Biopics left an undeniable mark on the film industry by opening a window into the lives of real people and illustrating their stories on the big screen.
While the genre was not new, it experienced a resurgence in Hollywood in recent years. From talented musicians to controversial political figures, film lovers flocked to their local theaters to watch iconic actors step into new shoes. But what made the genre so captivating?
Michael Eaton, professor of film studies/film production, defined what a biopic is.
“Biopic is short for biographical picture, and it is a narrative film or television series that dramatizes the life of a historical person or persons,” Eaton said. “Biopics are as popular as ever, with recent movies [like] ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ being [a] good example of a modern biopic.”
Directed by Bryan Singer and Dexter Fletcher, “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018) stars Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of Queen, who defied societal norms through the life he led. Portraying an influential figure in both music and society, the film relied on Malek’s performance in all aspects. In fact, filmmakers argued that the casting process for biopics went far beyond appearance and dug deeper into the actor’s dedication to the role.
“The directors, producers, studios, casting directors and the actors themselves are looking to infuse into their performances in biopics—not just a physical resemblance to the historical person, but also the cadence, tone and accents of their voices, as well as the mannerisms and the physicality in terms of the way these historical figures carried themselves (on stage or otherwise),” Eaton said.
Not only did Malek physically suit the role, but he also worked to mimic the characteristics that accurately defined the film’s subject. Braeden Byrne, freshman broadcast journalism major and aspiring actor, shared his personal process of getting into character.
“For example, I played Willy Wonka in ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ in a play and found that rewatching the movie […] really helped me develop a sense of who Willy Wonka is,” Byrne said. “I studied his mannerisms and body movements and was able to emulate them very well and put on a great performance.”
Timothée Chalamet also stepped into the shoes of Willy Wonka as he played the young chocolatier in “Wonka” (2023). Additionally, audiences had seen Chalamet play a young heartthrob in “Little Women” (2019) and the chosen one in “Dune,” (2021) speaking to his incredible ability to transform into any given role. Just as the actor was dedicated to the role, the audience was dedicated to the story.
Biopics aimed to humanize their subjects, whose real lives and relationships contributed to their individual stories. As seen in films such as “Elvis” (2022) and “Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018) the humanization of these seemingly well-known people allowed audience members to connect with their stories on a deeper emotional level.
Noah Head, sophomore film major, explained the appeal of a biopic from the perspective of a filmmaker and audience member.
“I find stories about real people so fascinating because it is almost like a history book come to life,” Head said. “Taking someone’s life story and conceptualizing it for everyday people’s viewing is quite entertaining, and it keeps the stories of these people alive even longer than they might have.”
The impact of biopics went far beyond the screen and spoke to the power of raw storytelling in an industry where fiction thrived. Film lovers could expect to see more of this influential genre in the near future.
