10 Music Biopics You Should Watch Right Now

The eyeglass-sporting rock pioneer, together with "The Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson and Ritchie Valens, would get on the ill-fated flight to Minnesota that would be later known as "The Day The Music Died".

8. Sid & Nancy (1986)

The 1986 movie by English director Alex Cox follows punk rock icon Sid Vicious as he spirals into substance abuse. It immediately opens to the tense scene of Vicious' capture outside Hotel Chelsea. The movie retells everything in a flashback to how the famous (or infamous) affair between the Sex Pistols' bassist and girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

Gary Oldman undeniably captures' Sid Vicious' charisma, that even John Lydon, frontman to the British punk band, commends his performance despite finding the movie "the lowest form of life."

7. Elvis (1979)

This direct-to-TV biopic was directed by John Carpenter and starred Kurt Russell as Elvis Presley. Released two years after Presley's untimely death, the ABC-released film follows the King of Rock and Roll as he began his career before abruptly ending in 1970, not including the last few years before his death.

It was Carpenter's first major foray into non-horror films after his wildly successful "Halloween" a year earlier. After its U.S. success, it was released theatrically in Europe. There are, however, different versions of the film: the original ABC broadcast, the shorted edited version for European audiences, and an alternate edit starting with Elvis' haircut before joining the Army.

6. Amadeus (1984)

Completely lavish to capture 18th Vienna, Amadeus spares no expense in its production. Directed by Milos Forman and lifted from a stage play of the same name by Peter Shaffer, it follows composer Antonio Salieri as he recounts his life living in the shadow of the genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Note: in real life, Salieri was not the in-your-nose kind of villain he is. They were contemporaries and rivals, yes, but history notes their relationship as more synergistic and professional. Plus, this film won eight Academy Awards in one go.

5. Straight Outta Compton (2015)

For a story on the life and battles of the NWA, 2015's "Straight Outta Compton" is your authorized source. The group's remaining members produced it, and it follows the group's rise and fall, from the late 80s to the 90s. As the curtains soon close, the heartbreaking return and last lap of founder Eazy-E, as well as the separate paths taken by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube unfolds.

Of course, since it was mostly developed with inputs from Ice Cube and Dr. Dre themselves, other people have something to say about it. MC Ren, one of the group's members, complained about his lack of representation in the movie. At the same time, several editorials and posts took a jab at Dr. Dre's history with physically abusing his female associates. Either way, you have to see it first.

4. Rocketman

Named after a 1972 hit song, "Rocketman" follows the life of Sir Elton John, born Kenneth Reginald Dwight. His songs underscore essential scenes and events in his life, giving that theatric feel to the visual spectacle that the movie inevitably becomes. It begins from his childhood as Regie, up until he reached stardom, and his battle with substance abuse, before getting over it and continuing his lasting musical legacy.