30 Must-Watch Biopics from the 2020s (So Far) You Cannot Miss

Biographical films in the 2020s have covered scientists, artists, activists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and political leaders. Studios and streamers have backed stories built on memoirs, authorized biographies, investigative books, and court records. The decade has also brought wider global financing and distribution, which means audiences can find biopics in theaters and on major platforms with equal ease.

This list brings together thirty feature films that depict real lives with attention to documented events and credible source material. Each entry notes the key creative team, principal cast, and the focus of the story, along with production and release details that help you decide what to watch and where to find it.

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)

Christopher Nolan directs with Cillian Murphy as J Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as Katherine Oppenheimer. The script draws from the Pulitzer winning biography American Prometheus and follows research at Los Alamos along with the security hearings that reshaped the physicist’s public life. The film also features Robert Downey Jr as Lewis Strauss and Matt Damon as Leslie Groves.

It was photographed by Hoyte van Hoytema using large format film with sequences in color and black and white. Universal Pictures handled global distribution and Ludwig Goransson composed the score. The production filmed in New Mexico and California and received multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture.

‘Maestro’ (2023)

Bradley Cooper directs and stars as Leonard Bernstein with Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre. The narrative covers Bernstein’s conducting career, composing work, and family life, with a focus on the marriage that shaped his personal and professional choices. The project was developed with the cooperation of the Bernstein estate.

Netflix financed and released the film after a festival run. Matthew Libatique served as cinematographer and Michelle Tesoro edited. The production uses a blend of black and white and color to mark periods in the couple’s life and it earned high profile nominations across major awards bodies.

‘Elvis’ (2022)

Baz Luhrmann directs with Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker. The film traces Presley’s early influences, the breakthrough at Sun Records, and the Las Vegas residency era while mapping the business decisions managed by Parker. It uses a mix of archival material and staged performances to recreate key concerts.

Filming took place in Queensland with Warner Bros overseeing the release. Costume and production design departments recreated tours and television appearances in detail and the soundtrack blends original recordings with new performances. The film received multiple nominations at the Academy Awards and other international ceremonies.

‘Napoleon’ (2023)

Ridley Scott directs with Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte and Vanessa Kirby as Josephine. The story follows campaigns across Europe along with the relationship that influenced the leader’s decisions at court and in exile. The production stages major battles with large scale practical effects and location work.

Apple Original Films financed the project with a wide theatrical run through Sony followed by streaming availability on Apple TV Plus. An extended cut was prepared for the platform release. Costume design highlights uniforms and court attire based on period research and the production used sets in the United Kingdom and Malta.

‘King Richard’ (2021)

Reinaldo Marcus Green directs with Will Smith as Richard Williams and Aunjanue Ellis as Oracene Price. The film covers the development of training plans for Venus and Serena Williams, the junior circuit, and the professional breakthrough that followed. It is based on interviews and family accounts with input from the Williams family.

Warner Bros released the film theatrically and on streaming. It earned multiple major award nominations and Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The production shot on courts and neighborhoods that reflect the family’s training environment and Kris Bowers provided the score.

‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ (2021)

Michael Showalter directs with Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker and Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker. The film adapts a documentary of the same name and covers the rise of televangelism, the expansion of PTL, and the investigations that followed. It also depicts Tammy Faye’s music career and outreach work.

Searchlight Pictures distributed the film after a festival premiere. Hair and makeup departments recreated iconic on air looks and Chastain performs several songs associated with Tammy Faye. The film won Academy Awards for Best Actress and Makeup and Hairstyling.

‘Spencer’ (2021)

Pablo Larrain directs with Kristen Stewart as Diana Princess of Wales. The story is set over a Christmas holiday at Sandringham and focuses on family obligations, press scrutiny, and personal turning points rooted in documented events. Steven Knight wrote the screenplay and the production consulted period details for wardrobe and protocol.

Jonny Greenwood composed the score and Claire Mathon served as cinematographer. Neon and STX handled distribution in different territories. Stewart received major award nominations for her performance and the wardrobe team recreated outfits associated with public appearances and private life.

‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ (2022)

Kasi Lemmons directs with Naomi Ackie as Whitney Houston and Stanley Tucci as Clive Davis. The narrative follows gospel roots, early record deals, and the run of chart singles along with film work on titles such as ‘The Bodyguard’ and ‘Waiting to Exhale’. The production uses original vocal tracks licensed from Houston’s recordings.

Sony Pictures released the film wide with an extended cut available on home platforms. Costumes and hair departments reference tour looks and iconic award show appearances. Ackie’s performance is built around meticulous syncing to studio masters and the film includes recreations of Super Bowl and arena performances.

‘Priscilla’ (2023)

Sofia Coppola directs with Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley and Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley. The screenplay adapts the memoir Elvis and Me and follows life at Graceland, the early relationship in Germany, and the later separation that defined Priscilla’s independence. The production secured access to personal recollections and period photographs.

A24 released the film in North America with additional partners internationally. The crew shot interiors that mirror Graceland rooms and costume design tracks uniforms, school outfits, and later fashion choices. Spaeny received a best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for the role.

‘Ferrari’ (2023)

Michael Mann directs with Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari and Penelope Cruz as Laura Ferrari. The plot centers on the company’s financial pressures and the Mille Miglia road race, along with family dynamics that influenced business decisions. The script draws from Brock Yates’s book Enzo Ferrari The Man and the Machine.

Neon released the film domestically with international partners handling other markets. Daniel Pemberton composed the score and Erik Messerschmidt was the cinematographer. The production filmed in Italy using period cars and detailed mechanical replicas for racing sequences.

‘Rustin’ (2023)

George C Wolfe directs with Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. The story chronicles the organization of the March on Washington and Rustin’s collaboration with civil rights leaders including A Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King Jr. It is based on documented planning meetings, correspondence, and contemporary reporting.

Higher Ground produced the film for Netflix after principal photography in Pittsburgh and other locations. Domingo received nominations for major acting awards and the ensemble portrays key organizers and volunteers. The film highlights logistical challenges such as transportation, permits, and crowd management.

‘Nyad’ (2023)

Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin direct with Annette Bening as Diana Nyad and Jodie Foster as Bonnie Stoll. The narrative covers training cycles, support teams, and navigation decisions during the Cuba to Florida swim attempt. It adapts Nyad’s memoir Find a Way and includes technical details of open water endurance swimming.

Netflix released the film following a festival debut. Bening and Foster received Academy Award nominations for their performances. The production worked with marine coordinators to stage long ocean sequences and used practical support boats and safety protocols to depict the crossing.

‘Chevalier’ (2023)

Stephen Williams directs with Kelvin Harrison Jr as Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint Georges. The story follows his education, ascent in Parisian society, musical achievements, and the social constraints he faced. The screenplay is based on historical biographies and archival research.

Searchlight Pictures distributed the film with theatrical and streaming windows. Composer Kris Bowers created original music that interacts with period pieces and the production designed concert halls and salons with reference to eighteenth century architecture. Wardrobe emphasizes court attire and stage costumes.

‘The Iron Claw’ (2023)

Sean Durkin directs with Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Harris Dickinson as members of the Von Erich family. The film traces careers in professional wrestling along with family relationships and the demands of the business. It relies on interviews, biographies, and sports archives for match details and personal history.

A24 released the film nationwide after a festival premiere. Chavo Guerrero Jr advised on ring choreography and the production built full size arenas for key bouts. Hair and costume teams recreated promotion era looks and championship belts with attention to period specific materials.

‘BlackBerry’ (2023)

Matt Johnson directs with Jay Baruchel as Mike Lazaridis and Glenn Howerton as Jim Balsillie. The story adapts the book Losing the Signal and follows the company from startup to market dominance and eventual decline. It covers product development, carrier negotiations, and executive decisions documented in reporting and legal records.

Elevation Pictures released the film in Canada and IFC handled the United States. The production used real office locations and prop devices to recreate early hardware. It earned numerous awards in Canada including Best Motion Picture at the national screen awards.

‘Air’ (2023)

Ben Affleck directs with Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. The narrative follows Nike’s effort to sign Michael Jordan and the creation of the Air Jordan line. The screenplay draws on memoirs and reporting about the negotiation process and brand strategy.

Amazon MGM Studios gave the film a wide theatrical release before streaming on Prime Video. Production design recreated the Beaverton campus and period offices and costume design mirrors corporate attire and basketball culture of the era. The soundtrack features licensed tracks from the time and the film received strong notices for its ensemble.

‘Tetris’ (2023)

Jon S Baird directs with Taron Egerton as Henk Rogers and Nikita Efremov as Alexey Pajitnov. The plot follows the complex licensing battle for the game across multiple territories during the final years of the Soviet Union. The screenplay uses court filings, contracts, and participant interviews to chart who controlled distribution rights.

Apple TV Plus released the film globally. The production mixes location work and staged sets for Moscow offices and trade fairs and it incorporates stylized graphics to echo classic gameplay. The cast speaks multiple languages to reflect negotiations among companies and government entities.

‘Golda’ (2023)

Guy Nattiv directs with Helen Mirren as Golda Meir. The narrative focuses on decision making during the Yom Kippur War and cabinet level meetings that shaped the government response. The script incorporates transcripts, memoirs, and official records related to the conflict.

Bleecker Street released the film in the United States with additional partners abroad. The production uses confined settings to portray war rooms and medical appointments and the makeup team built prosthetics to transform the lead actor. The score and sound design emphasize communications traffic and field reports.

‘One Life’ (2023)

James Hawes directs with Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton and Johnny Flynn as Winton in earlier years. The story recounts efforts to organize transport for children from Czechoslovakia and the later recognition that brought the story to public attention. The film is based on biographies and personal archives.

Warner Bros handled the release in the United Kingdom with different distributors in other regions. Production took place in London and Prague with sets built for rail stations and government offices. The film features Helena Bonham Carter as Winton’s mother and includes material that reflects contemporary news coverage.

‘Till’ (2022)

Chinonye Chukwu directs with Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Mobley and Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till. The film covers the events in Mississippi and the activism that followed, with scenes drawn from court transcripts and family testimony. It focuses on the work that led to public attention and later legislation.

United Artists Releasing and Orion Pictures managed the distribution. The film’s production consulted historians and the Till family to ensure accuracy in names, locations, and procedures. Deadwyler’s performance received major nominations across critics groups and guild awards.

‘The Good Nurse’ (2022)

Tobias Lindholm directs with Jessica Chastain as nurse Amy Loughren and Eddie Redmayne as Charles Cullen. The film adapts Charles Graeber’s nonfiction book and follows hospital procedures, chart audits, and investigative techniques that exposed serial killings. It depicts inter hospital transfers and the roles of risk management teams.

Netflix released the film worldwide. The production shot in real medical facilities with technical advisers from nursing and law enforcement. Redmayne received nominations at several award shows and the screenplay focuses on documentation practices and patient safety systems.

‘Devotion’ (2022)

J D Dillard directs with Jonathan Majors as Jesse Brown and Glen Powell as Tom Hudner. The story is based on Adam Makos’s book and covers flight training, carrier operations, and combat missions during the Korean War. It highlights the friendship that led to a Medal of Honor incident that is recorded in military history.

Sony Pictures released the film after an aerial unit shot sequences with restored Corsair aircraft. The production filmed at airfields and on water tanks to recreate carrier decks. The soundtrack features orchestral music with period songs and the film received recognition for aerial cinematography.

‘The Lost King’ (2022)

Stephen Frears directs with Sally Hawkins as Philippa Langley and Steve Coogan as John Langley. The film dramatizes the search that located the remains of King Richard III in a Leicester car park. It adapts the book by Langley and Michael Jones and includes scenes that reflect city council procedures and archaeological protocols.

Pathé and BBC Film produced the project with IFC Films handling the United States release. The production worked with the University of Leicester team on research details for excavation and identification. It shows chain of custody for remains and the subsequent reburial planning.

‘Blonde’ (2022)

Andrew Dominik directs with Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe. The film adapts Joyce Carol Oates’s novel and blends documented events with fictionalized inner life while covering studio contracts, photo shoots, and press tours. It includes recreations of scenes from ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’.

Netflix released the film with an NC 17 rating in the United States. Chayse Irvin served as cinematographer and the production used multiple aspect ratios and black and white sequences to mirror period imagery. De Armas received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

‘Mank’ (2020)

David Fincher directs with Gary Oldman as Herman J Mankiewicz and Amanda Seyfried as Marion Davies. The script by Jack Fincher follows the writing of ‘Citizen Kane’ and studio politics at RKO and MGM. It incorporates memos, correspondence, and trade press accounts from the era.

Netflix released the film after principal photography in California. Erik Messerschmidt won the Academy Award for Cinematography and the production also won for Production Design. The score is by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and the film uses period accurate sound techniques.

‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ (2020)

George C Wolfe directs with Viola Davis as Ma Rainey and Chadwick Boseman as Levee. The film adapts August Wilson’s play and follows a recording session that reveals industry power structures and artistic control. It references details from Rainey’s career and the blues scene in Chicago.

Netflix distributed the film worldwide. It won Academy Awards for Costume Design and Makeup and Hairstyling and received additional nominations for acting and production. The soundtrack features performances that reflect period instrumentation and studio practices.

‘The Banker’ (2020)

George Nolfi directs with Anthony Mackie as Bernard Garrett and Samuel L Jackson as Joe Morris. The story follows real estate investments and banking acquisitions used to expand access to loans in segregated markets. It draws on interviews and legal records that document the partners’ strategies.

Apple TV Plus released the film after a limited theatrical run. Production design recreated offices and branches that match period architecture and wardrobe tracked business attire from the time. Nicholas Hoult portrays Matt Steiner, a key figure in front office operations for the enterprise.

‘Tesla’ (2020)

Michael Almereyda directs with Ethan Hawke as Nikola Tesla and Eve Hewson as Anne Morgan. The film covers Tesla’s work on alternating current, demonstrations with George Westinghouse, and the rivalry with Thomas Edison. It includes staged lectures and presentations based on contemporary reporting.

IFC Films distributed the release after a festival premiere. The production uses experimental storytelling devices including direct address and stylized projections to visualize patents and experiments. Jim Gaffigan appears as Westinghouse and Kyle MacLachlan appears as Edison.

‘Bob Marley: One Love’ (2024)

Reinaldo Marcus Green directs with Kingsley Ben Adir as Bob Marley and Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley. The film focuses on the recording of the Exodus era and the political violence that framed concerts in Kingston and London. It draws on family archives and interviews with collaborators.

Paramount Pictures released the film worldwide with strong turnout in music markets across multiple regions. The soundtrack features original recordings and newly mixed stems approved by the Marley estate. The production shot in Jamaica and the United Kingdom with locations that match historic venues.

‘Back to Black’ (2024)

Sam Taylor Johnson directs with Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse and Jack O’Connell as Blake Fielder Civil. The story follows the early club scene, the Island Records signing, and the creation of the album that gives the film its title. The production consulted music producers and friends to reconstruct writing and studio sessions.

StudioCanal released the film in the United Kingdom and Focus Features released it in North America. The soundtrack uses catalog tracks with new studio performances approved by rights holders. Hair and makeup departments recreated stage looks and tattoos with reference to photography from tours and festivals.

Share your favorite picks from this list and tell us which biographical films you think deserve a spotlight in the comments.