The trailer for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic has garnered huge attention. But if you want to check out other pop star biopics – here are some of the best.
When the first trailer for Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic, dropped a couple of days ago, the internet went wild. The clip has been viewed more than 30 million times on YouTube at the time of writing.
the movie, with Jaafar Jackson – nephew of Michael – playing Michael, is set to follow the singer’s journey from finding stardom with the Jackson 5 to becoming a solo pop icon in the 1980s.
But Michael doesn’t come out in cinemas until April next year. So to sate your appetite for rock and pop star biopics, here are six of the best you to watch.
Rocketman
This biopic of the man born Reg Dwight – but known the world over as Elton John – takes the story of a shy boy who seeks the love of his father and his evolution into an international megastar in the 1970s. Taking the form of a jukebox musical – using songs as dramatic devices – it follows Elton’s career, and songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin, alongside his slide into addictions and loneliness before his eventual redemption.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
It is more than 30 years since Freddie Mercury passed away, but he is still renowned for being one of the best rock frontmen of all time. In Bohemian Rhapsody it tells the story of how the man born Farrokh Bulsara met his bandmates in Queen, and how they came to dominate the rock world in the 1970s and 80s. it also delves into Mercury’s sexuality and the excesses he got up to during those times. Rami Malek played Mercury in a standout performance, which charts Mercury right up until Queen’s defining performance at Live Aid in 1985.
Walk the Line (2005)
Joaquin Phoenix delivered a standout performance as The Man in Black, country music star Johnny Cash in this biopic, which was based on two autobiographies by Cash. Reese Witherspoon, who plays Cash’s wife, June Carter, was also widely praised for her performance.
The movie focuses on Cash’s early life – including poverty – and his gradual rise to become a blues star. It also follows his relationship with June, who initially rebuffs his advances as Johnny sinks into drug addiction, before she helps him clean up and the reconcile.
Elvis (2022)
This big budget biopic of the King of Rock was co-produced and directed by Baz Luhrmann and starred Austin Butler as Elvis – a breakout role for the actor – and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The movie focuses on Elvis’ early career and how Parker becomes his manager and helps mastermind his swift ascent to superstardom, followed by how their relationship changes, with Parker acting not always with Elvis’ best intentions at heart – and their eventual falling out, before the singer’s death in 1977. The movie then follows Parker until his death 20 years later.
Elvis was a huge hit on its release and received eight Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture.
What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)
This movie follows young Anna Mae Bullock from a tough childhood to when she is brought up on stage by Ike Turner, leader of the Kings of Rhythm band to sing. The movie then follows Anna – now renamed Tina Turner – and her burgeoning career, but also how her marriage to Ike turns violent. It records her escape from Ike, followed by how she rebuilds her career – culminating in the song What’s Love Got To Do With It. Angela Bassett played Tina and received widespread praise for the portrayal of the singer.
Get on Up (2014)
This biopic of funk star James Brown starred the late Chadwick Boseman in one of his finest performances. Brown was unconventional in music and in life, so it felt right that the biopic was too. It doesn’t use a traditional linear structure, more following Brown’s stream of consciousness as he recalls various pivotal events in his life. It covers his childhood – marked by poverty and abuse – through a stint in prison, to his rise to prominence in the music world, as well as various relationships. The movie doesn’t shy away from the more negative aspects of Brown’s life.
