10 Most Disappointing Biopics of Beloved Musicians

Fans love it when the stories of their musical icons are captured accurately on screen. Who can ever forget Ray, starring Jamie Foxx? The script was as flawless as it could be. Besides that, Foxx nailed the singer’s voice and pendulum head movements perfectly. Austin Butler was also incredible in Elvis, with director Baz Luhrmann ensuring that no major detail about “The King of Rock and Roll” was left out. La Bamba, Straight Outta Compton, and Get On Up are some of the other musician biopics that were baked to magnificence.

Unfortunately, Hollywood tends to churn out more bad biopics about musicians than good ones. In most cases, the eventful nature of the subjects’ lives tends to be overwhelming for filmmakers. For example, Bruce Springsteen has written and recorded over 1000 songs in his lifetime. Such a level of industriousness can be extremely difficult to portray on film. Still, the movies above proved it’s possible to tell a good story about a beloved star, and we can only hope that the frustrating trend of duds ends soon.

Here are some of the most disappointing biopics of beloved musicians.

‘Bob Marley: One Love’ (2024)

Set in the 1970s, Bob Marley: One Love follows reggae icon Bob Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir) as he seeks to ease his country’s political tensions by organizing the “Smile Jamaica” concert. When an attempt is made on his life, he flees to London, where he records his greatest album, Exodus. Marley achieves worldwide fame but battles personal demons, including family instability caused by his bed-hopping ways and a melanoma diagnosis. The film ends as Marley and his band gear up to perform for the Jamaican crowd.

All Over the Place

As a singer whose career never went off the rails despite the numerous issues surrounding him, Bob Marley deserved better. One Love has multiple unnecessary scenes that go nowhere, leaving Kingsley Ben-Adir stranded. The shape-shifting narrative feels incoherent, devoting too much time to flashback montages and feverish dialogue rather than dwelling on the best parts of the reggae star’s life. Only two things save the film: the soundtrack and Ben-Adir’s performance. A huge chunk of the blame goes to scriptwriter Terence Winter, who ought to have brought some of the magic he did in projects like The Sopranos and The Wolf of Wall Street.

‘Stardust’ (2020)

Stardust introduces us to a young David Bowie (Johnny Flynn) in 1971 as he prepares for his first American tour to promote his third studio album, The Man Who Sold the World. Unsure about himself, he gets encouragement from publicist Ron Oberman (Marc Maron), who urges him to be more eccentric. Bowie thus overcomes his anxiety and other challenges brought about by mental illness, and creates his celebrated alter ego, Ziggy Stardust.

No Hits

Johnny Flynn’s sober presence adds a badly-needed jolt of energy to a biopic that is too content to coast along an ocean of well-worn clichés. Additionally, Stardust lacks a soul, but the production team isn’t to blame for that. David Bowie’s estate denied permission to use any of the star’s songs, so audiences are never treated to electric performances of the hits. Only a few covers are used. Away from that, this feels like a road trip drama rather than the biopic of one of the world’s most popular stars.

‘All Eyez On Me’ (2017)

All Eyez On Me chronicles the chaotic life and career of rap superstar Tupac Shakur (Demetrius Shipp Jr.), from his tough upbringing under the watchful eye of Black Panther activist Afeni Shakur (Danai Gurira), to his prison days, Hip Hop success, and acting exploits. The film also covers his infamous feud with fellow rapper, the Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard).

Project Your Eyez Elsewhere

Demetrius Shipp Jr., whose father actually worked with the larger-than-life icon on music videos, is great in the lead role. He looks just like Tupac, too. However, All Eyez on Me, which languished in development hell for years, only skims the surface while trying to cover as much as possible. And, for most of the first act, the narrative is uncomfortably becalmed because the character isn’t provided any plan of action. It’s a poor approach by director Benny Boom, mostly known for shooting music videos, not movies. Previously, directors John Singleton and Antoine Fuqua had been attached, and fans must probably be wishing the project had been reserved for either of them.

‘Jimi: All Is by My Side’ (2013)

Jimi: All Is by My Side depicts a year in the early life of Jimi Hendrix (André Benjamin), described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.” Events play out in London between 1966 and 1967, and we see Hendrix’s slow metamorphosis from an unknown guitarist to a star after meeting Linda Keith (Imogen Poots), who introduces him to all the right people.

Only a Taste

All Is by My Side faced the same pre-production challenge as Stardust, as Hendrix’s estate refused to grant permission to use his songs. This shouldn’t have been a problem, considering events occur before the musician became famous, but despite his reliance on heavy themes such as racial tension and drug use, and the casting of a talented musician (Andre 3000) as the lead, director John Ridley (better known for 12 Years a Slave) struggles to create something potent. The opening scene does as much to kill one’s enthusiasm for the story as it can, and from there, it never gets better. Hendrix’s former lover, Kathy Etchingham, later described the movie as “absolute nonsense.”

‘The Dirt’ (2019)

Based on the autobiography, Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band, The Dirt covers the rise of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe —Tommy Lee (Colson Baker/Machine Gun Kelly), Nikki Sixx (Douglas Booth), Mick Mars (Iwan Rheon), and Vince Neil (Daniel Webber), We see the band’s formation in 1980s Los Angeles, their fast rise to the top, and the all-too-common descent into depravity, The film takes us back key moments such as Vince’s deadly car crash, Nikki’s drug overdose, and the band’s near split.

Funny… But That’s All

From a characterization and storytelling perspective, The Dirt offers no surprises and barely tries to be original. The script is pretty pedestrian, with most of the supporting characters coming off as wafer-thin archetypes. Try hard, but you won’t find any noticeable exceptions. On the brighter side, the biopic is a little funny. Narrated with crude humor and occasional fourth-wall-breaking moments, it dives deep into the merriment side of rock-and-roll, hence making itself watchable.

‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ (2022)

I Wanna Dance with Somebody is the story of legendary singer Whitney Houston (Naomi Ackie). The biopic traces her inspiring journey from a New Jersey church choir to worldwide superstardom under the guidance of Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci). But as her fame rises, she struggles with a turbulent marriage to Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) and addiction to drugs.

I Wanna Complain With Somebody

Naomi Ackie is incredible in the lead role, and the film as a whole looks good, an aspect recognized at the 21st Visual Effects Society Awards. Regrettably, I Wanna Dance with Somebody doesn’t strive to do anything differently. It’s simply a checklist of the major events in Whitney’s life. There is a lack of emotional depth, with major turning points only being glossed over. The dark side of Whitney is largely avoided, too, to maintain a feel-good tone, an approach that damages the quality.

‘Back to Black’ (2024)

Back to Black is about the sad life of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse (Marisa Abela), beginning with her upbringing in a Jewish family in London and stretching all the way to her massive success after the release of Back to Black in 2006. After signing with Island Records, we see her rebelling against her label, indulging a little too much in alcohol, and beginning a turbulent romance with Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O’Connell).

Nothing New To Discover

The biopic was nominated for Best Make-Up & Hair Design, and you’ll indeed be awed by how the characters look. The soundtrack is amazing, too, but we never get to see a different Amy from the one we read about in the tabloids, nor powerful moments that make you say, “I like the part where she…” Of course, it’s nice to hear Marisa Abela lend her vocal talent to her stiff plastic characters, but what normally matters most in movies like this is the endless stream of emotional moments, not the high-pitched cacophony that pummels our eardrums.

‘Beyond the Sea’ (2004)

Kevin Spacey stars as singer and actor Bobby Darin in Beyond the Sea. The legend rises from a frail, ailing boy in the Bronx to a mid-20th-century star, making all the headlines. The film also dwells on Darin’s desire to outshine Frank Sinatra and his romance with actress Sandra Dee (Kate Bosworth).

Dizzying

Blending powerful musical numbers and self-referential narration, Beyond the Sea glows brightly in some segments. The performances are great, too. Notable is John Goodman, whose lived-in face reflects the hardscrabble side of Hollywood. Additionally, Kate Bosworth is outstanding in the role of Sandra. However, it’s Spacey who oversees the proceedings, and he sure deserves much credit for singing in his own voice. Still, Spacey, who was 45 at the time, looks too old for the part. He even portrays Darin as a teen. Beyond that, the story’s frequent jumps between timelines and fantasy sequences make it confusing.

‘Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story’ (2004)

Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a made-for-TV film starring Flex Alexander as the King of Pop. Addressing just about everything, the biopic takes us through the Jackson 5 days and then the many controversies surrounding the singer in his adult life. The child molestation allegations are also allocated a portion of the screen time.

No Moon-Walking

Though watchable, Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story appears to have something of an identity crisis. On the one hand, the biopic wants to celebrate the singer and acknowledge his contributions to the industry, but on the other, it wants to condemn him for the things he was accused of and later acquitted of. Even worse, none of Jackson’s songs are heard. They are only mentioned. On the brighter side, Flex Alexander gives one hell of a performance, an effort that earned him a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ (2025)

Based on Warren Zanes’ book of the same name, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere introduces audiences to rock icon Bruce Springsteen (Jeremy Allen White) in the early ‘80s, shortly after his massive success with The River. Understandably, labels push for more. As labels push for his next hit, Springsteen heads to a New Jersey house as a form of respite from the overwhelming glare of fame. There, he confronts childhood trauma and begins recording his acoustic masterpiece Nebraska on a four-track recorder.

Deliver Us From Boredom

With a cast consisting of heavyweights like Jeremy Strong and Stephen Graham, Deliver Me from Nowhere pleases those who watch movies for good acting. But those who’ll watch this for a proper, spellbinding Springsteen story will be left disappointed. For a biopic about one of the most energetic stars, it’s extremely slow. Part of that has to do with the misguided choice to focus on a calm period of the singer’s life. It’s something director Scott Cooper has been guilty of, having also dwelled too much on Whitey Bulger’s less-flattering side in Black Mass. Here, you’ll also find every trope you can think of.