This list includes biographical films that dramatize the life of a non-fictional person. Some of these films attempt to portray the subject’s life story, beginning with their childhood through adulthood and death if applicable, but others concentrate on adult achievements, often focusing on a significant period of time or the most historically important years of their lives. In many cases, these films put an emphasis on larger events (historic, political or social conditions) surrounding the person’s life as they rise to fame and glory.
Popular subjects of biopics are religious figures, leaders of a movement, entertainers, musicians, artists, criminals, victims, activists, inventors, scientists, doctors, political figures, sports heroes, celebrities, and ordinary people who overcame adverse circumstances or had a profound impact on the lives of others.
42 (2013)
12 YEARS A SLAVE (2013)
AALIYAH: PRINCESS OF R&B (2014)
ALI (2001)
ALL EYEZ ON ME (2017)
AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007)
ANTWOINE FISHER (2002)
APPLE MORTGAGE CAKE (2014)
BAADASSSSS! (2003)
BAD AS I WANNA BE: THE DENNIS RODMAN STORY (1998)
BARRY (2016)
BASQUIAT (1996)
BESSIE (2015)
BETTY AND CORETTA (2012)
BIRD (1988)
BIRTH OF A NATION, THE (2016)
BLACK AUGUST (2007)
BLUE CAPRICE (2013)
BOBBI KRISTINA (2017)
BOBBY BROWN STORY, THE (2018)
BOJANGLES (2001)
BOLDEN! (2015)
CHARLOTTE FORTEN’S MISSION: EXPERIMENT IN FREEDOM (1985)
COACH CARTER 2005)
CONCUSSION (2015)
CONFIRMATION (2016)
CONVICTION (2002)
COURAGE TO LOVE (2000)
COURT-MARTIAL OF JACKIE ROBINSON, THE (1990)
CRAZYSEXYCOOL: THE TLC STORY (2013)
DANGEROUS EVIDENCE: THE LORI JACKSON STORY (1999)
DEATH OF A PROFIT (1981)
DON KING: ONLY IN AMERICA (1997)
DON’T LOOK BACK: THE STORY OF LEROY ‘SATCHEL’ PAIGE (1981)
EDDIE BLACK STORY, THE (2009)
ERNEST GREEN STORY, THE (1993)
EXPRESS, THE (2008)
FATHER CLEMENTS STORY, THE (1987)
FINAL SHOT: THE HANK GATHERS STORY (1992)
FOR US, THE LIVING: THE MEDGAR EVERS STORY (1983)
FRANKIE & ALICE (2010)
GABBY DOUGLAS STORY, THE (2014)
GET ON UP (2014)
GET RICH OR DIE TRYING (2005)
GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY (2009)
GLORY AND HONOR (1998)
GREASED LIGHTNING (1977)
GREAT DEBATERS, THE (2007)
GREATEST, THE (1977)
GUILTY OF INNOCENCE: THE LENELL GETER STORY (1987)
HARD LESSONS (1986)
HAVING OUR SAY: THE DELANY SISTERS’ FIRST HUNDRED YEARS (1999)
HENDRIX (2000)
HIDDEN FIGURES (2016)
HURRICANE, THE (1999)
I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS (1979)
IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, THE (2017)
INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE (1999)
INVICTUS (2009)
IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE (1974)
JACKIE ROBINSON STORY, THE (1950)
JACKSONS, THE: AN AMERICAN DREAM (1992)
JASON AND SHIRLEY (2015)
JESSE OWENS STORY, THE (1984)
JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE (2014)
JO JO DANCER, YOUR LIFE IS CALLING (1986)
JOE AND MAX (2002)
JOE LOUIS STORY, THE (1953)
JOHNNIE MAE GIBSON, FBI (1986)
JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY, THE (1991)
KEEP THE FAITH, BABY (2002)
KING (1978)
LADY SINGS THE BLUES (1972)
LEAN ON ME (1989)
LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER (2013)
LIFE IS NOT A FAIRY TALE: THE FANTASIA BARRINO STORY (2006)
LIFE SUPPORT (2007)
LITTLE RICHARD (2000)
LIVIN’ FOR LOVE: THE NATALIE COLE STORY (2000)
LONGSHOTS, THE (2008)
LORETTA CLAIBORNE STORY, THE (2000)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG-CHICAGO STYLE (1976)
LOVE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT: THE MIKI HOWARD STORY (2016)
MADIBA (2017)
MALCOLM X (1992)
MAN IN THE MIRROR: THE MICHAEL JACKSON STORY (2004)
MARSHALL (2017)
MAURIE (1973)
MARVA COLLINS STORY, THE (1981)
MEN OF HONOR (2000)
MICHAEL JACKSON: SEARCHING FOR NEVERLAND (2017)
MICHAEL JORDAN: AN AMERICAN HERO (1999)
MILES AHEAD (2015)
MOTHER’S COURAGE: THE MARY THOMAS STORY, A (1989)
MURDER WITHOUT MOTIVE: THE EDMUND PERRY STORY (1992)
NEW EDITION STORY, THE (2017)
NINA (2016)
NOTORIOUS (2009)
O. J. SIMPSON STORY, THE (1995)
PEOPLE V. O. J., AMERICAN CRIME STORY, THE (2016)
PHANTOM PUNCH (2008)
PRIDE (2007)
PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, THE (2006)
QUEEN OF KATWE (2016)
RACE (2016)
RACING FOR TIME (2008)
RAY (2004)
REAL MVP, THE: THE WANDA DURANT STORY (2016)
REBOUND: THE LEGEND OF EARL “THE GOAT” MANIGAULT (1996)
REDEMPTION: THE STAN TOOKIE WILLIAMS STORY (2004)
REMEMBER THE TITANS (2000)
ROAD TO FREEDOM: THE VERNON JOHNS STORY (1994)
ROSA PARKS STORY, THE (2002)
ROXANNE ROXANNE (2017)
RUBY BRIDGES (1998)
RUN FOR THE DREAM: THE GAIL DEAVERS STORY (1996)
SADAT (1983)
SALLY HEMINGS: AN AMERICAN SCANDAL (2000)
SCOTT JOPLIN (1977)
SELMA (2014)
SHAKA ZULU (1986)
SIMONE BILES STORY, THE: COURAGE TO SOAR (2018)
SOLOIST, THE (2009)
SOLOMON NORTHRUP’S ODYSSEY (1984)
SOMETHING THE LORD MADE (2004)
SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU (2016)
ST. LOUIS BLUES (1958)
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (2015)
SURVIVING COMPTON: DRE, SUGE & MICHEL’LE (2016)
TAKEN FROM ME: THE TIFFANY RUBIN STORY (2011)
TALK TO ME (2007)
TEMPTATIONS, THE (1998)
THEY CALL ME SIRR (2001)
TIGER WOODS STORY, THE (1998)
TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK (1972)
TONI BRAXTON: UNBREAK MY HEART (2016)
TYSON (1995)
UNITED KINGDOM, A (2016)
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? (1993)
WHEN LOVE KILLS: THE FALICIA BLAKELY STORY (2017)
WHITNEY (2015)
WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE? (1998)
WILMA (1977)
WINNIE MANDELA (2013)
WOMAN CALLED MOSES, A (1978)
Black Cinema Connection 