Biopics are storming Hollywood, and it’s no mystery why. In a world focused on true stories from podcasts, docuseries, and viral X threads, real-life tales resonate strongly. We can say that the years between 2015 and 2025 – the last decade of cinema was dominated by biopic genre.
Biopics combine prestige with popular appeal, winning Oscars and attracting audiences. Stars love the meaty roles, studios love the buzz, and audiences crave that “based on a true story” thrill. From Dylan to Elvis, it’s history remixed as blockbuster gold—trendy, timeless, and totally now. Biopics have a knack for turning real lives into cinematic gold, and the last five years (2020–2025) have delivered some absolute stunners. These films present performances and storytelling that offer new perspectives on historical events. Here is a ranking of the top five biopics since 2020, each notable for its unique approach.
🎾 5. King Richard (2021)
Why It’s Great: Will Smith’s Oscar-winning turn as Richard Williams, the relentless father-coach behind tennis legends Venus and Serena, is a revelation. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, this film sidesteps sports-movie clichés to focus on grit, family, and unshakeable vision. It’s not about the wins on the court—it’s about the battles off it. Smith’s electric energy and the film’s heart make it a sleeper hit that punches way above its weight.
Standout Moment: Richard’s “plan” speech—it’s raw, real, and unforgettable.
🎹 4. Maestro (2023)
Why It’s Great: Bradley Cooper doesn’t just play Leonard Bernstein—he inhabits him. As director and star, Cooper crafts a symphony of a film, blending the composer’s genius with his messy personal life. Carey Mulligan’s Felicia Montealegre is the quiet storm that anchors it all. Sure, it’s stylized to the hilt, but that bravado mirrors Bernstein’s own flair. This is a biopic that dares to be as big as its subject—and pulls it off.
Standout Moment: The Mahler conducting scene—pure ecstasy in motion.
👑 3. Elvis (2022)
Why It’s Great: Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis is a fever dream of glitter and grit, with Austin Butler delivering a hip-shaking, soul-baring performance that’s downright iconic. It’s less a straight biography and more a rocket ride through Presley’s rise and ruin, framed by Tom Hanks’ slimy Colonel Parker. The visuals pop, the music slaps, and Butler’s transformation is the stuff of legend. This is how you make a biopic feel alive.
Standout Moment: The ’68 Comeback Special—Butler owns it, and you can’t look away.
💣2. Oppenheimer (2023)
Why It’s Great: Christopher Nolan’s take on J. Robert Oppenheimer is a cerebral gut-punch, and Cillian Murphy’s haunted eyes carry the weight of the atomic age. This isn’t just a biopic—it’s a reckoning, weaving science, morality, and history into a tapestry of dread and brilliance. The ensemble (Downey Jr., Blunt, Pugh) is flawless, but Murphy’s quiet intensity steals the show. It’s a Best Picture winner for a reason: it’s monumental.
Standout Moment: The Trinity test—silence, then chaos, pure Nolan magic.
🎸1. A Complete Unknown (2024)
Why It’s Great: Topping the list is James Mangold’s A Complete Unknown, where Timothée Chalamet becomes Bob Dylan in a way that’s almost supernatural. This isn’t a cradle-to-grave slog—it’s a razor-sharp slice of Dylan’s 1961–1965 reinvention, culminating in that electric Newport moment. Chalamet sings, broods, and burns through the screen, backed by a killer cast (Norton, Fanning, Barbaro). It’s a folk-punk poem of a film—restless, raw, and utterly brilliant. Dylan himself gave it a nod, and that says it all.
Standout Moment: The Newport ’65 showdown—chills every time.
A Notable Mention
🌟 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Why It’s Great: Okay, it’s a cheat—2018 isn’t quite “last five years”—but Rami Malek’s Freddie Mercury is too electric to ignore. Directed by Bryan Singer (and Dexter Fletcher), this Queen biopic is a rollercoaster of glam and guts. Malek’s Oscar-winning strut and that jaw-dropping Live Aid finale outweigh any script wobbles. It’s a love letter to a legend, flaws and all.
Standout Moment: Live Aid, hands down—20 minutes of pure euphoria.
