Top 50 Biography Movies and TV Shows
1. Love & Death (2023)
16+ | 378 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Two churchgoing couples enjoy small town family life in Texas - until somebody picks up an axe.
Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, Patrick Fugit
Votes: 16,431
2. Oppenheimer (2023)
180 min | Biography, Drama, History | Post-production
The story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.
Director: Christopher Nolan | Stars: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
3. White House Plumbers (2023)
13+ | Biography, Drama, History
A five-part series that tells the true story of how Nixon's own political saboteurs and Watergate masterminds, E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, accidentally toppled the presidency they were trying to protect.
Stars: Woody Harrelson, Justin Theroux, Lena Headey, Domhnall Gleeson
Votes: 4,392
4. The Great (2020– )
TV-MA | 45 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A royal woman living in rural Russia during the 18th century is forced to choose between her own personal happiness and the future of Russia, when she marries an Emperor.
Stars: Elle Fanning, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Adam Godley
Votes: 47,517
5. A Small Light (2023)
16+ | Biography, Drama, History
Follows the remarkable story of Miep Gies, a Dutch woman who risked her life to shelter Anne Frank's family from the Nazis for more than two years during World War II.
Stars: Bel Powley, Joe Cole, Amira Casar, Billie Boullet
Votes: 4,222
6. BlackBerry (2023)
PG | 120 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone.
Director: Matt Johnson | Stars: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson, Kelly Van der Burg
Votes: 4,994
7. GoodFellas (1990)
14A | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Votes: 1,192,521 | Gross: $46.84M
8. The Crown (2016–2023)
PG | 58 min | Biography, Drama, History
Follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.
Stars: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith
Votes: 230,485
9. Candy (2022)
TV-MA | 257 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Candy Montgomery is a 1980s housewife and mother who did everything right. When the pressure of conformity builds within, her actions scream for just a bit of freedom -- until someone tells her to shush -- with deadly results.
Stars: Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, Timothy Simons
Votes: 20,274
10. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
18A | 180 min | Biography, Comedy, Crime
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey
Votes: 1,464,463 | Gross: $116.90M
11. Shooting Stars (2023)
PG-13 | Biography, Drama, History
A look at the young life of basketball star LeBron James. Feature film adaptation of LeBron James and Buzz Bissinger's book 'Shooting Stars'.
Director: Chris Robinson | Stars: Marquis Mookie Cook, Wood Harris, Caleb McLaughlin, Avery Serell Wills Jr.
Votes: 382
12. What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
18A | 118 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of singer Tina Turner's rise to stardom and how she gained the courage to break free from her abusive husband, Ike Turner.
Director: Brian Gibson | Stars: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, RaéVen Kelly, Virginia Capers
Votes: 23,178 | Gross: $39.10M
13. Jeanne du Barry (2023)
113 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life of Jeanne Bécu who was born as the illegitimate daughter of an impoverished seamstress in 1743 and went on to rise through the Court of Louis XV to become his last official mistress.
Director: Maïwenn | Stars: Maïwenn, Johnny Depp, Benjamin Lavernhe, Melvil Poupaud
Votes: 1,597
14. Black Bird (2022)
18+ | 347 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Jimmy Keene is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison but he cuts a deal with the FBI to befriend a suspected serial killer. Keene has to elicit a confession from Larry Hall to find the bodies of as many as eighteen women.
Stars: Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Greg Kinnear, Ray Liotta
Votes: 79,945
15. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
16+ | 139 min | Biography, Drama, History
World War II American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first man in American history to receive the Medal of Honor without firing a shot.
Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer
Votes: 550,340 | Gross: $67.21M
16. Tetris (2023)
18A | 118 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of how one of the world's most popular video games found its way to players around the globe. Businessman Henk Rogers and Tetris inventor Alexey Pajitnov join forces in the USSR, risking it all to bring Tetris to the masses.
Director: Jon S. Baird | Stars: Taron Egerton, Mara Huf, Miles Barrow, Rick Yune
Votes: 51,701
17. Narcos (2015–2017)
13+ | 49 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A chronicled look at the criminal exploits of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as well as the many other drug kingpins who plagued the country through the years.
Stars: Pedro Pascal, Wagner Moura, Boyd Holbrook, Alberto Ammann
Votes: 442,705
18. Scoop (2023– )
60 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A journalist's life takes a 360 because of the very system that made her who she is. Will she fight or will she concede?
Stars: Karishma Tanna, Harman Baweja, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, Inayat Sood
Votes: 787
19. The Crowded Room (2023– )
18+ | Biography, Crime, Drama | Completed
In Manhattan in the summer of 1979, a young man is arrested for a shocking crime, and an unlikely investigator must solve the mystery behind it before the true criminal strikes again.
Stars: Tom Holland, Will Chase, Lior Raz, Amanda Seyfried
20. Tombstone (1993)
PA | 130 min | Biography, Drama, History
A successful lawman's plans to retire anonymously in Tombstone, Arizona are disrupted by the kind of outlaws he was famous for eliminating.
Directors: George P. Cosmatos, Kevin Jarre | Stars: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton
Votes: 156,094 | Gross: $56.51M
21. Still (2023)
PG | 95 min | Documentary, Biography
Follows the life of beloved actor and advocate Michael J. Fox, exploring his personal and professional triumphs and travails, and what happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease.
Director: Davis Guggenheim | Stars: Tracy Pollan, Sam Fox, Aquinnah Fox, Schuyler Fox
Votes: 6,961
22. Schindler's List (1993)
14A | 195 min | Biography, Drama, History
In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall
Votes: 1,385,939 | Gross: $96.90M
23. Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010–2013)
R | 55 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
The life of Spartacus, the gladiator who lead a rebellion against the Romans. From his time as an ally of the Romans, to his betrayal and becoming a gladiator, to the rebellion he leads and its ultimate outcome.
Stars: Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett, Daniel Feuerriegel
Votes: 247,861
24. Sound of Freedom (2022)
PG-13 | 135 min | Action, Biography, Drama
The incredible true story of a former government agent turned vigilante who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from sex traffickers.
Director: Alejandro Monteverde | Stars: Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, Kurt Fuller, Bill Camp
Votes: 528
25. Padre Pio (II) (2022)
R | 104 min | Biography, Drama
WWI has ended but events surrounding the first free election in Italy threaten to tear the village apart. Padre Pio struggles with his own personal demons, ultimately emerging to become one of Catholicism's most venerated figures.
Director: Abel Ferrara | Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Cristina Chiriac, Marco Leonardi, Salvatore Ruocco
Votes: 460
26. The Offer (2022)
18 | 586 min | Biography, Drama
Oscar-winning producer Albert S. Ruddy's never-before-revealed experiences of making The Godfather (1972).
Stars: Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, Dan Fogler, Burn Gorman
Votes: 32,904
27. The Irishman (2019)
14A | 209 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
An illustration of Frank Sheeran's life, from W.W.II veteran to hit-man for the Bufalino crime family and his alleged assassination of his close friend Jimmy Hoffa.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel
Votes: 404,221 | Gross: $7.00M
28. Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World (2023)
PG | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The life and boxing career of George Foreman.
Director: George Tillman Jr. | Stars: Khris Davis, Jasmine Mathews, Sullivan Jones, Lawrence Gilliard Jr.
Votes: 2,437
29. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
PG | 152 min | Action, Biography, Drama
American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference and the laws of physics to build a revolutionary race car for Ford in order to defeat Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe
Votes: 419,488 | Gross: $117.62M
30. Spinning Gold (2023)
14A | 137 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A biopic of 1970s record producer Neil Bogart, co-founder of Casablanca Records.
Director: Timothy Scott Bogart | Stars: Jeremy Jordan, Michelle Monaghan, Jay Pharoah, Lyndsy Fonseca
Votes: 658
31. Elvis (2022)
PG | 159 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The life of American music icon Elvis Presley, from his childhood to becoming a rock and movie star in the 1950s while maintaining a complex relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
Director: Baz Luhrmann | Stars: Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge, Helen Thomson
Votes: 208,807 | Gross: $151.04M
32. Catch Me If You Can (2002)
PG | 141 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Barely 21 yet, Frank is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. FBI agent Carl becomes obsessed with tracking down the con man, who only revels in the pursuit.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen
Votes: 1,022,220 | Gross: $164.62M
33. Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway (2023)
PG | 133 min | Biography, Drama
An immigrant Indian mother's battle against the Norwegian foster care system and local legal machinery to win back the custody of her children.
Director: Ashima Chibber | Stars: Rani Mukerji, Jim Sarbh, Bodhisattwa Majumdar, Saswati Guhathakurta
Votes: 6,416
34. Hidden Figures (2016)
G | 127 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.
Director: Theodore Melfi | Stars: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner
Votes: 240,924 | Gross: $169.61M
35. The Greatest Showman (2017)
PG | 105 min | Biography, Drama, Musical
Celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
Director: Michael Gracey | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya
Votes: 293,159 | Gross: $174.34M
36. The Pianist (2002)
AA | 150 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A Polish Jewish musician struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II.
Director: Roman Polanski | Stars: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Votes: 856,784 | Gross: $32.57M
37. The Big Short (2015)
14A | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
In 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the United States mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.
Director: Adam McKay | Stars: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt
Votes: 447,182 | Gross: $70.26M
38. Blonde (2022)
R | 167 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
The story of American actress Marilyn Monroe, covering her love and professional lives.
Director: Andrew Dominik | Stars: Ana de Armas, Lily Fisher, Julianne Nicholson, Tygh Runyan
Votes: 66,236
39. The Glass Castle (2017)
14A | 127 min | Biography, Drama
A young girl comes of age in a dysfunctional family of nonconformist nomads with a mother who's an eccentric artist and an alcoholic father who would stir the children's imagination with hope as a distraction to their poverty.
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton | Stars: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Naomi Watts, Ella Anderson
Votes: 36,222 | Gross: $17.27M
40. Braveheart (1995)
18A | 178 min | Biography, Drama, History
Scottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen
Votes: 1,056,208 | Gross: $75.60M
41. Everest (2015)
PG | 121 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
The story of New Zealand mountaineer Rob Hall, who on May 10, 1996, together with Scott Fischer, teamed up on a joint expedition to ascend Mount Everest.
Director: Baltasar Kormákur | Stars: Jason Clarke, Ang Phula Sherpa, Thomas M. Wright, Martin Henderson
Votes: 224,186 | Gross: $43.48M
42. Moneyball (2011)
PG | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.
Director: Bennett Miller | Stars: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Votes: 440,025 | Gross: $75.61M
43. The Dropout (2022)
TV-MA | 403 min | Biography, Drama
TV series that chronicles Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes' attempt to revolutionize the healthcare industry after dropping out of college and starting a technology company.
Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Michel Gill, William H. Macy
Votes: 29,968
44. Flamin' Hot (2023)
PG-13 | 99 min | Biography, Drama, History
This is the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez who as a Frito Lay janitor disrupted the food industry by channeling his Mexican heritage to turn Flamin' Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon.
Director: Eva Longoria | Stars: Tony Shalhoub, Dennis Haysbert, Jesse Garcia, Matt Walsh
Votes: 186
45. Green Book (2018)
PG | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.
Director: Peter Farrelly | Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco
Votes: 519,775 | Gross: $85.08M
46. Coach Carter (2005)
PG | 136 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.
Director: Thomas Carter | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Rick Gonzalez, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown
Votes: 160,779 | Gross: $67.26M
47. Joy (I) (2015)
PG | 124 min | Biography, Drama
Joy is the story of the title character, who rose to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.
Director: David O. Russell | Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Edgar Ramírez
Votes: 140,544 | Gross: $56.45M
48. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)
PG | 144 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A joyous, emotional, heartbreaking celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston, one of the greatest female R&B pop vocalists of all time, tracking her journey from obscurity to musical super stardom.
Director: Kasi Lemmons | Stars: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie
Votes: 16,661
49. Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022–2024)
TV-MA | 534 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of a cannibalistic serial killer named Jeffrey Dahmer A.K.A. the Milwaukee Monster.
Stars: Evan Peters, Richard Jenkins, Molly Ringwald, Niecy Nash
Votes: 140,159
50. Hamilton (2020)
G | 160 min | Biography, Drama, History
The real life of one of America's foremost founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Captured live on Broadway from the Richard Rodgers Theater with the original Broadway cast.
Director: Thomas Kail | Stars: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry
Votes: 101,614