Top 50 Biography Movies and TV Shows
1. Candy (2022)
TV-MA | 257 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Candy Montgomery is a 1980s housewife and mother who did everything right - but when the pressure of conformity builds within her, 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: 4,738
2. The Staircase (2022)
TV-MA | Biography, Crime, Drama
Tells the story of Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home, and the 16-year judicial battle that followed.
Stars: Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Patrick Schwarzenegger
Votes: 5,008
3. The Offer (2022)
TV-MA | 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: 4,459
4. We Own This City (2022)
TV-MA | 357 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Tells the story of the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it.
Stars: Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, Josh Charles
Votes: 4,338
5. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022– )
TV-MA | 59 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports' most revered and dominant dynasties - a team that defined an era, both on and off the court.
Stars: John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, Jason Clarke, Gaby Hoffmann
Votes: 13,249
6. Elvis (2022)
PG-13 | 159 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A look at the life of the legendary rock and roll star, Elvis Presley.
Director: Baz Luhrmann | Stars: Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge, Dacre Montgomery
7. Angelyne (2022)
TV-MA | Biography, Drama
Fame, identity, billboards, Corvettes, women teasing men, men obsessed with women, West Hollywood, crystals, UFOs, and the self-proclaimed Rorschach test in pink, glow-in-the-dark queen of the universe, Angelyne.
Stars: Emmy Rossum, Alex Karpovsky, Hamish Linklater, Charlie Rowe
Votes: 387
8. Gaslit (2022)
TV-MA | Biography, Drama, History
A modern take on the 1970s political Watergate scandal centering on untold stories and forgotten characters of the time.
Stars: Julia Roberts, Sean Penn, Dan Stevens, Betty Gilpin
Votes: 1,666
9. Our Flag Means Death (2022– )
TV-MA | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Biography
The year is 1717. Wealthy landowner Stede Bonnet has a midlife crisis and decides to blow up his cushy life to become a pirate. It does not go well. Based on a true story.
Stars: Rhys Darby, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Nathan Foad
Votes: 18,723
10. The First Lady (2022– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Biography, Drama, History
In the East Wing of the White House, many of history's most impactful and world-changing decisions have been hidden from view, made by America's charismatic, complex and dynamic first ladies.
Stars: Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson, O-T Fagbenle
Votes: 1,946
11. Julia (2022– )
TV-MA | Biography, Drama
Inspired by Julia Child's extraordinary life and her show The French Chef, which essentially invented food television.
Stars: Sarah Lancashire, David Hyde Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, Fran Kranz
Votes: 5,565
12. 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, Michaela Watkins, Michel Gill
Votes: 14,622
13. The Crown (2016– )
TV-MA | 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 twentieth century.
Stars: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith
Votes: 191,424
14. Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
TV-MA | 152 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A woman becomes a powerful underworld figure.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali | Stars: Alia Bhatt, Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari
Votes: 46,792
15. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
R | 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: 1,343,732 | Gross: $116.90M
16. Gentleman Jack (2019– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Biography, Drama, History
A dramatization of the life of LGBTQ+ trailblazer, voracious learner, and cryptic diarist Anne Lister.
Stars: Sophie Rundle, Suranne Jones, Ben Hunter, Gemma Whelan
Votes: 12,179
17. Love and Death (2022– )
Biography, Crime, Drama | Post-production
Two church going couples, enjoying small town family life in Texas, until somebody picks up an axe.
Stars: Elizabeth Olsen, Patrick Fugit, Jesse Plemons, Fabiola Andújar
18. Oppenheimer (2023)
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: Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Kenneth Branagh
19. The Danish Girl (2015)
R | 119 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.
Director: Tom Hooper | Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Amber Heard, Ben Whishaw
Votes: 182,072 | Gross: $11.11M
20. Father Stu (2022)
R | 124 min | Biography, Drama
Follows the life of Father Stuart Long, a boxer-turned-priest who inspired countless people during his journey from self-destruction to redemption.
Director: Rosalind Ross | Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, Malcolm McDowell, Teresa Ruiz
Votes: 3,028
21. WeCrashed (2022)
TV-MA | 427 min | Biography, Drama
The greed-filled rise and inevitable fall of WeWork, one of the world's most valuable startups, and the narcissists whose chaotic love made it all possible.
Stars: Jared Leto, Anne Hathaway, Kyle Marvin, Anthony Edwards
Votes: 8,874
22. The Girl from Plainville (2022)
TV-MA | 360 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Inspired by the true story of Michelle Carter's unprecedented "texting-suicide" case. Explores Carter's relationship with Conrad Roy III and the events that led to his death and, later, her conviction of involuntary manslaughter.
Stars: Elle Fanning, Chloë Sevigny, Cara Buono, Colton Ryan
Votes: 3,755
23. Ford v Ferrari (2019)
PG-13 | 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: 368,125 | Gross: $117.62M
24. 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, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Sacha Dhawan
Votes: 39,294
25. Pam & Tommy (2022)
TV-MA | 340 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Follows the story of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's relationship, going back to their whirlwind romance that started with them marrying after only knowing each other for 96 hours in 1995.
Stars: Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman
Votes: 27,494
26. Tombstone (1993)
R | 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: 144,579 | Gross: $56.51M
27. Goodfellas (1990)
R | 145 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mob, covering his relationship with his wife Karen Hill and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito in the Italian-American crime syndicate.
Director: Martin Scorsese | Stars: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Votes: 1,117,511 | Gross: $46.84M
28. Schindler's List (1993)
R | 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: 1,318,218 | Gross: $96.90M
29. Narcos (2015–2017)
TV-MA | 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: 405,493
30. Blow (2001)
R | 124 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The story of how George Jung, along with the Medellín Cartel headed by Pablo Escobar, established the American cocaine market in the 1970s in the United States.
Director: Ted Demme | Stars: Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, Franka Potente, Rachel Griffiths
Votes: 256,363 | Gross: $52.99M
31. Belfast (2021)
PG-13 | 98 min | Biography, Drama
A young boy and his working-class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960s.
Director: Kenneth Branagh | Stars: Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie, Caitríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan
Votes: 58,954
32. The Survivor (2021)
R | 129 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
After World War II, Harry Haft is a boxer who fought against his peers in concentration camps. Haunted by memories, he tries to use fighting legends as a way to find his love.
Director: Barry Levinson | Stars: Ben Foster, Billy Magnussen, Vicky Krieps, Peter Sarsgaard
Votes: 1,978
33. Pistol (2022– )
Biography, Drama, Music | Completed
Based on the memoir of Steve Jones, the legendary Sex Pistols guitarist who helped usher in a punk revolution in Britain.
Stars: Maisie Williams, Dylan Llewellyn, Louis Partridge, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo
34. 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: 272,607 | Gross: $174.34M
35. Spartacus (2010–2013)
TV-MA | 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: 237,433
36. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
R | 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: 503,128 | Gross: $67.21M
37. Super Pumped (2022– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Biography, Drama
The roller-coaster ride of the upstart transportation company, embodying the highs and lows of Silicon Valley.
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kyle Chandler, Kerry Bishé, Babak Tafti
Votes: 3,703
38. Black Mass (2015)
R | 123 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.
Director: Scott Cooper | Stars: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton
Votes: 179,140 | Gross: $62.58M
39. The Imitation Game (2014)
PG-13 | 114 min | Biography, Drama, Thriller
During World War II, the English mathematical genius Alan Turing tries to crack the German Enigma code with help from fellow mathematicians while attempting to come to terms with his troubled private life.
Director: Morten Tyldum | Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Allen Leech
Votes: 750,305 | Gross: $91.13M
40. American Crime Story (2016– )
TV-MA | 42 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
An anthology series centered around America's most notorious crimes and criminals.
Stars: Sarah Paulson, Annaleigh Ashford, Sterling K. Brown, Kenneth Choi
Votes: 93,931
41. Chariots of Fire (1981)
PG | 125 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Two British track athletes, one a determined Jew and the other a devout Christian, are driven to win in the 1924 Olympics as they wrestle with issues of pride and conscience.
Director: Hugh Hudson | Stars: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell, Nigel Havers
Votes: 59,649 | Gross: $58.97M
42. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
PG-13 | 134 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the legendary British rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid (1985).
Director: Bryan Singer | Stars: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy
Votes: 517,891 | Gross: $216.43M
43. King Richard (2021)
PG-13 | 144 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams.
Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green | Stars: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal, Saniyya Sidney
Votes: 93,082
44. Moneyball (2011)
PG-13 | 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: 411,680 | Gross: $75.61M
45. The King (I) (2019)
R | 140 min | Biography, Drama, History
Hal, wayward prince and heir to the English throne, is crowned King Henry V after his tyrannical father dies. Now the young king must navigate palace politics, the war his father left behind, and the emotional strings of his past life.
Director: David Michôd | Stars: Tom Glynn-Carney, Gábor Czap, Tom Fisher, Edward Ashley
Votes: 122,496
46. Braveheart (1995)
R | 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: 1,017,859 | Gross: $75.60M
47. The Big Short (2015)
R | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
In 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the US 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: 416,613 | Gross: $70.26M
48. Bombshell (I) (2019)
R | 109 min | Biography, Drama
A group of women take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network.
Director: Jay Roach | Stars: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow
Votes: 111,610
49. The Lost City of Z (2016)
PG-13 | 141 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
A true-life drama, centering on British explorer Major Percival Fawcett, who disappeared whilst searching for a mysterious city in the Amazon in the 1920s.
Director: James Gray | Stars: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland
Votes: 89,453 | Gross: $8.58M
50. Hamilton (2020)
PG-13 | 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: 87,570