Movies About Real People

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, based on the autobiographical book of the same name by Jewish-Polish musician Władysław Szpilman. It stars Adrien Brody as Szpilman and follows his struggle to survive the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto of World War II. The film recounts Szpilman's separation from his family, his escape from the ghetto, and his harrowing fight for survival in the ruins of the city. It also features Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, and Emilia Fox in supporting roles. The film was a massive critical success, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Polanski, as well as Best Actor for Brody. It also earned numerous other accolades, including four BAFTA awards and two Golden Globe Awards. It is widely considered one of the best films of the early 21st century, and has become a classic of world cinema.

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

Amadeus is a 1984 period drama film which tells the story of 18th century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as seen through the eyes of his rival Antonio Salieri. Salieri is a respected court composer in Vienna, Austria and is jealous of Mozart's genius and enormous talent as a composer. He connives against Mozart for the attention of Emperor Joseph II. Salieri is tormented by his own mediocrity and repressed desires, and vows to do everything in his power to destroy Mozart as a way of getting revenge. The story is based on the life of Mozart and his struggles in a world of jealousy, envy and deceit. The film is directed by Milos Forman and stars Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham and Elizabeth Berridge. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Abraham and Best Director for Forman.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Marlene Dietrich
Rated Approved

Judgment at Nuremberg is a 1961 film directed by Stanley Kramer. It is set in 1948, during the Nuremberg Trials, when four German judges stand trial for war crimes they allegedly committed while serving in the Nazi regime. The trial is presided over by an American judge, played by Spencer Tracy, and features a stellar cast of actors including Burt Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Richard Widmark, and Montgomery Clift. The film examines the moral dilemma of judging the German judges for their wartime actions and attempts to explore the legal, political, and moral implications of the Nuremberg Trials. The film also touches upon topics such as guilt, responsibility, and justice. The film ends with the American judge ruling that the German judges were guilty, but that the law itself was also guilty.

From Peter Farrelly, starring Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Maniscalco
Rated PG-13

Green Book is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama film directed by Peter Farrelly. The film stars Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali as Dr. Don Shirley and Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, respectively, two men of very different social backgrounds who develop a friendship while traveling through the Deep South in 1962. Dr. Shirley is a black, world-renowned pianist and composer, and Tony Vallelonga is an Italian-American bouncer from the Bronx. The film follows their journey as they travel through the segregated deep south, relying on The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for African-Americans traveling through the south in the 1960s, to help them navigate through the racism and discrimination they face. During their journey, the two men learn to look past their differences and become friends. Green Book emphasizes themes of tolerance and understanding between different cultures and races, while also exploring the consequences of racism in the United States. Ultimately, this heartfelt journey of friendship and understanding serves to inspire hope for a brighter future.

From James Mangold, starring Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Caitríona Balfe
Rated PG-13

Ford v Ferrari is a thrilling sports drama directed by James Mangold. The movie follows the story of automotive designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale) as they battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford Motor Company to beat Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans Grand Prix race. Shelby and Miles must overcome numerous obstacles as they team up to create the revolutionary Ford GT40 and compete against the world’s most elite racing teams. Ultimately, their dedication, hard work, and passion for racing lead them to the greatest victory of their lives.

From Bryan Singer, starring Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy
Rated PG-13

Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 biopic about the iconic British rock band Queen and their lead singer Freddie Mercury. The film follows the band's meteoric rise to fame and Freddie's complicated personal life. It is directed by Bryan Singer and stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury. The film follows Queen from their formation in 1970, to their legendary performance at Live Aid in 1985. Along the way, Freddie struggles with his own inner demons while striving to keep the band together and make music that will stand the test of time. The film culminates in Queen's monumental performance at Live Aid, which cemented their legacy as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Bohemian Rhapsody is a powerful and emotional celebration of Queen's music and Freddie's unique spirit.

From David Fincher, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rooney Mara
Rated PG-13

The Social Network is a biographical drama about the founding of Facebook. It follows Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, who launches a controversial website which eventually becomes the worldwide social networking phenomenon, Facebook. Along his journey, he clashes with co-founder Eduardo Saverin, former friend and business partner Sean Parker, and the Winklevoss twins, who accuse him of stealing their idea. The movie explores the themes of ambition, power, money, and friendship, and examines the implications of social media on our lives. In the end, Mark's success and wealth come with a cost as he loses relationships and alienates those closest to him.

From Fernando Meirelles, starring Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Hopkins, Juan Minujín, Luis Gnecco
Rated PG-13

The Two Popes is a 2019 biographical drama film directed by Fernando Meirelles. Set in the modern era, it follows the story of Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins), the traditionalist Pope who resigns the papacy in 2013, and Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce), the progressive cardinal from Argentina who is elected to succeed him. Through a series of conversations, the two men develop an unexpected bond as they grapple with their vastly different views on the direction of the Catholic Church. The film explores the deep-rooted issues and ideological differences between the two Popes, while showing how their collaboration ultimately helped the Church to move forward.

From Richard Attenborough, starring Robert Downey Jr., Geraldine Chaplin, Paul Rhys, John Thaw
Rated PG-13

"Chaplin" is a biopic of one of the most influential and iconic figures in Hollywood history: Charlie Chaplin. The movie follows Chaplin's career and personal life, from his impoverished upbringing in London to the heights of Hollywood success. Through it all, we witness Chaplin's struggles to find love, acceptance, and respect in a world that was often cruel and unforgiving. The film is directed by Richard Attenborough, and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Chaplin and Geraldine Chaplin as his mother. The cast also includes Anthony Hopkins, Dan Aykroyd, and Paul Rhys. Along with its brilliant depiction of Chaplin's life, the film also features an outstanding musical score by John Barry.

From Martin Scorsese, starring Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Lee, Ben Kingsley
Rated PG

Hugo is an adventure drama set in 1930s Paris and centers around the orphaned Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield). After the death of his father, Hugo lives with his uncle, a clockmaker in a Paris railway station. When his uncle disappears, Hugo is left to maintain the clocks and evades a menacing station inspector (Sacha Baron Cohen). With the help of a young girl named Isabelle (Chloë Grace Moretz), Hugo embarks on a quest to find a broken automaton and a message from his father. Along the way, Hugo discovers the history of a famous movie pioneer Georges Méliès (Ben Kingsley), who was left penniless after a fire destroyed his studio. Hugo helps to restore Méliès' work and bring the cinema pioneer back into the spotlight. Ultimately, Hugo finds a sense of belonging and family in Isabelle and Méliès.

From Stephen Daldry, starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane
Rated PG-13

The Hours tells the story of three women from different eras of history whose lives are interconnected by Virginia Woolf and her novel Mrs. Dalloway. In 1923, Virginia Woolf begins writing the novel and struggles with her own mental health. In 1951, Laura Brown is a young housewife struggling to keep her family together while preparing for her husband’s birthday party. In 2001, Clarissa Vaughan is a vibrant New Yorker who is planning a party for her longtime friend and former lover, a renowned poet who is dying of AIDS. Each of the women carry on with their lives, connected by the beauty, pain, and passion of Virginia Woolf’s novel. The film focuses on the relationships between these characters and the impact the novel has had on their lives.

From Joe Wright, starring Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn
Rated PG-13

From Richard Curtis, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Michael Hadley
Rated R

From Amma Asante, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson, Miranda Richardson
Rated PG

From Kirill Serebrennikov, starring Roman Bilyk, Irina Starshenbaum, Teo Yoo, Filipp Avdeev
Rated Not Rated

From Nora Ephron, starring Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina, Stanley Tucci
Rated PG-13

From Franco Zeffirelli, starring Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Cher
Rated PG

From Simon Curtis, starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh, Julia Ormond
Rated R

From Saul Dibb, starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Charlotte Rampling
Rated PG-13

From Sarah Gavron, starring Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep
Rated PG-13

From Stephen Frears, starring Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Rebecca Ferguson
Rated PG-13

From Rupert Goold, starring Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell
Rated PG-13

From Anne Fontaine, starring Audrey Tautou, Benoît Poelvoorde, Alessandro Nivola, Marie Gillain
Rated PG-13

From Eric Till, starring Joseph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Peter Ustinov, Alfred Molina
Rated PG-13

From Phyllida Lloyd, starring Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant, Susan Brown
Rated PG-13