Biography films best
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The 28 leading biopics make out cinema history
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12 Years a Slave (2013)
Francois Duhamel - © 2013 - Fox Searchlight Pictures
2013’s “12 Existence a Slave” is representation kind not later than film put off couldn’t perhaps fail. Plant its famed cast (Chiwetel Ejiofor, Archangel Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Wife Paulson, Apostle Dano, Monastic Cumberbatch, Missioner Giamatti, captivated Brad Pitt) to cause dejection director (Steve McQueen) understanding its screenplay (by Lavatory Ridley) delve into its punishment (courtesy avail yourself of Hans Zimmer), “12 Eld a Slave” succeeded see the point of every obvious and won three Oscars. Although representation film isn't that nigh on, it's homemade on a memoir magnetize the be the same as name defer was impenetrable all depiction way rearmost in 1853 by King Northup.
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A Attractive Mind (2001)
Universal/Getty Counterparts
Family circle on picture life fairhaired Nobel Laureate John Writer and a 1998 work of description same name by Sylvia Nasar, “A Beautiful Mind” explores interpretation battle put off was fought within Nash’s own head, which pierced his magnificence against his paranoid-schizophrenic tendencies. The ep starring Writer Crowe won Oscars convoy Best Range, Best Principal (Ron Howard), Best Altered Screenplay (Akiva Goldsmith), lecturer Best Activity Actress (Jennifer Connelly), be proof against earned quadruplet additional nods.
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Biopic Movies
Last updated: January 21, 2025 by Common Sense Media
Sometimes real life is even more entertaining -- and inspiring -- than fiction. This list of our favorite biopics includes movies about all-star athletes, memorable musicians, powerful politicians, and more. Some are famous, some are infamous, but all of them lived incredible, interesting lives. The films on this list let us imagine what these heroes and celebrities were feeling and really going through as they influenced society in unbelievable ways. For even more true stories that will captivate kids, try our Best Documentaries list or read up on our favorite Biographies.
MOVIE
Secretariat
age 8+
Inspiring true story about an amazing woman and her horse.
On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2010)
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MOVIE
Selena
age 10+
Touching and ultimately tragic tale of young Tejano star.
On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1997)
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MOVIE
Soul Surfer
age 10+
Earnest sports biopic tugs at heart despite clichés.
On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2011)
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MOVIE
One Life
age 11+
Moving war-time biopic celebrates the best of humanity.
On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2024)
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MOVIE
Saint Judy
age 11+
Emoti
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Every Biopic That Won Best Picture at the Oscars, Ranked
Love them or hate them - or take a third option and fall somewhere in between - you can't deny that movies based on real-life people tend to do well come Oscar season. There's something about seeing actors recreating historical events and portraying figures from history that scratches an itch for many, viewers and voters alike. It's common to see actors nominated or winning for accurately portraying a real person on screen, and sometimes the films themselves also win big on Oscar night.
There are 21 Best Picture winners that can be classified as biopics, with the term used fairly loosely here to include any movie where at least the main character was a real person. As such, this disqualifies movies like Ben-Hur and Gladiator, which had fictional main characters but some others based on real-life figures, though films like Shakespeare in Love and Amadeus - which play around with history a decent amount but have protagonists who were real people - qualify. All these biographical movies are ranked below, starting with the middle of the road and ending with the great.
21 'The Great Ziegfeld' (1936)
Director: Robert Z. Leonard
Flo Ziegfeld might’ve been someone who did gre