Stewart) and Cherie Currie (Dakota Fanning), two rebellious teenagers from Southern California, lead the Runaways — a legendary group that paved the way for the next generation of female rockers. Under the influence of impresario Kim Fowley (Michael Shannon), the band became a huge success.
The Runaways
“It’s 1975 and they’re about to explode.”
65
1 hour 46 minutesMarch 19, 2010
20th Century Fox
Singer Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek), guitarist Brian May (Gwilym Lee), drummer Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy) and bass guitarist John Deacon (Joe Mazzello) hit the music scene when they formed the rock ‘n’ roll band Queen in 1970. hit songs become instant classics. When Mercury’s increasingly wild lifestyle begins to spiral out of control, Queen soon faces her greatest challenge yet – finding a way to keep the band together amid success and excess.
An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis (Don Cheadle).
Miles Ahead
“If you want to tell a story, come with a certain attitude.”
65
1 hour 40 minutesApril 22, 2016
A drama based on the life of Jimi Hendrix (André 3000) as he leaves New York City for London, where his career begins.
The story of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis (Sam Riley), from his school days in 1973 to his suicide on the night of the band’s first American tour in 1980.
Control
“He had passion, but lost his feelings.”
75
2 hours 1 minuteOctober 10, 2007
January 1978. After success in England, the punk rock band Sex Pistols embarked on their tour of the southern United States. Temperamental bassist Sid Vicious (Gary Oldman) is forced by his bandmates to travel without his troubled girlfriend, Nancy Spungen (Chloe Webb), who will meet him in New York. When the band disbands and Sid begins his solo career in a hostile city, the turbulent couple inevitably falls into drug addiction.
10) Ray (2004)
Universal Image
Born on a sharecropping plantation in North Florida, Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx) became blind at the age of seven. Inspired by a very independent mother who insisted she make her own way, She found her calling and talent behind the piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern music circuit, this soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered the merging of gospel and country together.
ray
“Amazing life story of Ray Charles.”
74
2 hours 32 minutesOctober 29, 2004
In the late 1960s, Brian Wilson (Paul Dano and John Cusack) of the Beach Boys quit touring, produced “Pet Sounds” and began to lose his grip on reality. In the 1980s, Wilson, under the control of a controlling therapist, finds a savior in Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks).
Love & Affection
“Brian Wilson’s Life, Love and Genius”
71
2 hoursJune 19, 2015
The story of the life of Elton John (Taron Egerton), from his years as a child prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell).
Rocket Man
“Based on True Fantasy”
73
2 hours 1 minuteMay 31, 2019
The life story of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler) is seen through a complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).
Elvis
“Men. Legend. King of Rock & Roll.”
78
2 hours 39 minutes24 June 2022
Singer Tina Turner (Angela Bassett) becomes a star while mustering up the courage to break away from her abusive husband, Ike (Laurence Fishburne).
Universal Image
Chronicles James Brown (Chadwick Boseman) rose from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
Come on up
“The Funk Don’t Stop”
68
2 hours 19 minutesAugust 1, 2014
A chronicle of the life of country music legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
Walking the Line
“Love is a burning thing.”
75
2 hours 16 minutesNovember 18, 2005
The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band and their vocalist and composer, Jim Morrison (Val Kilmer).
the doors
“The Ultimate Story of Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll”
71
2 hours 20 minutesMarch 1, 1991
In 1987, five young men, using honest hardcore rhymes and beats, put their frustrations and anger about life in America’s most dangerous place into the most powerful weapon at their disposal: their music. Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr. as O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson, Corey Hawkins as Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, and Jason Mitchell as Eric “Eazy-E” Wright.
Weinstein Company
Six actors (Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw) portray the six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes that depict the various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folk singer to international icon. and reveals how Dylan is constantly reinventing himself.
I am not here
“All I Can Do Is Be Who I Am.”
66
2 hours 15 minutesDecember 7, 2007