Movies About Musicians On Netflix

From Roman Polanski, starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Rated R

The Pianist is a 2002 biographical drama film directed by Roman Polanski. It tells the story of Polish-Jewish musician Władysław Szpilman, a survivor of World War II and the Holocaust. Szpilman, a classical pianist and composer, is living in the Warsaw Ghetto until it is destroyed in the Nazi invasion of Poland. He then moves to the city and eventually finds himself living in the ruins of Warsaw. The film follows Szpilman as he struggles to survive and continues to play the piano in order to stay alive. He is ultimately aided by a German officer, who helps him find shelter and safety in the midst of the chaos of war. The film won several awards including the Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival and three Academy Awards, including Best Director for Polanski.

From Milos Forman, starring F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice
Rated R

Amadeus is a 1984 Academy Award-winning biopic film directed by Milos Forman based on the play of the same name by Peter Shaffer. The film tells the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, an Austrian musician and composer of genius in the late 18th century, and his rivalry with court composer Antonio Salieri. Amadeus chronicles the life of Mozart from his childhood to his death, focusing mainly on his tumultuous relationship with Salieri. Salieri, a court composer, is jealous of Mozart's musical genius and plots to ruin his career. In the end, Mozart triumphs over Salieri and his music lives on, while Salieri's life ends in despair. The film stars F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, and Elizabeth Berridge.

From James Mangold, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick
Rated PG-13

Walk the Line is an award-winning biopic about the life of legendary country music star, Johnny Cash. It follows his career from the 1950s, when he was a young man with a dream of making it big, to the 1970s, when he was a world-famous icon. The story follows Cash’s journey from his humble beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame and his struggles with addiction, isolation and personal demons. His relationship with his beloved June Carter, which eventually blossoms into a marriage, is also explored. The film features powerful performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, and is a heartfelt tribute to the man in black.

From F. Gary Gray, starring O'Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Neil Brown Jr.
Rated R

Straight Outta Compton is a 2015 biographical drama movie directed by F. Gary Gray. It follows the rise and the fall of the iconic rap group, N.W.A. The movie opens in the mid-1980s in Compton, California, where Dr. Dre (Corey Hawkins) and Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson Jr.) are living. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube form the group N.W.A., with Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell) as the group’s manager. The group quickly gains popularity and notoriety for their profane, socially conscious lyrics and West Coast gangsta rap sound. As the group’s fame and influence grow, they find themselves at the forefront of a cultural revolution, battling the racism and police brutality they face in their hometown and the music industry. However, the group soon begins to crack under the stresses of fame and fortune and the infighting between its members. With the death of Eazy-E, and the break-up of the group, the film follows each of the members’ individual paths as they navigate fame, music and success in their own ways. In the end, the legacy of N.W.A. is celebrated and

From Taylor Hackford, starring Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell
Rated PG-13

Ray is a biopic about the life of influential musician Ray Charles. It follows Charles from his childhood in the south, to his rise to fame in the 1950s, and his struggles with addiction and personal relationships throughout his life. The film paints a vivid portrait of the musical genius, focusing on his musical innovation, his fight against racism, and his relationships with his family, band, and various women in his life. With Jamie Foxx in the title role, the film was critically acclaimed for its accurate portrayal and Foxx's powerful performance, winning him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

From Anton Corbijn, starring Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Craig Parkinson, Alexandra Maria Lara
Rated R

Control is a 2007 British biographical drama film directed by Anton Corbijn and written by Matt Greenhalgh and starring Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Craig Parkinson, Joe Anderson and Alexandra Maria Lara. The film is a portrayal of the life of Ian Curtis, the lead singer of the post-punk band Joy Division. It follows his career, his personal life and his struggle with depression and epilepsy. The film focuses on the brief but intense life of Curtis, from the time he joins the band in 1976 and until his suicide in 1980. It chronicles the band’s growth in popularity and the subsequent pressures that come with that, as well as the difficulties of maintaining a personal life. The film also features performances by the band, as well as rare archival footage. Control received largely positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, and won multiple awards including the Camera d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Best British Film at the BAFTA awards and Best Film at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

From Michael Apted, starring Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones, Levon Helm, Phyllis Boyens
Rated PG

Coal Miner’s Daughter is a biographical film based on the life and career of country music singer Loretta Lynn. The film, directed by Michael Apted and starring Sissy Spacek, follows Loretta Lynn's childhood in rural Kentucky, her marriage and motherhood at a young age, and her rise to fame as a singer and songwriter. The film chronicles her struggles to reconcile fame and success with her life as a wife and mother, as well as her efforts to establish herself as an independent artist. Despite the obstacles she faces, Loretta Lynn perseveres and eventually achieves her dream of becoming a successful country music star. The film received several Academy Award nominations, and Sissy Spacek won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn.

From Bill Pohlad, starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
Rated PG-13

From Brian Gibson, starring Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, RaéVen Kelly, Virginia Capers
Rated R

From Steve Rash, starring Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith, Conrad Janis
Rated PG

From Oliver Stone, starring Val Kilmer, Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley
Rated R

From Clint Eastwood, starring Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora, Michael Zelniker, Samuel E. Wright
Rated R

From Alex Cox, starring Gary Oldman, Chloe Webb, David Hayman, Debby Bishop
Rated R

From Dan Fogelman, starring Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale
Rated R

From Luis Valdez, starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña
Rated PG-13

From Tate Taylor, starring Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis
Rated PG-13

From Tom Hanks, starring Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron, Tom Everett Scott
Rated PG

From Mark Rydell, starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton
Rated R

From Clint Eastwood, starring John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, Vincent Piazza
Rated R

From Gregory Nava, starring Jennifer Lopez, Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda, Jackie Guerra
Rated PG

From Todd Haynes, starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw
Rated R

From Kevin Spacey, starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, John Goodman, Bob Hoskins
Rated PG-13

From Bill Condon, starring Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover
Rated PG-13

From Floria Sigismondi, starring Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Stella Maeve
Rated R

From Albert Magnoli, starring Prince, Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos
Rated R