Even People Who Don’t Like Biopics Or Musicals Will Love These 10 Excellent Movies About Music

Movies and music go hand in hand as two parts of the art world that require a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to produce. It’s unsurprising that so many great films are about music and musicians, as these are inherently dramatic and emotional subjects, making them perfect for the cinematic process. Projects like Inside Llewyn Davis draw from real periods and experiences but take them one step further, fictionalizing them for modern audiences and increasing tension. Since a movie would be incomplete with music, it’s not much of a stretch to make this the subject of a film.

Many of the best movies about music include entire musical numbers or chronicle the story of a real person, but these works are more concerned with the abstract concept of music. From films that tackle the emotional drain and struggle of dedicating a life to the pursuit of a music career to movies that glamorize it, there are many ways that filmmakers engage with music onscreen. No matter what perspective the writers and directors have on the music scene, all of these projects use music as a tool for developing the characters and their relationships with the world.

10

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen

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Inside Llewyn Davis

R

Musical

Comedy

ScreenRant logo

10/10

8.7/10

Release Date

December 6, 2013

Runtime

105 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Oscar Isaac

    Oscar Isaac

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    Carey Mulligan

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Oscar Isaac gives voice to the beat generation in Inside Llewyn Davis, the Coen Brothers’ music movie that focuses on the uniquely unglamorous experience of the fictional musician Llewyn Davis. Also starring Carey Mulligan, John Goodman, and Justin Timberlake, Inside Llewyn Davis features a few performances of folk songs, similar to the music used in the Coens’ other project, O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Though the film has a distinctly melancholic tone, it doesn’t make us less interested in Davis.

Collage of characters from Rocketman, Funny Girl, and Straight Outta Compton

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Inside Llewyn Davis is largely considered one of the many Bob Dylan movies other than A Complete Unknown, though it’s a fictionalization of a figure similar to the iconic musician. However, Llewyn Davis himself is an amalgamation of many musicians of the era, drawing even more concrete comparisons to Dave Van Ronk. Though it’s set against the Village folk scene of the early 1960s, Inside Llewyn Davis has a much more cynical view of this period and its music than other projects.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

92%

74%

9

Soul (2020)

Directed by Pete Docter

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Soul

PG

Family

Animation

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

6/10

8/10

Release Date

December 25, 2020

Runtime

100 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Tina Fey

    Tina Fey

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    John Ratzenberger

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Many great American music movies focus on the jazz genre. Jazz music is a significant part of the country’s cultural heritage, and Soul tackles how deeply this connection is felt. The protagonist of Soul, Joe, voiced by Jamie Foxx, is a jazz lover who harbors dreams of being a famous jazz pianist. This ambition and desire for greatness fuel Joe throughout the narrative, as he believes that his purpose on earth is to play beautiful music no matter what.

Joe’s passion for jazz does come from a genuine love of music and a desire to share this with the world. His journey in Soul reminds him of this and encourages him to live for himself. Though there are plenty of animated movie musicals, Soul is about music and how it’s a source of happiness and importance for so many people throughout their lives. Joe is a compelling protagonist, and watching his relationship with music change throughout Soul encourages audiences not to put too much pressure on the things that bring them joy.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Soul (2020)

95%

88%

8

Detroit Rock City (1999)

Directed by Adam Rifkin

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Detroit Rock City

Comedy

9/10

Release Date

August 13, 1999

Runtime

95 minutes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Melanie Lynskey In The Los Angeles premiere of ‘Lola’ at Regency Bruin Theatre.

    Melanie Lynskey

  • Headshot Of Natasha Lyonne

    Natasha Lyonne

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Set in the late 1970s, Detroit Rock City is an incredibly nostalgic teen movie that follows a group of young men on their slapstick and arduous journey to see the band Kiss in concert in Detroit. Every moment of Detroit Rock City is a comedy of errors, as each of the boys goes to extreme lengths to get into the concert, resulting in physical altercations, theft, and robbery, none of which work. Though it’s not a nuanced take on the love of music, it’s a hilarious teen romp that will remind viewers of a simpler time.

The central characters have decent chemistry, and the happy ending makes it easy to watch.

Featuring short appearances from iconic actors like Melanie Lynskey and Natasha Lyonne, Detroit Rock City is as much a comedy about the friendship and connection between a group of boys at the end of their high school career as it is about Kiss. Though it isn’t a well-remembered addition to the teen comedy or music genres, Detroit Rock City is an over-the-top exploration of how far fans will go for a band they truly love. The central characters have decent chemistry, and the happy ending makes it easy to watch.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Detroit Rock City (1999)

51%

82%

7

Whiplash (2014)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

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Whiplash

R

Drama

Music

ScreenRant logo

7/10

9.9/10

Release Date

October 10, 2014

Runtime

107 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Miles Teller

    Miles Teller

    Andrew

  • Headshot Of J.K. Simmons

    J.K. Simmons

    Fletcher

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All of Damien Chazelle’s movies have a deep connection to art and music, and few exemplify this as much as his Whiplash. The film skyrocketed Chazelle to fame as a director and writer. Whiplash stars Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons as the young drummer, Andrew, and his abusive band director, Terence. Whiplash is in conversation with the sacrifices and obsession that great art elicits in people. Though Andrew is changed and somewhat destroyed by his dynamic with Terence, Whiplash sees him become a better drummer than ever.

Whiplash enjoys provoking conversation and pushing Teller to his limits in his performance as Andrew. The movie doesn’t suggest that Terence’s behavior is good or excusable, but it doesn’t deny that it got results out of Andrew. Whiplash grapples with a darker side of music that isn’t always easy to stomach. Immediately hailed for being a truthful exploration of the supposed elite world of high-pressure musical performance, Whiplash remains one of Chazelle’s tightest and most cohesive projects.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Whiplash (2014)

94%

94%

6

Sound Of Metal (2019)

Directed by Darius Marder

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Sound of Metal

R

Music

Drama

7.3/10

Release Date

November 20, 2020

Runtime

130 minutes

Cast

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    Shaheem Sanchez

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    Riz Ahmed

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Riz Ahmed carries the weight of Sound of Metal on his shoulders throughout the movie, but the actor never falters during the emotionally taxing journey of his character. Ruben (Ahmed) is a heavy metal drummer who begins to lose his hearing, sparking intense distress from him and his longtime girlfriend, Lou (Olivia Cooke). As a musician, Ruben struggles to adapt to life without his hearing, and he creates deep mental ties between his life as a musician before and his happiness.

Sound of Metal ends on a bittersweet and open-ended conclusion, as Ruben has evolved and begun to realize that his life has simply changed, not that it’s over.

Sound of Metal ends on a bittersweet and open-ended conclusion, as Ruben has evolved and begun to realize that his life has simply changed, not that it’s over. However, many parts of his past can’t come with him into his future, and his relationship with music must change. There are many beautiful moments in Sound of Metal when Ruben reflects on the rhythm and feel of drumming, recognizing music as more than its sounds.

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Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Sound of Metal (2019)

97%

90%

5

Music And Lyrics (2007)

Directed by Marc Lawrence

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Music and Lyrics

PG-13

Comedy

Music

Romance

Release Date

February 9, 2007

Runtime

104 minutes

Cast

  • Headshot Of Drew Barrymore

    Drew Barrymore

    Sophie Fisher

  • Headshot Of Hugh Grant iN The Premiere of 'Wonka' at the Regency Village Theater.

    Hugh Grant

    Alex Fletcher

  • Headshot Of Toni Trucks

    Toni Trucks

    Tricia

  • Headshot Of Brad Garrett

    Brad Garrett

    Chris Riley

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Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore return to their rom-com roots in Music and Lyrics, a love story about a fading pop star and a young woman with dreams of writing. Grant plays Alex, the washed-up singer, with Barrymore portraying Sophie, a young woman who was discouraged from writing by a former professor. Though Grant and Barrymore typically go far different niches of the genre, their easy chemistry and good-natured performances elevate Music and Lyrics​​​​​​.

Like most romantic comedies that feature music, there are a few musical numbers. However, these either serve as comedic relief to punctuate more serious moments or bring the story home in an emotional climax. Though Music and Lyrics could be criticized for being predictable and formulaic, it’s a charming rom-com that uses music as a means for its characters to connect with each other. Reflecting on the long-term legacy of pop stardom in the modern era, Music and Lyrics treats its characters kindly and leaves the audience satisfied.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Music and Lyrics (2007)

63%

68%

4

Tár (2022)

Directed by Todd Field

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Tar

R

Drama

Music

ScreenRant logo

9/10

9/10

Release Date

October 7, 2022

Runtime

158 minutes

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As one of Cate Blanchett’s best movies, Tár sees the actress transform into the ambitious conductor Lydia Tár, who wastes no time in making it clear she believes herself to be the next Leonard Bernstein. Like The Brutalist, Tár is part of the tradition of movies that feel so real and truthful that it’s hard to believe they’re not a biopic. However, Tár is pure fiction, playing with our preconceptions about power and manipulation through the lens of the arrogant and insecure Lydia Tár.

Watching her rise and fall before us onscreen with the thundering score playing behind her makes Tár a thrill from start to end.

The director, Todd Field, has been very particular about his projects, with few credits to his name, but all of his movies hit it out of the park like Tár does. Though the world of classical music is alien to many audience members, Tár makes it vivid and accessible, relating Lydia’s desire for power to the intense artists we’re used to seeing onscreen. Watching her rise and fall before us onscreen with the thundering score playing behind her makes Tár a thrill from start to end.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Tár (2022)

91%

74%

3

High Fidelity (2000)

Directed by Stephen Frears

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High Fidelity

R

Comedy

Drama

Music

Romance

ScreenRant logo

8/10

Release Date

March 31, 2000

Runtime

113 minutes

Cast

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    Jack Black

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    Lisa Bonet

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This cult classic rom-com might not have the most aspirational romance in cinema history, but its style and aesthetic have inspired generations of viewers. John Cusack gives an iconic performance as Rob, the record store owner who remembers his lost loves through his highly detailed record collection and mixtapes, recalling the ups and downs of his life and relationships. Unlike his romances, Rob takes music very seriously, using it both as an escape from reality and a way for him to express all the emotions he struggles to articulate.

High Fidelity briefly got a TV show remake in 2020 starring Zoë Kravitz, but the series was short-lived, failing to live up to the nostalgia and love for the original. Though Cusack’s work as Rob anchors the project, High Fidelity is also notable for bringing greater attention to the comedic work of Jack Black, who was relatively unknown at the time. Though Rob is far from the perfect boyfriend, it’s easy to relate to his disastrous attempts at love as he clings to music as a source of healing, as most people do.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

High Fidelity (2000)

91%

90%

2

CODA (2021)

Directed by Sian Heder

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CODA

PG-13

Music

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

5/10

Release Date

August 13, 2021

Runtime

111 minutes

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Emilia Jones

  • Headshot OF Eugenio Derbez

    Eugenio Derbez

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Winning Best Picture at the Oscars helped CODA be recognized on a greater scale, taking this American remake of the French film La Famille Bélier and giving it a life of its own. Centering on Rubi (Emilia Jones), the hearing child of deaf parents, CODA sees Ruby struggle with her commitments to her family and their fishing business and her desire to go to music school for college. Though we do see Ruby sing throughout CODA, the dramedy isn’t a musical, as the bulk of the story revolves around Ruby’s dynamic with her parents and brother.

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Though the fact that Ruby is hearing and the rest of her family is deaf heightens the conflict between them, her desire to break out from their expectations and forge her own path is a universal experience. Music plays a crucial role in her decision to explore a new facet of her talents and abilities, but it’s more of a catalyst for Ruby’s development than the deeply spiritual calling it’s sometimes made out to be onscreen. Ruby’s love for music and singing gives her permission to find her way outside her family, showing a new side of the genre.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

CODA (2021)

94%

91%

1

Almost Famous (2000)

Directed by Cameron Crowe

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Almost Famous

pg-13

Drama

Documentary

10/10

Release Date

September 15, 2000

Runtime

122minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot OF Billy Crudup

    Billy Crudup

  • Headshot Of Frances McDormand In The Los Angeles Premiere Of `Women Talking`

    Frances McDormand

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In one of Kate Hudson’s best performances, the actress gives audiences an inside look into the reverse side of fame, the dedicated fan who will do anything for the music. Her character, Penny Lane, is the tragic center of Almost Famous, a coming-of-age story that chronicles William’s (Patrick Fugit) journey following an up-and-coming rock band on the road in the 1970s. Like William, we’re taken on an unforgettable adventure deep into the world of glamour and grime that was rock music during this era.

The ensemble cast is what cements Almost Famous as a classic, as acting heavyweights like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Crudup, and Zooey Deschanel all appear in the film. For all the characters in the movie, but William, most of all, music is an escape from the terrors and tragedies of real life, at least at first. Almost Famous shows every side of a fledgling band’s struggle for success. We see how easily the importance of music can be clouded by the emotional turmoil of fame.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Almost Famous (2000)

91%

92%

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