20 essential (fictional) movies about music

This Cameron Crowe film about a fictional band called Stillwater is inspired by the director’s own experiences as a young music journalist writing for publications like Creem and Rolling Stone. Starring Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, and Anna Paquin, the film earned Crowe an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. 

This satirical “biopic” about a rags-to-riches country legend named Dewey Cox stars John C. Reilly and Jenna Fischer, among other talents. It’s goofy to be sure, but also boasts some pretty solid country tunes (the soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy Award) and a cameo from rocker Jack White as Elvis Presley. 

This 1984 mockumentary following fictional British metal band Spinal Tap is the definition of a cult classic. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Reiner himself in a merciless skewer of 1970s rockstar attitudes and the fallout of celebrity. 

Starring Jamie Foxx as legendary bluesman Ray Charles, this biopic is among the finest in a long line of music biopics from the past two decades. Foxx plays the piano and sings as Charles in the film, and his stellar performance earned the actor a Best Actor Academy Award. 

Based on the award-winning Broadway play of the same name, “Dreamgirls” boasts an all-star cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, and Jennifer Hudson. Portraying the trials and triumphs of a Motown-era girl group, the film earned Hudson an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2007. 

Considering that this film has been made three different times — the first in 1937, then in 1976, then again in 2018 — “A Star Is Born” is definitely a classic music film. The most iconic iteration, the 1976 remake, stars Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, but the 2018 remake with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper 

Starring R&B icon Prince in the lead role, “Purple Rain” is a stunning showcase of The Purple One’s incredible talents as a performer and songwriter. Prince stars as The Kid, the frontman of a Minneapolis band that’s on the rise, as he navigates his complicated home life and music stardom. 

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon star as Johnny and June Carter Cash in this 2005 biopic that follows the country legends’ early lives and budding romance in the mid-1960s. The film earned almost universal critical acclaim and a slew of awards, including Oscar wins for Phoenix and Witherspoon. 

This 2019 film features Renee Zellweger in an Oscar-winning performance of Judy Garland, the troubled chanteuse that made “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” an American standard. The film follows Garland’s life from her abusive beginnings in Hollywood film to the final shows she performed in London before her health began to fail. 

This film, starring Jennifer Lopez in the titular role, explores the all-too-brief life of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, a Tejano music icon poised for a big break into mainstream music. It’s definitely a tear-jerker, and arguably Lopez’s finest performance as an actress. The music, too, is also endlessly catchy. 

A film that’s more about loving music than making it, “High Fidelity” is an adaptation of the 1995 novel by Nick Hornby. Centered around the story of Rob Gordon, a record store owner and music snob who’s going through a break-up, the film is deeper than it presents on the surface. Ultimately, it’s about depression and love and growing up, making it perfect for Gen Xer with a serious hankering for nostalgia. 

This fictionalized take on rapper Eminem’s unlikely ascent to fame was a sleeper hit when it was released in 2002, earning both Marshall “Eminem” Mathers and co-star Brittany Murphy critical acclaim for their performances. 

Val Kilmer stars as Jim Morrison, the endlessly creative — and endlessly tortured — frontman of ‘60s rock legends The Doors. Directed by Oliver Stone, the film has been criticized for glamorizing certain events and not portraying Morrison accurately, but critics almost universally praised Kilmer’s immersive performance as one of rock’s most mysterious stars. 

Based on a Saturday NIght Live sketch featuring Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi, “The Blues Brothers” is a goofy film that’s serious about good music. Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, John Lee Hooker, and Ray Charles all make appearances in the film, each playing a unique role in the wild adventures of Jake and Elwood Blues. 

Released in 1980, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” stars Sissy Spacek as Loretta Lynn, an up-and-coming country star from rural Appalachia. Inspired by Lynn’s legendary song of the same name, the film earned Spacek an Academy Award for Best Actress, along with a Best Picture nomination. 

This 1987 film, starring Lou Diamond Phillips, tells the story of Richie Valens, an up-and-coming Mexican-American rock star. Valens was tragically killed in the same 1959 plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. The film is packed with music, all of which is performed by California rock band Los Lobos. 

In the early 1990s, no rap group made bigger waves than N.W.A. The group, composed of Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and MC Ren, was among the first “gangsta rap” acts to find mainstream success, which came with a great deal of controversy. The film follows the act from its beginning to its break-up and beyond, and even stars Ice Cube’s actual son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., in a lead role. 

Based on the life of Jewish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, who survived the horrors of the Holocaust, Adrien Brody’s performance in “The Pianist” earned him a Best Actor Academy Award in 2003. 

Named after the popular Elton John song, “Rocketman” fantastically follows the trajectory of Elton John, from his time as a student at the Royal Academy of Music to ‘70s superstardom. Taron Egerton stars as Elton John, with Jamie Bell on deck as Bernie Taupin. The film earned multiple award nominations, including an Oscars win for Best Original Song for “I’m Gonna Love Me Again,” penned by John and Taupin for the film. 

Starring Rami Malek as the greatest showman in rock-and-roll history, this Freddie Mercury biopic earned mixed reviews thanks to its inconsistent timeline of Queen’s history. But Malek’s performance as Mercury is seriously electric, making it worth the watch.