Decider Essentials: 10 Music Biopics To Stream

Take a musician. Add a troubled childhood. Maybe throw in some pills, or alcohol, or even heroin. Domestic abuse? Sure! An inability not to make terrible decisions despite obvious intellect and brilliant creative drive? Of course! The music biopic, as a genre, is a predictable one. But they’re also very popular, because who doesn’t love to watch the story of their favorite recording artist play before them on the big screen? Of course, the genre can be quite lame and tired, with very few biopics truly rising to the top. Luckily for you, here are ten films about real-life musicians that are worth your time.

Lady Sings the Blues (1972)

Diana Ross made her big-screen debut (and nabbed an Oscar nomination for her role) in this biopic about legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday and her brief, turbulent career.

Find where to stream Lady Sings the Blues on GoWatchIt.

Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)

Sissy Spacek won an Oscar for her portrayal of country music singer-songwriter Loretta Lynn who, after marrying at 13 and having several children by 18, expresses herself through song and becomes one of the biggest entertainers in the country. Bonus: Sissy Spacek sings her own songs!

Find where to stream Coal Miner’s Daughter on GoWatchIt.

Amadeus (1984)

Milos Forman’s Oscar-winning film is a grand adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s stage play, in which an elderly Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham) confesses to the murder of his musical rival, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Tom Hulce).

Find where to stream Amadeus on GoWatchIt.

Sid and Nancy (1986)

Gary Oldman and Chloe Webb star as the star-crossed lovers Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen in director Alex Cox’s romantic, yet bleak, film about their relationship, which ended with Spungen’s murder in New York City’s famed Chelsea Hotel.

Find where to stream Sid and Nancy on GoWatchIt.

La Bamba (1987)

Lou Diamond Phillips stars as Chicano musician Richie Valens, who perished alongside Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper in a plane crash in Feburary 1959.

Find where to stream La Bamba on GoWatchIt.

Great Balls of Fire (1989)

What makes this film stand out from what would otherwise be a silly comedy is Dennis Quaid’s pitch-perfect performance of Jerry Lee Lewis, who caused controversy not just for his rock ‘n’ roll songs but also for wedding his 13 year-old cousin.

Find where to stream Great Balls of Fire on GoWatchIt.

What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993)

Angela Basset earned an Oscar nomination for her star turn as rock legend Tina Turner, who came to fame as the wife of her abusive husband, Ike (played by Laurence Fishburne). Once she has the courage to leave him, she becomes a major solo recording artist.

Find where to stream What’s Love Got To Do With It on GoWatchIt.

Walk the Line (2005)

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon both received Oscar nominations (with Witherspoon winning the award) for their portrayals of Johnny and June Carter cash in this lovely portrait of their relationship, troubled by Johnny Cash’s alcoholism and general broodiness.

Find where to stream Walk the Line on GoWatchIt.

Control (2007)

Anton Corbijn’s gorgeous film stars Sam Riley as Ian Curtis, the brilliant and, naturally, tortured frontman for post-punk band Joy Division. Samantha Morton costars as Curtis’ widow Deborah, on whose memoir the film is based.

Find where to stream Control on GoWatchIt.

I’m Not There (2007)

Todd Haynes’ mind-bending film follows six actors (Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, Ben Whishaw, and Marcus Carl Fanklin) who each play a character inspired by one of the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s public personas.

Find where to stream I’m Not There on GoWatchIt.

Photos: Everett Collection