Greatest Films about Musicians

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In this abysmal life and mundane lives, music is one of those things that make you happy, sad, sensitive, and a plethora of emotions that just cannot be put into words even if I have all the adjectives at my disposal. In providing us lyrically genius and musically enchanting art that echoes automatically in the brains of the masses. To dedicate to the art and the life of these artists, Film makers have made some great films about musicians.

Without further ado, I would like to share the various films about musicians that are must watch for everyone who likes the corresponding artists.


10. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Rami Malek famously known for his Mr. Robot series takes on the role of Freddie Mercury and does justice to it. It’s alleged that Sacha Baron Cohen was the first choice to be the lead singer of Queen but a fallout between the producers and the actor turned the deal sour for Cohen and to everyone’s surprise Rami Malek was given the opportunity to shine and he did it with ease.

Directed by Bryan Singer and the cinematography of Newton Thomas Sigel is a bit tweaked version of Mercury’s enigmatic life.


9. Nowhere Boy (2009)

Nowhere Boy (2009)

Whenever you think about music the one person who has influenced almost all the generations of the music industry one name pops out more than anyone and that is John Lennon. The film shows us how the early years of Lennon always had a rebel trapped inside him and gradually we see him embracing it to the fullest.

The story and the premise of the whole thing are to showcase the early years of Lennon and his affinity for creativity with a sense of love for everything.


8. Sid and Nancy (1986)

I don’t know where to start because Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen had a love story that is literally at par with various fictional love stories and sometimes even better.

With the breakout success of the band Sex Pistols, the film showcases the turmoil and the tempest in a relationship between Sid and Nancy and the tragic death of the two due to heroin.


7. A Star Is Born (2018)

This was Bradley Cooper‘s first time working as a director and he did justice to the remake of A Star is Born (1937) with Lady Gaga.

A Star Is Born (2018)

Cooper was also the producer and co-writer of the film while giving his everything as an actor too. A country musician going down the spiral of drug-infested self-induced turmoil.

An excellent melodious drama deserve to be in the list of must watch films about musicians.


6. Get on Up (2014)

Chadwick Boseman before taking up the infamous role of King T’challa in the MCU’s Black Panther and Avengers Infinity War and Endgame has proven his acting skills to be extremely on point as he embraces the character of James Brown.

Get on Up (2014)

The film revolves around Brown’s stream of consciousness and also breaks down the fourth wall with a wrecking ball like energy and enthusiasm. The journey of Brown to Vietnam is also well documented by the film and also shows us the essence of excruciatingly painful parts of the war.

Chadwick Boseman who passed away due cancer has given his all for this role. This title on the list of Greatest Films about Musicians is a tribute to his legacy.


5. 8 Mile (2002)

Phew! Where should I begin? The musical journey of Marshall Bruce Mathers or popularly known as Eminem is portrayed beautifully by a fictional take to the real-life events of the artist.

8 Mile (2002)

A broke poor white boy for the streets of Detroit is today the world’s highest-selling rapper of all time. Eminem has a way of working and work ethics which are almost unprecedented. He gave the music for the film which got him an academy award and to do justice to the role he did the role himself.

Yes! You heard it right and the best part is the man didn’t even go to receive his Oscar just because he had to drop his little girl to school the next day. You might find B-Rabbit as the Slim Shady persona of Eminem.

Fun fact Eminem is an acronym for Everyone’s Mother Is Nice Except Mine.

Read More – 8 Mile (2002) Analysis – The Hip-Hop Film Genre Revolution


4. Montage of Heck (2015)

The king of grunge who was also one of the highest-selling artists of the 1980s was Nirvana led by the infamous Kurt Cobain.

The documentary is a new-age take on using the sounds of the past with various digital techniques of film making that makes you wonder how hard stardom can be for someone.

Kurt Cobain’s tragic life and death and the reasons which were allegedly involved in his death are well documented by the various people from his life and the biggest addition to the venture is the appearance of Courtney Love, who tells her side of the story.

Read More – Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck (2015) Review – Better to Burn Out Than Fade Away


3. I’m Not There (2007)

Bob Dylan, the person who taught John Lennon a lot of things and even how to roll a blunt. So to make sure his life can be depicted properly a truly unconventional approach to the biopic was used. It required no less than 6 amazing actors to portray various parts of Dylan’s life.

I'm Not There (2007)

The cast chosen for the job was like picking Ocean’s Eleven of the film industry and the cast was Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Winshaw. There is only one mention of Dylan that everyone is playing a different part of his many lives in one lifetime.

Certainly a much recommended film on the list of Films about Musicians.


2. The Doors (1991)

The Doors and Jim Morrison to be more specific about this film is one of the most influential American musicians ever.

The Doors (1991)

Val Kilmer takes the mantle of being the lead in the movie and to this day is still sometimes feel he is Jim Morrison as he left no stone unturned in making sure every nook and corner is filled with the persona of the real Jim Morrison and the various members of the doors.

The love between Morrison and Pamela Courson and the You only live once attitude of Morrison with sheer reality is depicted beautifully by Kilmer and Meg Ryan.


1. Walk The Line (2005)

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did justice to the roles of Johnny Cash and June Carter.

The film is a Cash biopic played by Phoenix and had several academy awards nominations. Phoenix was nominated for best performance by an actor in a leading role which he, unfortunately, didn’t win, but Witherspoon was also nominated for the academy awards in the female category and she did manage to get her Oscar.

Johnny Cash had a very tumultuous life and even began to sing and write while serving his country in Germany as a soldier. He came back just to find out that his passion for music was something much more than just a hobby and what followed is a legacy of Cash with songs that will never die and have been tested by the changing times.

This amazing film deserve to be on top of the list of Films about Musicians.

That’s all folks! Hope you like it!


Check out more amazing list on Digital Mafia Talkies.

If you have any suggestions for film lists, do tell us in the comment section below.

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Shreshtha Shukla
Shreshtha Shukla
"Thou art the suffering from which unwarranted melancholia emerges" Shreshtha Shukla is a writer, teacher, and a film enthusiast.

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