The Most Inspiring Biopics Of All Time
A biopic is a film that dramatizes a life, generally in either its entirety or a substantial section. A biopic is a film based on many true stories. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of the best biopics out there, feather boas included.
Malcolm X (1992)
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the ’50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
Harriet (2019)
A plantation owner promises to free a slave family. But when he fails to be true to his words, a girl from the family escapes and becomes an abolitionist. The new biopic is mostly true to what we know of the real Harriet Tubman, though writer-director Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou) and co-writer Gregory Allen Howard (Remember the Titans, Ali) take some considerable liberties with both the timeline of events and the creation of several characters.
Gandhi (1982)
A lawyer, Mohandas Gandhi, returns to British India from South Africa. He begins a nationwide campaign of non-violent resistance against British rule, pressuring Britain to liberate India. Weighing in at more than three hours, this amazing biopic is a must-see for families with an interest in history or civil rights
Chaplin (1992)
An aged Charlie Chaplin narrates his life to his autobiography’s editor, including his rise to wealth and comedic fame from poverty, his turbulent personal life and his run-ins with the FBI.
Though Robert Downey Jr.’s age-defying portrayal of the comic genius is spot-on, the overall movie meanders vaguely through the actor’s life.
The Founder (2016)
Ray, a salesman, meets the owners of McDonald’s, a burger joint in Southern California. He realizes the potential of the place and decides to make it the biggest restaurant business in the world. This business drama falls short of being a powerful biopic but if you are a loyal customer of McDonald’s, a budding businessman, or a Michael Keaton fan, you’ll like it.
Steve Jobs (2015)
Steve Jobs, a renowned businessman, faces problems in his personal and professional life while trying to launch three products in the market. This audacious variation on a conventional biopic is data-dense and supercharged by the drama surrounding three of Jobs’s most significant product launches.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
Stephen Hawking, an excellent astrophysics student working on his research, learns that he suffers from motor neurone disease and has around two years to live. With enormous compassion, this movie looks beyond the brilliant mind that Hawking is best known for.
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
John Nash, a brilliant but asocial mathematical genius, finds his life changing for the worse after he accepts an assignment from William Parcher.
Few mathematics geniuses have ever served as the subject of a major motion picture, so John Nash now has broken the mold both in his own profession and as the unlikely hero of “A Beautiful Mind.”
The Pursuit of Happyness
Tired of Chris’s professional failures, his wife decides to separate, leaving him financially broke with an unpaid internship in a brokerage firm and his son’s custody to deal with. Jaden Smith is adorable; he delivers an endearing performance as Gardner’s son, Christopher, in what turns out to be a simple, sentimental, but ultimately inspiring movie.
