The Best Music Biopics for Music-Biopic Haters

Films like Last Days, Control, and I’m Not There demonstrate that movies about music don't have to follow clichés. Many top music biopics avoid the usual tired tropes: overly dramatic moments of inspiration, skeptics warning the artist against their choices, the stubborn "it's my art" defense, and predictable reconciliations in the end.

Some films break convention by focusing on artists who didn’t have happy endings, such as Ian Curtis, Kurt Cobain, or Sid Vicious. Others mix fiction with fact to add flair to their stories. This approach is welcome, as truth is complex and sometimes tragic. Anything that moves away from safe, formulaic storytelling is appreciated.

These biopics stand out for not sticking to the usual formula. Steve Coogan portrays Tony Wilson—a character reminiscent of the UK Office's David Brent but as a 1990s music mogul from Manchester—in a lively story about the “Madchester” scene. This cultural movement birthed bands like Joy Division, The Happy Mondays, and The Stone Roses, capturing a moment “when even the white man starts dancing,” as Wilson says in the film.

“When even the white man starts dancing.” — Tony Wilson (in the film)

Author's summary: These music biopics defy clichés by exploring tragic figures and adding creative twists, offering fresh and compelling storytelling beyond tired, formulaic portrayals.

GQ — 2025-11-04

The Best Music Biopics for Music-Biopic Haters

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