The greatest stories ever told follow an underdog who, against all odds, achieves what they set out to do. Childhood abandonment, poverty, addiction, partners and lovers, social inequality, and death are among the many problems that troubled these musical giants. These legends were once young men and women who knew they had more to offer the world, a call from their deeper consciousness begging them to be greater. Some of the greatest musical acts of all time come from humble beginnings, and lucky for us, their stories get translated into film. Biopics allow us to experience stories about real historical, political, and artistic figures that have leaped to success. While the greater number of us get to enjoy albums and live performances, many musical artists have dark secrets and troubled pasts. Here are a few biopics that discuss the lives of music’s greatest icons.

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Whitney Houston was one of the many “It-Girls” of the 1980s. Trained in gospel by her iron-fisted mother, Cissy, Whitney Houston had been performing from a very young age. Directed by Kasi Lemmons and starring Naomi Ackie, 

Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody 

(2022) takes a deep dive into Houston’s quickly growing career and its ups and downs. Through her complex relationship with another 80s icon, Bobby Brown, and her drug addiction that eventually takes her life, on the outside, Houston solidified herself as one of the most powerful voices to ever perform with such ballads as “Saving All My Love For You” and “I Will Always Love You.”

Few names in history have lasted as long and turned as many heads as Elvis Presley. A giant of rock ‘n roll, film, and live shows in Las Vegas. The 

 (2022) film directed by Baz Luhrmann stars Austin Butler as Presley, Tom Hanks as manager, Col. Tom Parker, and Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla Presley. See how Presley navigates stardom with Black American music with hits like “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock” in the racially segregated South. Being one of the first megastars in American entertainment, Elvis was launched into a bustling music and film career, which led to his eventual battle and loss with drug addiction.

Rap is the most controversial musical genre. Few groups have constantly been contested by the status quo, fought to stay on the air, and dealt with blatant racism as the rap pioneers N.W.A. From their first hit, “Boyz-n-the-Hood,” to the eventual diss war with Ice Cube’s separation from the group with “No Vaseline,” watch how Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella (O’Shea Jackson Jr., Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Aldis Hodge, Neil Brown Jr.) beat all the odds in gangland Compton and emerged as one of the genre’s most influential groups in 

Latin pop stars have long been underrepresented in Hollywood, but none have broken the mold as gracefully as Selena Quintanilla. Her gentle, elegant voice was perfect for the romantic songs she would sing about love and her culture. Jennifer Lopez plays the Queen of Tejano Music in 

 (1997), directed by Gregory Nava. Her American takes on Latin music resonated with Hispanics and Hispanic Americans alike with such hits as “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and “Como La Flor.” Still, unfortunately, her career was cut way too short by her tragic murder by Yolanda Saldivar (Lupe Ontiveros).

You’ve probably heard this band get included on most people’s “Most overrated songs of all time” list, but it’s a shame because they have many incredible tracks. Led by one of history’s greatest frontmen, Queen is a highly regarded group with intense vocal and musical ability. From one of their earliest songs, “Doing Alright,” to one of the biggest tracks of all time, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” it should not surprise that the movie is titled just that. 

 (2018), directed by Bryan Singer, stars Rami Malek, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, and Joe Mazello as Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon, respectively. The film covers the formation of the band, their qualms with each other and their record label, and Mercury’s swinger lifestyle, which led to his battle with AIDS amidst the epidemic and to his eventual death.

The Godfather of Soul. The most sampled artist in hip-hop. The Hardest-Working man in show business. No other artist has come near the status of the legendary James Brown. 

 (2014), directed by Tate Taylor, stars the late great Chadwick Boseman as Mr. Dynamite himself and Nelsan Ellis as his right-hand man Bobby Byrd. The film adopts an exciting storytelling style, having Brown address the audience directly in some instances. It goes into gritty detail about James’ complex childhood, his relationship with his band, women, drugs, and fame. With tracks like “Please Please Please” to “Say It Loud–I’m Black and I’m Proud,” Brown used his music to invoke excitement and navigate the rising racial tension during the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

An artist for the people and an activist at heart. Tupac Shakur was born to Black Panthers, grew to love performance art and poetry, and had one of the most incredible careers a rapper could have in a very short time. 

 (2017), directed by Benny Boom, stars Demetrius Shipp Jr. as the rapper and shows Tupac as the artist, not the thug persona he adopted deep into his career. He began with the rap crew Digital Underground with his first big hit, “Same Song,” and came to have one of the most significant rap records ever with “California Love.” The film shows how Shakur rose to fame as a musical artist, actor, and advocate until he was murdered in a drive-by shooting as a result of a gang confrontation.

Elton John is an iconic rock act with fashionable flare and a knack for pianos. Directed by Dexter Fletcher, 

(2019) helps audiences see the not-so-glamorous side of Elton John’s come-up and career. Starring Taron Egerton as Elton John and Jamie Bell as writing partner Bernie Taupin, the film explores his battle for his parents’ affection, his relationship with his sexuality and Partner/Manager John Reid (Richard Madden), and his struggle with drug addiction. “Bennie and the Jets” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” are just a couple of the biggest rock hits of the 1970s and solidified Elton John as an icon of the genre.

Aretha Franklin is labeled “The Queen of Soul” to no one’s surprise. Franklin exudes soul music and defines her era. 

 (2021), directed by Leisl Tommy, stars Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin. Even from a young age, Franklin was a gifted singer, loving to perform whenever an occasion called for it. She was raised as a gospel singer and toured with the church in which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was involved. In her rise to stardom with her iconic track “Respect” and others like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” she would leave her violent ex-husband/manager, Ted White (Marlon Wayans), while her relationship with her father began to decline which caused her to push herself deep into her music, using alcohol to cope. After the death of her mother, she picked herself back up and overcame the forces that tried to bring her down.

(2004), directed by Taylor Hackford, and it shows how multiple facets of adversity can’t stir even the greatest artists. To prove himself as an incredible act, he had to let his musical abilities do all the talking or singing instead. His blindness, unethical relationship with women, long-time drug addiction, and Southern racial tension continually strained his ability to record and perform music. Charles eventually overcomes his self-destructive behavior and creates hits like “Hit The Road Jack” and “I Got a Woman,” which are recognizable classics even after decades of evolution in the Soul and R&B genres.

Musical Biopics You Must Watch

No, you are not seeing double! The title says, “5 Iconic Needle Drop Needle Drops.” Before we go any further, let’s discuss what a “Needle Drop” is. The needle drop is a film technique that uses an existing song to highlight a particular character or scene. If a director wants a moment in their film to be memorable, adding a needle drop with an iconic song is the way to go. So what is a “Needle Drop Needle Drop?” In a scene, if a character literally drops the needle on a record, it will queue when the music begins. Now that we’re on the same page let’s look at a few.

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse | "Hypnotize" - The Notorious B.I.G.

Sony Pictures’ smash Marvel comics hit Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse–directed by trio Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman–is a stunning animated film with an outstanding soundtrack. In New York City, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), an intelligent but unmotivated teenager, gets his world turned upside down after being bit by a radioactive spider and assuming the role of Spider-Man after the original one (Jake Johnson) dies. During the scene introducing Miles’ Uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), New York’s very own The Notorious B.I.G. begins to play after Aaron lays the needle down on the iconic record “Hypnotize.” As the smooth, groovy track plays, it is interestingly juxtaposed with hectic scenes of Miles trying to make his way to his Uncle’s apartment.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack

Directed by Sean Durkin, A24’s heart-wrenching, biographical sports drama follows the Von Erich family through several tragic deaths as they climb to the top of the wrestling world in the 1980s. Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” can be heard in a scene after the youngest Von Erich brother, Mike (Stanley Simons), drops the needle on the record and pumps the volume up enough that the track can be heard all around the house. The blaring rock track gives older brother Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) the idea to make it their entrance song for future wrestling endeavors as it begins to play during a montage of the Von Erich brothers’ (including Zac Efron and Harris Dickinson) training and complete domination of their local wrestling scene. Rush's screaming guitar and rolling drums pair perfectly with muscular men in tight underwear.

The Shawshank Redemption | "The Marriage of Figaro" - Mozart

In this 1994 cult classic directed by Frank Darabont, “The Shawshank Redemption” is one of Stephen King’s less horrific tales and a staple in the prison drama filmography. In one of the film’s most important scenes, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) drops the needle on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and plays it over the intercom. “For the briefest of moments, every last man at Shawshank felt free,” as Morgan Freeman’s character, Ellis profoundly describes the situation. Not exactly the most modern of songs, but the film and this particular scene are far too iconic not to have on this list.

Iron Man 3 | "Jingle Bells (Bombay Dub Orchestra Remix)" - Joe Williams

Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3–directed by Shane Black–was the final chapter of Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) witty and exciting trilogy. The film follows Tony as he seeks to rehabilitate himself mentally and spiritually after being in a rut that kept him in his workshop, away from his responsibilities. In a scene where Tony begins to try out his new tech, he asks Jarvis (Paul Bettany) to drop the needle on a flashy version of “Jingle Bells” as the film takes place around the holiday season. If I had a billion dollars, I, too, would shamelessly dance like Tony does in this scene.

Good Morning, Vietnam | Nowhere to Run - Martha & The Vandellas

Last but not least, Robin Williams stars in the brilliant, funny, and challenging war film “Good Morning, Vietnam” directed by Barry Levinson. In it, he stars as chipper radio host Adrian Cronauer, who was stationed in Saigon in the middle of the Vietnam War as a morale booster for the troops. As Adrian finds his groove in a new setting, he drops the needle on the classic track “Nowhere to Run” by Martha & The Vandellas. The punchy, soul classic continues to play through a montage of American troops on base who are trying to enjoy a little piece of home.

5 Iconic Needle Drop - Needle Drops

Pharrell Williams has had a long and illustrious career: from one half of The Neptunes to 

 a 2024 autobiopic done completely in Lego-styled animation, it seems there isn’t anything Williams wouldn’t do to share his love of music. 

Williams is a unique and highly talented individual who made himself indispensable in the music industry by producing a large number of hits since the late 1990s. It is even alleged that at the height of The Neptunes’s popularity in the early 2000s, they produced about 40% of the popular songs on the radio. Williams, however, was not satisfied. He would take his musical talents off the radio and into theaters worldwide… which then went back on the radio. Starting with 

(2010), Williams went on a rampage in the film industry and collaborated with several well-known movie composers to create some of his biggest hits in the modern era.

Directors Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin had an instant hit on their hands with 

. With the vocal stylings of legendary actors like Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig, and Jason Segel, the film became a modern classic, receiving positive reviews from critics and audiences worldwide. The film follows Gru, a supervillain with plans to take over the world; however, the plans fall flat when he encounters three orphan girls who take him on an emotional journey through fatherhood. Williams captures the themes and tonal shifts of the movie in pleasant ways in tracks like “Despicable Me,” which takes a twist on espionage/noir-styled music with sinister undertones that make a perfect theme song for the film's introduction. At a pivotal moment in Gru’s life, “Prettiest Girls” plays as the theme for the girls as they bond with Gru. It’s soft, playful, and happy: a new and exciting emotion for Gru.

(2014) stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, and Sally Field. In this film, Peter Parker (Garfield) must juggle relationships and the powers he’s been given as they begin to tear his life apart. Although Williams produced a good chunk of the film’s soundtrack, the standout track for this film is “It’s On Again,” which served as an outro theme. The track features Alicia Keys and Kendrick Lamar on an upbeat, hopeful sound that encapsulates the determination of Peter Parker, who nearly retired from the red and blue spankies after facing multiple tragedies in his personal life. Still, despite it all, he continues to don the spider.

is a 2014 film directed by Paul King, based on the popular British children’s book series “Paddington Bear.” The film stars Ben Whishaw as Paddington, a small bear who travels to London in search of a new home after losing his uncle and his aunt losing the ability to care for him. Primarily a promotional track, “Shine” features Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams–as both producer and artist. Bouncing off Stefani’s strengths, the track takes a spin on Ska music by lowering the tempo… and singing about a bear. The song thematically works for the movie, as it explores love, family, and friendship: facets of life that both Paddington and the humans learn throughout the film.

 (2015), directed by Paul Tibbit and Mike Mitchel,l stars the usual underwater ensemble: Tom Kenny, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke, Rodger Bumpass, Carolyn Lawrence, and Mr. Lawrence, as well as Antonio Banderas and Matt Berry. In this second theatrical appearance of these salty friends, Mr. Krabs (Brown) finds that his secret Krabby Patty formula was stolen, not by his usual business rival, Plankton (Mr. Lawrence), but by a conniving pirate named Burger Beard (Banderas) with a magical book. N*E*R*D–one of Williams’s other musical groups–created a short EP that featured songs from the film, the most notable being “Squeeze Me.” It's a cute theme song for the film that plays on Spongebob’s cartoonishly squishy properties. It wraps up the film nicely as it maintains the childlike wonder of the highly absorbent titular character but doesn’t talk down to its audience.

The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water soundtrack

 (2025), a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age musical about Pharrell's young life directed by Michel Gondry, you could say Pharrell's influence and musical talents continue to shape the music and film industries.

Pharrell Williams: From the Radio to the Big Screen

Movie trailers are an art in their own right. Everything you need to know about a movie must be revealed in about a minute, but it must also be captivating and entertaining. A large part of the allure is sound and music. If a trailer is dead silent, it won’t seem very interesting and will kill any hype for the movie. However, in recent years, movie trailers have been hit with a musical phenomenon: dramatic song remixes. Plenty of trailers nowadays use operatic, drawn-out remixes of well-known songs. Here are some of the best ones.

(2019)–starring Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke–is one of the pioneers of implementing dramatic songs in trailers. It uses one of the most iconic hip-hop tracks of all time, Luniz’s “I Got 5 On It,” and flips it on its head. The song already has a flare with Michael Marshalls’s smooth vocals, but the film’s composer, Michael Abels, transformed it into the creepy, thrilling “Tethered Mix,” which can be heard in the film’s trailer and the film itself.

Todd Phillips directs Joaquin Phoenix in one of the most complex comic-to-film adaptations of all time with 

(2019). The trailer is gritty, suspenseful, and eerie, with dark colors accompanied by the contrasting, bright sound of “Smile” by Jimmy Durante. But not a moment too soon, the song begins to fade into a grand operatic remix, interpolating the melody of the main chorus, which was expertly crafted by the film’s composer, Hildur Guðnadóttir.

Anthony Ramos and Pete Davidson star as human and transformer duo in 

 (2023), directed by Steven Caple Jr. Set in Brooklyn during the 1990s, the film and trailer had to feature legendary hip-hop tracks. No one could have paired with giant dueling alien robots than better DMX and his track “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.” The track is blended with thunderous percussion and grinding metal, an intense sonic representation of the film, arranged masterfully by the film’s composer, Jongnic Bontemps.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts soundtrack

“No Church in the Wild” - Jay-Z, Kanye West feat. Frank Ocean

No Church in the Wild - Jay-Z, Kanye West feat. Frank Ocean

 stars Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington, featuring Harry Gregson-Williams as the film’s composer. During the climax of the film’s trailer, a thrilling remix of “No Church in the Wild” by frequent collaborators Jay-Z and Kanye West plays over remarkable glimpses of Ancient Rome. An already chilling ballad of the fragility of power and order scores the trailer for this upcoming epic historical drama of one of History’s greatest Empires. The film is slated for a November 2024 release.

Semi-regular Disney/Pixar composer Michael Giacchino used his musical prowess to score a revisit of the lovable, loyal, and selfless Buzz Lightyear of Star Command in 

 (2022), directed by Angus MacLane and starring Chris Evans as the titular character. The trailer for the film is appropriately scored by none other than David Bowie and an ethereal remix of “Starman,” using Bowie’s isolated vocals over triumphant violins. Walt Disney Studios would be remiss if they did not feature any of David Bowie’s discography.

One of the most popular and influential pieces of entertainment, the top-selling video game of all time, and an international phenomenon on the internet. What has dominated the gaming scene for over a decade will now hit the silver screen. 

 directed by Jared Hess stars Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Eugene Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. The teaser fittingly features the whimsical Beatles hit “Magical Mystery Tour” remixed to sound far more magical and mysterious than it already does, thanks to legendary composer Mark Mothersbaugh. The film is set to be released in April 2025.

The Best Song Remixes for Dramatic Film Trailers

The 1980s saw the meteoric rise of female pop icons that changed how we listen to and perceive music and artists. Over four decades later, much of their music continues to be played through film and television, giving future generations a chance to listen to these unforgettable tunes. Even now, these timeless classics continue to score movies, as heard in a recent film starring the “Merc with a mouth,” but we’ll get to that in a moment. Let’s get started and see how these pop queens make a scene.

(2010), directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, stars Joey King and Selena Gomez, respectively, in this lighthearted family dramedy about the relationship of two very different sisters. In one scene, Ramona attempts to distract her Aunt Bea (Ginnifer Goodwin) and an old flame, Hobart (Josh Duhamel), from rekindling since Ramona and Aunt Bea are very close. Unfortunately for Ramona, Hobart finds an old cassette tape from their high school romance and begins to play it. What we hear is none other than one of the many hits from The Bangles, “Eternal Flame,” signifying that their love for each other never went away.

 (2015), directed by Ari Sandel, is a hilarious, rowdy comedy about a teen girl, Bianca (Mae Whitman), overcoming the odds against a cutthroat bully, Madison (Bella Thorne). Her handsome childhood best friend Wesley (Robbie Amell) explains that D.U.F.F. means “Designated Ugly Fat Friend”: in other words, one friend out of a group is more approachable than the others because they are objectively ugly. Rightfully upset that her best friend would say that to her, she begins to care less about her image and leans into the label. “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett appropriately plays as she leaves for school wearing only her pajamas.

S.J. Clarkson directed this mythical take on the Marvel Spider-Man universe, starring Dakota Johnson as the titular role in 

 (2024), a story that takes place before the birth of Spider-Man. Cassandra (Dakota Johnson) is born with the power of premonition. She uses it to find three teen girls (Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor) who are in danger of the man who killed her mother. While all four women hide at a motel one morning, Cassandra must wake the girls up and get moving. Cassandra then begins to play “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany very loudly until one of them turns it off. At this point in the film, the characters are just starting to bond, showing that these girls aren’t alone any longer.

Another pop queen from a decade later also features in the movie, as Britney Spear's "Toxic" scores a scene where Cassandra frantically searches for her "spider sisters." 

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

Starring Jennifer Garner as the main character, Jenna, 

 (2004), directed by Gary Winick, is the oldest film on this list, but it’s as timeless as the music it used. When 13-year-old Jenna felt like an outcast, she wished to be 30. The following day, she wakes up as a successful woman with the life of her dreams, but as she tries to learn more about the 17 years she missed, her dream reality begins to crumble. During the scene when 30-year-old Jenna gets ready for a party as if she was still 13, the exciting and flawless track “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston graces your ears, signifying her youth and playfulness as she is a tween in an adult’s body.

Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth

 (2010), directed by Edward Zwick, Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a cunning Viagra salesman who falls in love with a sickly woman named Maggie (Anne Hathaway) after promising each other they would keep it casual. To sell Viagra, Jamie uses his charm and sneaky methods to take out the competition, which just so happens to be Maggie’s ex-boyfriend (Gabriel Macht), who is representing another pharmaceutical company. During a montage of sales pitches to different hospitals, “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle hilariously plays as Jamie secures the interest of the nurses and doctors.

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

James Mcavoy and Michael Fassbender reprise their roles as the conflicted mutant duo Professor Xavier and Magneto, respectively, in 

(2016), with Oscar Isaac as the titular villain, Apocalypse. Directed by Bryan Singer, the film has one of modern film's most brilliant slow-mo sequences. When an explosion goes off in Xavier’s school for mutants, Peter Maximoff (Evan Peters) singlehandedly saves all the students with his superhuman speed, all while listening to “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurythmics on his Walkman cassette player. Though Eurythmics is a coed duo, Annie Lenox’s vocal ability in this track is undeniably iconic and perfectly scores this ethereal, dream-like sequence.

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

 (2018), a family gets viciously murdered one by one after taking a trip to a trailer park to visit family. After teen siblings Luke and Kinsey (Lewis Pullman and Bailee Madison) discover that their aunt and uncle have been murdered, it sets off a game of cat and mouse between the family and the cold-blooded murderers. When Luke is on the run looking for help, he finds himself in the pool area of a motel. The power mysteriously turns on, and a nearby speaker plays “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. It interestingly begins at the point in the song where Tyler sings, “Turn around bright eyes.” At the moment, one of the murderers runs up behind Luke, almost as if the song is warning him.

We couldn’t make this list without discussing the instant Marvel classic directed by Shawn Levy, 

(2024). This film is full of great music and even greater scenes with top-notch comedy and action sequences. Near the film's climax, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) are up against a massive crowd of crazy, bloodthirsty Deadpool variants. The bloody, fast-paced fight scene perfectly accompanies Madonna’s smash hit “Like a Prayer.”

Musical Biopics You Must Watch

5 Iconic Needle Drop - Needle Drops

Pharrell Williams: From the Radio to the Big Screen

The Best Song Remixes for Dramatic Film Trailers

8 Pop Queens of the 80s in 8 Modern Movies

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