Films inspired by music! (In No Particular Order)
by zombiegorilla99 | created - 13 Dec 2011 | updated - 14 Dec 2011 | PublicA list of films that are influenced by music including bios, dramas and comedies.
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1. Almost Famous (2000)
R | 122 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A high-school boy in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.
Director: Cameron Crowe | Stars: Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand
Votes: 293,100 | Gross: $32.53M
A semi autoobiographical story of Cameron Crowe's experiences on the road with musicians during his stints at Creem and Rolling Stone magazine.
2. Bound for Glory (1976)
PG | 147 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The early life of Woody Guthrie as a vagabond folk singer.
Director: Hal Ashby | Stars: David Carradine, Ronny Cox, Melinda Dillon, Gail Strickland
Votes: 5,585
The tale of folk legend Woodie Guthrie as played by David Carradine.
3. Elvis (I) (1979 TV Movie)
168 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Biographical movie about the famous rock singer Elvis Presley.
Director: John Carpenter | Stars: Kurt Russell, Shelley Winters, Bing Russell, Robert Gray
Votes: 5,127
A nearly forgotten gem by horror director John Carpenter. The only film that comes close to digging into Elvis Presley with an amazing performance by Kurt Russell.
4. Nowhere Boy (2009)
R | 98 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A chronicle of John Lennon's first years, focused mainly in his adolescence and his relationship with his stern aunt Mimi, who raised him, and his absentee mother Julia, who re-entered his life at a crucial moment in his young life.
Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson | Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, David Threlfall
Votes: 38,818 | Gross: $1.45M
Bio pic exploring the teen years of John Lennon (an exceptional Aaron Johnson) and his complicated relationship with his free spirited mother and his journey with The Quarrymen before they became The Beatles.
5. The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
PG | 114 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the life and career of the early rock and roll singer, from his meteoric rise to stardom, to his marriage and untimely death.
Director: Steve Rash | Stars: Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Conrad Janis
Votes: 9,972 | Gross: $14.36M
A remarkable portrait of Buddy Holly played by an unrecognizable Gary Busey.
6. Dazed and Confused (1993)
R | 103 min | Comedy
The adventures of high school and junior high students on the last day of school in May 1976.
Director: Richard Linklater | Stars: Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey, Rory Cochrane
Votes: 199,114 | Gross: $7.99M
Long before That 70's Show, Richard Linklater gave us an honest, mesmerising trip down the road of 70's youth culture in this amazing film.
7. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
PG | 124 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The fictionalized life of singer Loretta Lynn, a girl who rose from humble beginnings to become a country music star in the 1960s/70s.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Levon Helm, Phyllis Boyens
Votes: 20,479 | Gross: $67.18M
One of the best examples of how to do a straight up bio pic, this story traces the early hard life of Loretta Lynn (Sissy Spaceck) and follows her on her road to fame and her encounter with her idol Patsy Cline (Beverly D' Angelo) in this inspiring slice of life.
8. Alice's Restaurant (1969)
GP | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A cinematic adaption of Arlo Guthrie's classic song story.
Director: Arthur Penn | Stars: Arlo Guthrie, Patricia Quinn, James Broderick, Pete Seeger
Votes: 4,645 | Gross: $13.99M
A great forgotten comedy with Woodie Guthrie's son giving a truely inspired performance.
9. Tommy (1975)
PG | 111 min | Drama, Musical
A psychosomatically blind, deaf, and mute boy becomes a master pinball player and, subsequently, the figurehead of a cult.
Director: Ken Russell | Stars: Roger Daltrey, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John
Votes: 22,607 | Gross: $34.25M
A psychedelic masterpiece by the surreal Ken Russell, that captures the spirit of The Who in their creative prime.
10. Purple Rain (1984)
R | 111 min | Drama, Music, Romance
A young musician, tormented by an abusive situation at home, must contend with a rival singer, a burgeoning romance, and his own dissatisfied band, as his star begins to rise.
Director: Albert Magnoli | Stars: Prince, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos
Votes: 23,790 | Gross: $68.39M
Start the revolution!
11. Velvet Goldmine (1998)
R | 118 min | Drama, Music
In 1984, British journalist Arthur Stuart investigates the career of 1970s glam superstar Brian Slade, who was heavily influenced in his early years by hard-living and rebellious American singer Curt Wild.
Director: Todd Haynes | Stars: Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale, Toni Collette
Votes: 38,282 | Gross: $1.05M
For all intents and purposes a "loosely based" account of a "David Bowie type" character and an "Iggy Pop type" character during the psychedellic glam period circa AndyWarhol.
12. Cadillac Records (2008)
R | 109 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists.
Director: Darnell Martin | Stars: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyoncé, Columbus Short
Votes: 23,101 | Gross: $8.20M
A film that deserves to be seen, is inspired by the formation of the legendary label Chess Records, with a great performance from Adrien Brody.
13. I'm Not There (2007)
R | 135 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Ruminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where six characters embody a different aspect of the musician's life and work.
Director: Todd Haynes | Stars: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw
Votes: 61,161 | Gross: $4.02M
An original conception of the multi layered psyche of Bob Dylan by the underrated Todd haynes, creator of the equally brilliant Velvet Goldmine.
14. Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
PG-13 | 108 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The life and career of wildly controversial rock 'n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis.
Director: Jim McBride | Stars: Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, John Doe, Stephen Tobolowsky
Votes: 18,872 | Gross: $13.74M
A satiric bio comedy on the life of Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid) who gives either a hammy performance or depends on your outlook a true stroke of genius in this fun musical comedy.
15. Walk the Line (2005)
PG-13 | 136 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick
Votes: 265,661 | Gross: $119.52M
A tad sugar coated but great performances and the best we have in getting close to the life of Johnny Cash.
16. A Hard Day's Night (1964)
G | 87 min | Comedy, Musical
Over two "typical" days in the life of The Beatles, the boys struggle to keep themselves and Sir Paul McCartney's mischievous grandfather in check while preparing for a live TV performance.
Director: Richard Lester | Stars: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Votes: 48,043 | Gross: $13.78M
The best of the films with The Beatles period.
17. School of Rock (2003)
PG-13 | 109 min | Comedy, Music
After being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.
Director: Richard Linklater | Stars: Jack Black, Mike White, Joan Cusack, Adam Pascal
Votes: 330,494 | Gross: $81.26M
A great introduction of rock n' roll just for the kids, but the whole family can enjoy.
18. High Fidelity (2000)
R | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black
Votes: 189,611 | Gross: $27.29M
The closest to hanging out at an indie record store without leaving your house and a great tribute to pop music in general. For better or worse without this film Jack Black would not be where he is.
19. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
R | 96 min | Comedy, Music
Singer Dewey Cox overcomes adversity to become a musical legend.
Director: Jake Kasdan | Stars: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, David Krumholtz, Nat Faxon
Votes: 77,196 | Gross: $18.32M
More than just a spoof of Walk The Line, this is comedy gold, that unfortunately fell under the radar. If this doesn't give you belly laughs I don't know what will.
20. Woodstock (1970)
R | 184 min | Documentary, History, Music
Oscar-winning musical chronicle that brilliantly captures the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties.
Director: Michael Wadleigh | Stars: Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Roger Daltrey, Joe Cocker
Votes: 18,448 | Gross: $50.00M
A great time capsule that showed the peak of the 60's sub culture with great musical performances helped put together by editor Martin Scorsese.
21. Gimme Shelter (1970)
GP | 91 min | Documentary, Music, Thriller
When three hundred thousand members of the Love Generation collided with a few dozen Hells Angels at San Francisco's Altamont Speedway, the bloody slash that transformed a decade's dreams into disillusionment was immortalized on this film.
Directors: Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin | Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Charlie Watts
Votes: 12,857 | Gross: $0.25M
Right after the rise of Woodstock came the swift nail in the coffin to the 60's at Altamont with the hauntingly best Rolling Stones performance ever captured on celluloid.
22. Performance (1970)
R | 105 min | Crime, Drama
A violent East London gangster undergoes a transformation of identity while hiding from his former colleagues in the home of a jaded Bohemian rock star and his two girlfriends.
Directors: Donald Cammell, Nicolas Roeg | Stars: James Fox, Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg, Michèle Breton
Votes: 11,316 | Gross: $0.19M
A cult classic with Mick Jagger by the great Nicolas Roeg, who also gave us The Man Who fell To Earth with David Bowie.
23. The Last Waltz (1978)
PG | 117 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A film account and presentation of the final concert of The Band.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robbie Robertson, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Van Morrison
Votes: 20,105 | Gross: $0.32M
Scorsese captured the magic of The Band one last time and it is pure bliss.
24. Across the Universe (2007)
PG-13 | 133 min | Drama, Fantasy, History
The music of The Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.
Director: Julie Taymor | Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs
Votes: 114,234 | Gross: $51.66M
A musical inspired by the music of The Beatles with two great leads and a brilliantly hilarious cameo from Bono of u2 fame.
25. Shine a Light (2008)
PG-13 | 122 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
A career-spanning documentary on The Rolling Stones, with concert footage from their "A Bigger Bang" tour.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood
Votes: 12,291 | Gross: $5.36M
Proof that there's just no stopping the force of The Stones.
26. Ray (I) (2004)
PG-13 | 152 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.
Director: Taylor Hackford | Stars: Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell
Votes: 157,312 | Gross: $75.33M
Before Jamie Foxx parodied his own performance with Kanye West and hasn't delivered acting chops like this since. We were all captivated by his transformation into Ray Charles.
27. The Doors (1991)
R | 140 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band The Doors and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison, from his days as a UCLA film student in Los Angeles, to his untimely death in Paris, France at age 27 in 1971.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley
Votes: 98,979 | Gross: $35.18M
By no means a perfect film but very ambitous effort by Oliver Stone to capture the psychedelic point of view of Jim Morrisson (an outstanding Val Kilmer). A must see.
28. It Might Get Loud (2008)
PG | 98 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary on the electric guitar from the point of view of three significant rock musicians: The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White, Dallas Schoo
Votes: 13,546 | Gross: $1.61M
A truely magical meeting of three music legends captured like lightning in a bottle.
29. Crossroads (1986)
R | 99 min | Drama, Music, Mystery
A wannabe blues-guitar virtuoso finds an old blues player and hopes he can teach him a long-lost song by legendary musician Robert Johnson.
Director: Walter Hill | Stars: Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, Joe Morton
Votes: 17,638 | Gross: $5.84M
An interesting take on the folk tale of the crossroads blues inspired by blues legend Robert Johnson directed by the amazing Walter Hill (The Warriors).
30. The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights (2009)
Unrated | 93 min | Documentary, Music
An intimate look inside The White Stripes' 2007 tour of Canada, as Jack and Meg White touch down in remote northern communities and surprising city venues.
Director: Emmett Malloy | Stars: Alex Debogorski, Maria Durham, Jack White, Meg White
Votes: 2,499
A must see for fans of this phenomenal band.
31. U2: Rattle and Hum (1988)
PG-13 | 99 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary of the Irish rock group U2 on their Fall 1987 tour of North America.
Director: Phil Joanou | Stars: Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr.
Votes: 6,174 | Gross: $8.60M
See above.
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