If you’re a Modern East regular reader, you know that last year we became slightly obsessed with Freddie Mercury after we watched Bohemian Rhapsody…Looks like we are not alone! Movies about musicians have never been this popular: alongside the Queen biopic, “A Star Is Born” has gathered more than $400m in the box office and made it to the Oscars Nominees list for best picture and best actor, a movie on David Bowie’s life is in preparation, and so is “Rocketman”, the movie about Elton John that should be released in May this year.
Until the upcoming ones are out, know that there are plenty of really good movies about musicians available and here is the list to make you wait patiently.
Release year: 2010
Starring: Kristen Stewart & Dakota Fanning
Synopsis: A biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways and their band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett
IMDB rating: 6.6/10
Release year: 2000
Starring: Kate Hudson & Frances McDormand
Synopsis: A high-school boy is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone Magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour.
IMDB rating: 7.9/10
Release year: 2011
Starring: Prince
A young musician, tormented by an abusive situation at home, must contend with a rival singer, a burgeoning romance, and his own dissatisfied band, as his star begins to rise.
IMDB rating: 7.4
Release year: 1982
Starring: Bob Geldof
Synopsis: A confined but troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone.
IMDB rating: 8/10
Release year: 1991
Starring: Val Kilmer & Meg Ryan
Synopsis: The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band The Doors and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison. Spanning from his days as a UCLA film student in Los Angeles to his untimely death in Paris, France at age 27 in 1971.
IMDB rating: 7.2/10
Release year: 2002
Starring: Steve Coogan
Synopsis: In 1976, Tony Wilson sets up Factory Records and brings Manchester’s music to the world.
IMDB rating: 7.4/10
Release year: 2005
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon
Synopsis: Country music legend Johnny Cash’s life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to stardom with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.
IMDB rating: 7.9/10
Release year: 1999
Starring: Aging Cuban musicians whose talents had been virtually forgotten following Castro’s takeover of Cuba, are brought out of retirement by Ry Cooder, who traveled to Havana in order to bring the musicians together, resulting in triumphant performances of extraordinary music, and resurrecting the musicians’ careers.
Synopsis: Compay Segundo
IMDB rating: 7.6/10
Release year: 2004
Starring: Jamie Foxx
Synopsis: The story of the life and career of Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at the age of seven, to his rise to fame during the 1950s and 1960s.
IMDB rating: 7.7/10
Release year: 1993
Starring: Angela Bassett
Synopsis: The story of singer Tina Turner’s rise to stardom and how she gained the courage to break free from her abusive husband, Ike Turner.
IMDB rating: 7.3/10
Banner Art Inspiration // IMDB
