What is a biopic film?

A biopic—short for biographical picture—is a film or television drama that depicts the life of a real person. It dramatizes key events, struggles, and achievements in the subject’s life, often focusing on a specific period or theme rather than covering everything chronologically.

  • Based on a real person’s life (e.g., a historical figure, celebrity, athlete, politician).

  • May include creative liberties to enhance drama or storytelling.

  • Often stars a well-known actor portraying the real-life subject.

  • Can range from serious and accurate to stylized and fictionalized.

  • Examples:  Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Lincoln (2012), Ray (2004), Miracle (2004), Moneyball (2011), Amadeus (1984)

A young woman celebrating with hockey gloves, wearing a USA jersey, with the word 'MIRACLE' at the bottom.
Bohemian Rhapsody movie poster
Movie poster for 'Moneyball' featuring a silhouette of a baseball player swinging a bat, with a yellow background and a graph line. Names of Bradley Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman are at the top.
Close-up side profile of Abraham Lincoln's face with a somber expression, set against a background depicting smoke and fire with silhouettes of soldiers and horses, and the word 'LINCOLN' written in bold letters.
A painting of a hand holding a football with orange and black colors, with the words "Remember the Titans" written below.