For the last 20 years,the music biopic genrehas remained a steady constant, frequently elevating young actors to Oscar-winning fame and reviving musical legends as cinematic gods. From 2004’sRayto 2024’sBack to Black, music biopics have seen wildly different results at the box office, with half of the list eclipsing the $100 million mark. Creating the perfect rendition of this genre means marrying a star actor with a musical personality, but reaching box office success requires a bit of luck and a pinch of cosmic intervention.
Music biopics are a unique movie genre in that they crystallize contemporary culture’s mythology stories. Superstars like Freddy Mercury, Tupac, and Elvis sit atop the Pantheon of musical legends, and the event-style biopic blockbusters of today aim to capture their larger-than-life hero’s journey.These recent titles showcase the development of music biopics from star vehicles to bona fide mega-blockbuster hitswith lofty budgets blossoming alongside big box office returns. Using worldwide grosses viaBox Office Mojo, here are 15 music biopics ranked by box office success.
2023
$80,000,000
$383,532
2007
$20,000,000
$11,792,542
2021
$55,000,000
$32,882,823
2014
$30,000,000
$33,448,971
2009
$44,420,671
2024
$50,875,195
2017
$40,000,000
$55,668,698
$67,647,013
2004
$123,971,376
$70,000,000
$180,828,556
2005
$28,000,000
$186,797,986
2019
$195,320,400
2015
$201,634,991
2022
$85,000,000
$288,670,284
2018
$52,000,000
$910,813,521
15Maestro (2023)
With the lowest number by a large margin, Bradley Cooper’sMaestroearned just under $500,000 simply due to the film’s distributor. With Netflix at the helm of theatrical release, the Leonard Bernstein biopic was only available to theaters for a few weeks.
The popular streamer is known to disregard box office performance when determining a film’s success, instead relishingMaestro’s seven Oscar nominations,including acting nods for Cooper and Carey Mulligan.
14I’m Not There (2007)
While most music biopics are derided as big studio money grabs, 2007’sI’m Not Thereaims to take a more ambitiously artistic approach with its equally ambitious music star.Featuring six versions of Bob Dylan portrayed by six different actors, including an Oscar-nominated performance from Cate Blanchett.
This Todd Haynes-directed biopic is remembered fondly by the fans of the folk singer-turned-rock-star. Whilethe film’s $11 million worldwide box office gross doesn’t reflect its artistic achievements,I’m Not Therestill remains an important music biopic from the last two decades.
13Respect (2021)
Similar to Netflix’sMaestro, the Jennifer Hudson-starringRespectreceived predictably lower box office numbers because of greater industry pressures.Released in 2021,the Aretha Franklin biopic was hindered by the pandemic, including multiple delays and release date push-backs.
espectprobably performs reasonably better under normal circumstances, especially given its relatively larger budget, positive critical response, and strong acting performance from Hudson. Despite not receiving any Oscar nominations,the Franklin film remains one of the better entries from the recent music biopic boom.
12Get On Up (2014)
Before his breakout into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, actor Chadwick Boseman was making a name for himself with a series of successful biopics.After debuting as Floyd Little inThe Express: The Ernie Davis Story,Boseman would star as Jackie Robinson in42and James Brown in 2014’sGet On Up.
The King of Soul biopic received understandably lower numbers, given it was released on the same day as the smash hit MCU movieGuardians of the Galaxy.
11Notorious (2009)
Following the success of Eminem’s8 Mileand 50 Cent’sGet Rich or Die Tryin’, 2009’sNotoriousintroduced the hip hop biopic with the life story of The Notorious B.I.G.
Earning back two times its $20 million budget, the film was a relative success againstPaul Blart: Mall CopandGran Torino. Despite criticism from Lil Kim and overall mixed reviews,Notorioushelped pave the way for other hip hop biopics in the next decade.
10Back to Black (2024)
As the most recent entry, 2024’sBack to Blackwas released during a period of music biopic exhaustion.With an oversaturation of the genre in recent years, the film’s drab box office performance is likely due to audience fatigue.
The Amy Winehouse biopic has also received considerably more negative reviews in comparison to other films on the list.Like many biopics before it,Back to Blacksterilizes its music star byleaving out and changing Winehouse’s true story.
9All Eyez on Me (2017)
Despite falling quite low on the list,2017’sAll Eyez on Meperformed better than projected during its opening weekend run.Debuting at $26.7 million, the film also recorded a historic drop-off going into its second week.
As a result, the Tupac biopic barely recoups back its $40 million budget, probably due to its less than favorable reviews. WithNotorious’ Jamal Woolard reprising his role as Biggie Smalls,All Eyez on Mefits firmly in the lineage of hip hop biopics.
8Jersey Boys (2014)
As one of Clint Eastwood’s forgotten movies, 2014’sJersey Boyshoped to piggyback on the success of the Tony-winning musical of the same name.With a cast composed of actors from the Broadway show, the musical biopic based on The Four Seasons leans more into being a musical adaptation rather than an accurate biopic and, as a result, derailed the film’s box office success.
With many criticizing the film’s historical accuracy and general production process,Eastwood’sJersey Boysearned just over $67 million against a budget of $40 million.
7Ray (2004)
This recent music biopic boom was arguably initiated by the box office and Oscar success of 2004’sRay.Following the life story of legendary musician Ray Charles, the Jamie Foxx-starring biopic created the formula for the star-studded music biopics of today byperfectly nailing the casting of this historical figure.
With Foxx winning Best Actor for his performance,Rayis the first on the list to pass the $100 million mark and the first to solidify the genre as a lucrative investment.
6Bob Marley: One Love (2024)
To contradict the point made withBack to Black, 2024’sBob Marley: One Loveargues that the music biopic is not going away anytime soon.The Bob Marley movie had one of the best opening weekends for a music biopic, far surpassing its projected box office totals.
With Kingsley Ben-Adir starring in the titular role,Bob Marley: One Lovehas its critics as the film still relies on music biopic conventions rather than saying something new with the genre.
