By Bryanne Salazar
3:01pm PDT, Mar 21, 2022
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Jennifer Lopez delivered a breakthrough performance in the 1997 biopic "Selena." The drama about the late Tejano singer turned the at the time little-known actress into a major Hollywood star. The movie tells the story of Selena's childhood as a member of her family's band, Selena y Los Dinos, and her life leading up to her cataclysmic rise to fame, which ended in her shocking murder by a trusted family friend. In honor of the film's 25th anniversary on March 21, 2022, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at some of the best and most talked-about biopics ever…
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2021's "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" takes on the lives of infamous controversy-plagued televangelists Tammy Faye Bakker (played by Jessica Chastain) and husband Jim Bakker (portrayed by Andrew Garfield). The film was a critical darling, earning Jessica a SAG Award, a Critics Choice Award and an Academy Award nomination.
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After taking a long hiatus from Hollywood, Renee Zellweger signed on to play the titular role of Judy Garland in 2019's "Judy." Viewers were awed by how much Renee looks and sounds like the troubled but beloved "The Wizard of Oz" singer-actress. Renee was so convincing, she took home the award for best actress at the 2020 Oscars.
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The 2010 film "The Social Network" stars Jesse Eisenberg as a young Mark Zuckerberg. It chronicles the tumultuous tale of how social networking platform Facebook came to be and how what was once a Harvard student-only rating system quickly turned into a multibillion-dollar company mired in legal and personal turmoil.
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In the heartbreaking 1993 biopic "Schindler's List," Liam Neeson plays German businessman and unlikely hero Oskar Schindler. Set during WWII, the film explores the true story of how Oskar went from being a greedy opportunist to a savior who rescued an estimated 1,100 Jewish people from the Holocaust by employing them in his factory. The movie, which is regarded as one of the top 100 films ever made, won seven Oscars.
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Starring Florence Pugh, 2019's "Fighting with My Family" tells the real-life origin story of Paige, the former WWE Divas Champion wrestler. Having grown up in an impassioned wrestling family in Norwich, England, Paige receives a huge opportunity to try out for the WWE. When she lands a coveted spot in the training program, she's forced to experience life in America and life without her closest ally — brother Zak, who's also a talented wrestler. The film, which is both entertaining and heartfelt, also stars Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden and Vince Vaughn and featured a cameo from real-life WWE alum Dwayne Johnson, who produced the movie.
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In the 2014 biographical drama "American Sniper," Bradley Cooper stars as fallen Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle. The film explores Chris's military career, which earned him the nickname "Devil of Ramadi" due to his lethal shooting precision, as well as Chris's untimely death at the hands of a fellow veteran. The movie was nominated for six Oscars.
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In the 2004 Oscar-winning film "Ray," Jamie Foxx stars as legendary musician Ray Charles. The musical biopic delves into Ray's life after he loses his sight at 9 and charts the rise of his career in the Seattle jazz scene as well as the ways in which he struggles to remain sober and faithful to his wife (played by Kerry Washington) while on tour. Jamie earned an Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of the genre-crossing, soulful musician.
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In the 2016 Oscar-nominated biographical drama "Hidden Figures," actresses Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monae bring to life the true story of NASA mathematicians Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine G. Johnson and Mary Jackson, respectively. The film explores how these women, true heroes of history, served as "human computers" who did complex calculations enabling the historic launch and, later, landing of astronaut John Glenn.
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The Academy Award-winning 1982 biopic "Gandhi" remains one of the most powerful looks at the life and courage of India's father of civil rights, Mahatma Gandhi. Starring Ben Kingsley in the titular role, the film touches on the former lawyer's early experiences with injustice and racial discrimination in South Africa before exploring his return to India and history-making fight for freedom from colonial British rule.
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If overcoming a painful childhood, fighting addiction and finding true love don't sound like subjects for the best biopic ever, we don't know what does. The 2005 film "Walk the Line" starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon chronicled the lives and loves of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. It was so heartfelt, emotional and well-acted that it won multiple awards including a best actress Oscar for Reese.
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In the 2015 biopic "Straight Outta Compton," O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr. and Aldis Hodge star as the members of boundary breaking hip-hop group N.W.A. The story kicks off in 1986 and follows the group's inception, the release of their debut album, "Straight Outta Compton," and the complications and tragedies that follow after they make it big. F. Gary Gray's film has been praised for its visceral and emotional depictions of gang violence, police brutality and systemic racism.
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The musical biopic "Rocketman" hit theaters in 2019. Starring Taron Egerton as legendary singer Elton John, the film explored the star's early life as a musical prodigy through his meteoric rise to fame as one of the most powerful performers of our lifetimes. The movie brought in almost $200 million at the box office, making it the fourth most successful musical biopic ever.
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Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo stars as abolitionist Harriet Tubman in the 2019 biopic "Harriet." After enduring dangerous circumstances to escape from slavery herself, Harriet goes on to liberate the lives of countless other slaves through the Underground Railroad. The film, which was directed by Kasi Lemmons, features a star-studded cast that includes Leslie Odom Jr., Janelle Monae and Joe Alwyn.
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The 1998 biopic "Gia" starring Angelina Jolie tells the tragic tale of Gia Carangi, the fashion model whose promising career takes a dark turn after her agent passes away. Without anyone to keep her on the right path, Gia's life begins to fall apart as she turns to heroin to help her cope. In 1999, Angelina won a Golden Globe for her compelling and poignant portrayal of the late model who died from HIV/AIDS.
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In the 2009 biographical drama "Milk," Sean Penn stars as openly gay politician and civil rights activist Harvey Milk. Set in the 1970s, the film follows Harvey's highly publicized campaign for the seat of city supervisor in San Francisco amidst the LGBTQ community's fight for civil rights. Sean went on to win an Oscar for his performance, which critics called one of the best of his career.
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The four-time Oscar-winning film "The King's Speech" tells the true story of King George VI's speech impediment and struggle to master public speaking under the weight of his sudden ascension to the British throne in 1937. Starring Colin Firth as the monarch and Helena Bonham Carter as his devoted wife, Queen Elizabeth (the parents of Queen Elizabeth II), the 2010 movie also explores the unlikely friendship that blossomed between George and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush).
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Russell Crowe stars in the riveting 2001 biopic "A Beautiful Mind," a drama about the life and psychological struggles of math genius John Nash. Set in the 1950s, the film explores John's rise as one of the top minds in mathematics, leading to a teaching position at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Unbeknownst to John, he's also dealing with severe mental health problems including hallucinations that he believes are real. The film won numerous awards including an Oscar for best picture.
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This one is often hailed as the late Philip Seymour Hoffman's greatest performance. His work in the 2005 historical biopic "Capote" led to his first Oscar nomination and only win. The film explores quirky writer Truman Capote's fascination with the 1959 story of a murdered Kentucky family, which led him to travel to the crime scene from New York to write about the events as he formed a strange friendship with one of the accused murderers.
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Director Spike Lee gave the world the 1992 biopic "Malcolm X" starring Denzel Washington in the title role. The powerful film explored Malcolm's early years as a criminal before a life-changing experience in prison led him to change, become a minister and, later, the leader of the Black Nationalist party.
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In the 2017 Oscar-winning biopic "I, Tonya," Margot Robbie stars as Tonya Harding, the infamous figure-skating villain who was linked to a bizarre attack on her Olympic competitor, Nancy Kerrigan, in 1994. Exploring the often contradictory stories surrounding Tonya's involvement in the attack, the film also delves deep into the ice skater's dysfunctional and at times cruel childhood, painting a sympathetic picture of a woman who would later be banned from the U.S. Figure Skating Association for life.
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Salma Hayek brought history to life as the star of the 2002 biographical drama "Frida." The film explores the evolution of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo from her early life through her chaotic and passionate romance with husband and fellow artist Diego Rivera. The movie won two Oscars and introduced a new generation to the talent and legacy of one of Mexico's greatest creative forces.
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Starring Rami Malek as Queen singer Freddie Mercury and Gwilym Lee as lead guitarist Brian May, 2018's "Bohemian Rhapsody" explores the early years of the band up until their show-stopping performance at the 1985 "Live Aid" benefit concert six years before Freddie died from AIDS-related pneumonia. The movie received mixed reviews from critics but was loved by audiences and Hollywood. "Bohemian Rhapsody" grossed more than $903 million worldwide and earned four Oscars (including a best actor Academy Award for Rami) plus a Golden Globe for best picture.
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Tom Hanks stars as Fred Rogers in 2019's "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," a biopic based on the life of beloved minister and TV host Mr. Rogers. The film, which was directed by Marielle Heller, centers on the life-changing friendship between Fred and journalist Tom Junod.
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In the Oscar-winning 2014 biographical thriller "The Imitation Game," audiences learned about the amazing mind of English mathematician Alan Turing, who helped crack the Nazi Enigma code during WWII. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan (Keira Knightley co-starred as his friend and fellow decoder Joan Clarke), the film also explores Alan's homosexuality, which led police to investigate him for "gross indecency" and, later, a sentence of chemical castration before his alleged suicide in 1954.
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In the dramatic 2014 biopic "Selma," David Oyelowo (center) stars as civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. during his historic fight for voting rights in 1965 following the legal end to segregation in America. The Oscar-winning film depicts his heroic efforts in deeply divided Selma, Alabama, where the Black vote was being illegally suppressed and violence against African American protesters and their allies had reached an all-time high.
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Starring Natalie Portman, 2016's "Jackie" follows the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the days following the 1963 assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. While struggling with grief, the former first lady is forced to make significant decisions that will shape her husband's legacy and the way in which she is viewed — not just by her own country, but by the rest of the world.
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The 2010 indie biopic "The Runaways," which stars Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie, tells the story of the legendary female rock band The Runaways. The film, which is based on Cherie's book "Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway," explores the band's inception, rise and the tumultuous relationship between its two frontwomen.
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Will Smith stars in the 2001 biopic "Ali," which follows history-making boxer Muhammad Ali from 1964 to 1974. The film explores his rise to fame including his heavyweight title win over Sonny Liston, his conversion to the Islamic faith, his fall from grace in the boxing world, his return to the ring and more. For his portrayal as the riveting American athlete, Will earned an Academy Award nomination for best actor.
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The 2018 historical biopic "First Man" stars Ryan Gosling as famed astronaut Neil Armstrong. The film examines Neil's life from 1961 to 1969 leading up to the historic space mission that allowed him to become the first person to ever walk on the moon.
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In the 2017 Oscar-nominated drama "Molly's Game," Jessica Chastain stars as Molly Bloom, a former Olympic skiing hopeful who becomes the organizer of an underground high-stakes gambling ring that includes wealthy and famous players. In the film, Idris Elba co-stars as Molly's reluctant attorney who represents her after her life is turned upside down by an FBI raid.
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In 2018, Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell starred in the heartbreaking biopic "Beautiful Boy." The film is based on the memoirs of David Sheff and son Nic, which detail their chaotic, painful journey through Nic's addiction to crystal meth and eventual recovery. For his work, Timothee earned Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and Critics Choice Award nominations.
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Few can forget the haunting 2013 biographical drama "12 Years a Slave" starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as abolitionist and author Solomon Northup, a free Black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery for more than a decade. The film, which co-stars Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender, went on to win three Oscars including best picture and best supporting actress for Lupita.
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Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the 2004 biopic "The Aviator," which chronicles aviation mogul Howard Hughes' tragic private life. To the outside world, he's a widely successful film director, a sought-after lover to Hollywood actresses like Katharine Hepburn (seen here played by Cate Blanchett) and a pioneering figure in aviation — though behind closed doors, he struggled for years with his mental health. For his portrayal as the troubled billionaire, Leo took home a Golden Globe.
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The 2014 Oscar-winning biopic "The Theory of Everything" led Eddie Redmayne to win an Oscar for his portrayal of world-famous theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking. The movie details Stephen's early brilliance and enchanting romance with his first wife, Jane Hawking (played by Felicity Jones), and explores his diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disease ALS, which left him severely handicapped for the rest of his life.
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Starring John Cusack, Paul Dano and Elizabeth Banks, the 2014 biopic "Love & Mercy" tells the story of Beach Boys co-founder and frontman Brian Wilson as he struggles with mental illness in the '60s and '80s. The film, which was directed by Bill Pohlad, has been praised for its accurate and poignant retelling of Brian's most formative life moments.
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In the 2004 biopic "The Motorcycle Diaries," Gael Garcia Bernal plays Latin American revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara in the months leading up to his transformation from wide-eyed college student to radical political activist. The film, based on Che's private diaries, follows him and friend Alberto as they set out on a 5,000-mile tour of South America one semester before Che would graduate from medical school. It highlights how his experiences with South America's poorest communities inspired him to change his path.
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Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the titillating 2013 biopic "The Wolf of Wall Street," which is based on the life of former stockbroker-turned-author Jordan Belfort. The film, which depicts the brazen debauchery, drug abuse and criminal enterprises Jordan and his colleagues participated in during the 1990s, earned critical acclaim and five Oscar nominations, including a best picture nod.
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Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie star in the historical biopic "Mary Queen of Scots," which hit theaters in 2018. The drama highlights the 16th century fight for power between cousins Queen Mary (Saoirse) and Queen Elizabeth I (Margot), which ended with the imprisonment and ultimate death of the Scottish ruler.
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Keira Knightley stars as 19th century French author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette in the 2018 biopic "Colette." The film explores Colette's journey from rural country girl to Parisian ghostwriter under the guidance of her author husband, Willy. As her novels grow in popularity, so does Colette's desire to take ownership for her work, her life and, ultimately, her sexuality.
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Melissa McCarthy's "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" arrived in theaters in 2018. The film chronicles the criminal downfall of celebrity biographical writer Lee Israel. The drama, which explores Lee's descent into literary forgery following a financially difficult time in her life, was nominated for best adapted screenplay at the 2019 Academy Awards and earned Melissa an Oscar nod for best actress.
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The extraordinary life story of Selena Quintanilla-Perez has also been portrayed on the small screen. Christian Serratos plays the slain Tejano music star on the Netflix show "Selena: The Series," which debuted in 2020 and concluded in 2021.
