Top 50 Greatest Biographical Movies (Biopics)

Films / Biographical Movies


A biopic, or a biographical movie, is a film that deals with the story of a well known person or group of people in history. Here's website containing a list of 50 films considered the greatest  biopics of all time as this time of posting.

1. Amadeus (1984)

The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was insanely jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him. The story is set in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the 18th century, and is a fictionalized story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from the time he left Salzburg, described by its writer as "fantasia on the theme of Mozart and Salieri". Mozart's music is heard extensively in the soundtrack of the film. Winner of 8 Academy Awaards (1984).

Director: Milos Forman | Stars: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice

2. Gandhi (1982)

Gandhi's character is fully explained as a man of nonviolence. Through his patience, he is able to drive the British out of the subcontinent. And the stubborn nature of Jinnah and his commitment towards Pakistan is portrayed.

Director: Richard Attenborough | Stars: Ben Kingsley, John Gielgud, Rohini Hattangadi, Roshan Seth

3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

The story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.

Director: David Lean | Stars: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins

4. Malcolm X (1992)

Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.

Director: Spike Lee | Stars: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee

5. Schindler's List (1993)

In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall

Mozart's Sister Film by Rene Feret

Film / Mozart's Sister

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had an older sister, Maria Anna Mozart, "Nannerl" to her family.  Mozart’s Sister is a film accounting of her early life and the reasons why she abandoned her own career as a musician, composer and singer; instead, devoting her life to supporting her brother as dictated by their father, Leopold.

Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart was three years older than her brother Wolfgang Amadeus who adored his sister.  Much has been written and told of the early life of child prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus. His elder sibling, Maria Anna, affectionately known to her family as "Nannerl," was a gifted musician, composer and singer in her own right.

Mozart Music in Movies (More!)

You think you don't know or are not familiar with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music. Chances are you've been hearing them while watching a movie, TV, or DVD. This list includes movies with his music used in them.

Over Christmas break I decided to re-visit Ipcress File, a great British spy film starring Michael Caine, and enjoyed that it features Mozart music. The main character, secret agent Harry Palmer (Caine), a working class guy is depicted as clearly cultured in his love for music (he loves Mozart), food and women. I've almost forgotten it has Mozart music in it including the master's Le Nozze di Figaro's Overture being played. His music is also featured in Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and the British TV series Midsomer Murders and Inspector Morse.  

List of Mozart's music in films

(This post is updated as later information becomes available.)

6 German Dances (("Sechs Deutsche Tanze") K509, No. 1-3-- Amadeus 

The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Ich gehe, doch rate ich dir -- Guarding Tess
The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) Turkish Finale -- Amadeus

Mozart Music in Movies and TV (Earlier Post)

Films featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The list of Mozart music in films shared here is not exhaustive. Our aim is to impart awareness especially of those music you've heard unaware it's Mozart's.  The popular "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" appears in more than one film, so does Clarinet Concerto, an all-time favourite.


Adagio of Gran Partita, Piano Concerto No. 20 (2^nd movement), Requiem, and 1^st movement of both Symphonies Nos. 25 and 29.

After Peter Shaffer's 1984 film Amadeus, directed by Milos Forman, many people who aren't into classical music "turned on" to Mozart. To Mozartians and Mozart admirers, the general initial reaction about the movie was one of disgust since it was not historically accurate, but that's Hollywood. On the other hand, the good side is that some people who didn't know much about him were so taken by Amadeus the film enough to pursue more information about this child prodigy and his music. Mozart's music in the film Amadeus include Adagio of Gran Partita, Piano Concerto No. 20 (2^nd movement), Requiem, and 1^st movement of both Symphonies Nos. 25 and 29.

Here's a great website to the various music in the film, Amadeus. 

Film:  Amadeus