Inspirational Women's History Singer and Musician Biopics
by urbanemovies | created - 22 Mar 2019 | updated - 06 Feb 2023 | PublicEach March in the USA, we recognize female achievements during Women's History Month. Biographical movies are a great way to educate the public about landmark events in the struggle for gender equality. At the same time, these movies honor and celebrate each woman's achievement with the star power they deserve. Bios Source: Wikipedia.com
Which of these select female musically-inclined artists* inspires you the most, or alternatively their biopic does? * Singers, Musicians, Composers, Songwriters, Promoters, Etc.
Women's History Month Companion Polls: Leader Biopics : Trailblazer Biopics : Humanitarian Biopics : Sports Biopics : Writer Biopics : Singer/Musician Biopics : Visual Artist Biopics : Performance Artist Biopics
Discuss the topic here.
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1. The Sound of Music (1965)
G | 172 min | Biography, Drama, Family
A young novice is sent by her convent in 1930s Austria to become a governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer.
Director: Robert Wise | Stars: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn
Votes: 261,219 | Gross: $163.21M
Maria Von Trapp: Singer, Trapp Family Singers
2. Funny Girl (1968)
G | 151 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The life of Fanny Brice, famed comedienne and entertainer of the early 1900s. We see her rise to fame as a Ziegfeld girl, subsequent career, and her personal life, particularly her relationship with Nick Arnstein.
Director: William Wyler | Stars: Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, Kay Medford, Anne Francis
Votes: 25,176 | Gross: $58.50M
Fanny Brice: Illustrated Song Model and Singer
Funny Lady (1975)
3. La Vie En Rose (2007)
PG-13 | 140 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Biopic of the iconic French singer Édith Piaf. Raised by her grandmother in a brothel, she was discovered while singing on a street corner at the age of 19. Despite her success, Piaf's life was filled with tragedy.
Director: Olivier Dahan | Stars: Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner
Votes: 90,769 | Gross: $10.30M
Édith Piaf: Singer
4. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999 TV Movie)
R | 120 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Dorothy Dandridge's way to fame and fortune as a dancer, singer and actress.
Director: Martha Coolidge | Stars: Halle Berry, Brent Spiner, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Obba Babatundé
Votes: 3,920
Dorothy Dandridge: Singer
5. Walk the Line (2005)
PG-13 | 136 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick
Votes: 265,925 | Gross: $119.52M
June Carter Cash: Singer, Songwriter and Musician
6. The Runaways (2010)
R | 106 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A coming-of-age biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways. The relationship between band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett is also explored.
Director: Floria Sigismondi | Stars: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Stella Maeve
Votes: 50,959 | Gross: $3.57M
Joan Jett & Cheri Currie: Singers, Songwriters and Musicians
7. Bessie (2015 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 115 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of legendary blues performer Bessie Smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and '30s.
Director: Dee Rees | Stars: Queen Latifah, Kamryn Johnson, Rikki McKinney, Alan T. Coleman
Votes: 4,791
Bessie Smith: Singer
8. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
PG-13 | 111 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson
Votes: 59,596 | Gross: $27.38M
Florence Foster Jenkins: Singer
9. Cadillac Records (2008)
R | 109 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists.
Director: Darnell Martin | Stars: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyoncé, Columbus Short
Votes: 23,139 | Gross: $8.20M
Etta James: Singer
10. Selena (1997)
PG | 127 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts.
Director: Gregory Nava | Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda, Jackie Guerra
Votes: 31,652 | Gross: $35.42M
Selena: Singer
11. Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
PG | 124 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The fictionalized life of singer Loretta Lynn, a girl who rose from humble beginnings to become a country music star in the 1960s/70s.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Levon Helm, Phyllis Boyens
Votes: 20,520 | Gross: $67.18M
Loretta Lynn: Singer
12. Hilary and Jackie (1998)
R | 121 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The tragic story of world renowned classic cellist Jacqueline du Pré, as told from the point of view of her sister, flautist Hilary du Pré-Finzi.
Director: Anand Tucker | Stars: Emily Watson, Rachel Griffiths, James Frain, David Morrissey
Votes: 10,740 | Gross: $4.87M
Jacqueline du Pré: Cellist
Hilary du Pré: Flautist
13. What's Love Got to Do with It (1993)
R | 118 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of singer Tina Turner's rise to stardom and how she gained the courage to break free from her abusive husband, Ike Turner.
Director: Brian Gibson | Stars: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, RaéVen Kelly, Virginia Capers
Votes: 24,597 | Gross: $39.10M
Tina Turner: Singer
14. Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
R | 144 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the troubled life and career of the legendary Jazz singer, Billie Holiday.
Director: Sidney J. Furie | Stars: Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan
Votes: 4,848 | Gross: $6.03M
Billie Holliday: Singer
Alternate Biopic: The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
15. The Josephine Baker Story (1991 TV Movie)
R | 130 min | Biography, Drama, History
Born poor in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine Baker achieved fame and fortune through her sizzlingly exotic, erotic performances. Starting life on the American Vaudeville circuit, success ... See full summary »
Director: Brian Gibson | Stars: Lynn Whitfield, Rubén Blades, David Dukes, Louis Gossett Jr.
Votes: 1,591
Josephine Baker: Singer
16. Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
Passed | 122 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A fictionalized account of the career of jazz singer Ruth Etting and her tempestuous marriage to gangster Marty Snyder, who helped propel her to stardom.
Director: Charles Vidor | Stars: Doris Day, James Cagney, Cameron Mitchell, Robert Keith
Votes: 4,746
Rutt Etting: Singer
17. Sweet Dreams (1985)
PG-13 | 115 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of Patsy Cline, the velvet-voiced country music singer who died in a tragic plane crash at the height of her fame.
Director: Karel Reisz | Stars: Jessica Lange, Ed Harris, Ann Wedgeworth, David Clennon
Votes: 5,390 | Gross: $9.09M
Patsy Cline: Singer
18. Monica Z (2013)
111 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The world famous Swedish jazz singer, actress and icon Monica Zetterlund's life through stardom and hardship.
Director: Per Fly | Stars: Edda Magnason, Sverrir Gudnason, Kjell Bergqvist, Vera Vitali
Votes: 4,324
Monica Zetterlund: Singer
19. CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story (2013 TV Movie)
105 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of Legendary hip hop/r&b/pop trio TLC.
Director: Charles Stone III | Stars: Keke Palmer, Rochelle Aytes, Evan Ross, Carl Anthony Payne II
Votes: 2,477
TLC: Singers Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.
20. Roxanne Roxanne (2017)
TV-MA | 100 min | Biography, Drama, Music
In the late 80s/ early 1990s, the most feared battle MC in Queens, New York, was a fierce teenage girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. At the age of 14, Lolita "Roxanne ... See full summary »
Director: Michael Larnell | Stars: Chanté Adams, Nia Long, Mahershala Ali, Germar Terrell Gardner
Votes: 3,665
Roxanne Shante: Rapper and Hip Hop Musician
21. Mozart's Sister (2010)
Not Rated | 120 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A reimagined account of the early life of Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozart, five years older than Wolfgang, and a musical prodigy in her own right.
Director: René Féret | Stars: Marie Féret, Marc Barbé, Delphine Chuillot, David Moreau
Votes: 1,615 | Gross: $0.71M
Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozarth: Harpsichord Player and Fortepianist
22. Nina (I) (2016)
Not Rated | 90 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of the late jazz musician and classical pianist Nina Simone, including her rise to fame and relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson.
Director: Cynthia Mort | Stars: Zoe Saldana, David Oyelowo, Kevin Mambo, Ronald Guttman
Votes: 3,055
Nina Simone: Singer
23. Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 88 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of music and video star Aaliyah, whose life ended tragically in a 2001 plane crash in the Bahamas.
Director: Bradley Walsh | Stars: Alexandra Shipp, Elise Neal, Christopher Jacot, Elena Juatco
Votes: 1,477
Aaliyah: Singer
24. Britney Ever After (2017 TV Movie)
TV-14 | 84 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A chronicle of the life and career of singer Britney Spears, from humble beginnings on the Mickey Mouse Club to mega stardom, a heavily publicized fall from grace, and a monumental comeback.
Director: Leslie Libman | Stars: Natasha Bassett, Nathan Keyes, Nicole Oliver, Matthew Harrison
Votes: 1,137
Britney Spears: Singer
25. Judy (II) (2019)
PG-13 | 118 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts.
Director: Rupert Goold | Stars: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell
Votes: 54,858
Judy Garland: Singer
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001)
26. The Conductor (2018)
137 min | Biography, Drama
Antonia Brico dreams of becoming a conductor, but she isn't taken seriously because she is a woman.
Director: Maria Peters | Stars: Christanne de Bruijn, Benjamin Wainwright, Scott Turner Schofield, Seumas F. Sargent
Votes: 4,344
Antonia Brico: Conductor
Alternate Biopic: Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman (1974)
added 05 February 2020
27. I Am Woman (2019)
TV-MA | 116 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of 1970s musician and activist Helen Reddy.
Director: Unjoo Moon | Stars: Chris Parnell, Evan Peters, Danielle Macdonald, Matty Cardarople
Votes: 2,892
Helen Reddy: Singer
added 10 April 2021
28. Respect (2021)
PG-13 | 145 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin's career from a child singing in her father's church's choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice.
Director: Liesl Tommy | Stars: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Tituss Burgess
Votes: 17,852
Aretha Franklin: Singer
added 25 January April 2022
29. Anita (2021)
137 min | Biography, Drama, History
Traces the life of Anita Mui, Hong Kong's legendary Cantopop star.
Director: Lok Man Leung | Stars: Louise Wong, Louis Koo, Fish Liew, Ka-Tung Lam
Votes: 1,206
Anita Mui: Singer Hong Kong Cantopop star
added 05 February 2023
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