15 Biopics on Netflix That Will Bring History to New Life

There are plenty of movies based on true stories, but when it comes to biopics on Netflix, it can get a little trickier. Biographical dramas can be tough to pull off, blending the facts of a person's life with the necessary elements to tell a compelling story over a couple of hours of film. Filmmakers may choose to focus just on one or two particular portions of a person's life, or they might condense it to skim through many years. Either way, biopics can be an exciting way to learn something new about the lives of important people in history. If you're looking for a great biopic to watch on Netflix tonight, here are 15 of our top recommendations!

01
The Aviator
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The Aviator

Aviation legend Howard Hughes leads a glamorous public life. In private, though, he struggles with mental illness and his attempts to conceal his own difficulties from the public.

Watch The Aviator on Netflix.

02
The Dirt
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The Dirt

A group of young musicians come together to form the band Mötley Crue. As their fame rises to new heights, so does their hedonism, with devastating consequences.

Watch The Dirt on Netflix.

03
42
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42

In the 1940s, Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player in Major League Baseball. It's a triumph for him, but the prejudices of the time take their toll on him and his loved ones.

Watch 42 on Netflix.

04
Good Night, and Good Luck
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Good Night, and Good Luck

Backed by a supportive production team, news anchor Edward R. Murrow vows to report on the atrocities committed by Senator Joseph McCarthy in his anti-communist quest. Despite intense pressures, Murrow and his team are unrelenting in showcasing the truth to the public.

Watch Good Night, and Good Luck on Netflix.

05
The Imitation Game
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The Imitation Game

The story of WWII codebreaker Alan Turing and his team of mathematicians is both inspiring and heartbreaking. Turing's mathematical genius is pivotal for British intelligence, yet during this time, the most dangerous secret is his own: he's gay.

Watch The Imitation Game on Netflix.

06
The Iron Lady
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The Iron Lady

Margaret Thatcher was Britain's first female prime minister, but her legacy goes far beyond that. Meryl Streep plays the politician whose policies were some of the most divisive in modern British history.

Watch The Iron Lady on Netflix.

07
Jersey Boys
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Jersey Boys

A quartet of talented musicians come together to form the pop legends the Four Seasons. Told in rotating points of view from all four members (and adapted from the Tony-winning Broadway musical), the band's highs and lows over decades together are all laid out on the eve of a reunion concert.

Watch Jersey Boys on Netflix.

08
Julie and Julia
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Julie and Julia

In this unconventional biopic, the life of chef Julia Child is intertwined with a modern woman's attempt to cook every recipe in Child's most famous cookbook. Child, meanwhile, struggles to be taken seriously as a woman, as a chef, and as a TV personality.

Watch Julie and Julia on Netflix.

09
The King's Speech
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The King's Speech

World War II is looming, and Britain faces a constitutional crisis when its king refuses to rule without marrying his divorced mistress. That leaves his younger brother "Bertie" to take the throne, who then turns to an eccentric speech therapist to help him overcome his stammer and lead an empire in this Oscar-winning drama.

Watch The King's Speech on Netflix.

10
Lincoln
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Lincoln

As the Civil War rages, President Lincoln focuses his efforts not just on ending the war and reuniting the country, but on ending the cause of it all: the institution of slavery. It turns out to be the hardest battle he ever fights.

Watch Lincoln on Netflix.

11
Milk
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Milk

It's the 1970s in San Francisco, and Harvey Milk is working to make a difference, becoming the first openly gay elected public official. His crusade earns him plenty of support and admiration, but it also puts a literal target on his back.

Watch Milk on Netflix.

12
The Music of Silence
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The Music of Silence

A blind Italian boy becomes one of the greatest opera singers of the modern world: Andrea Bocelli. The film is based on a novel Bocelli wrote, which in turn is mostly based on his own life experiences.

Watch The Music of Silence on Netflix.

13
Nowhere Boy
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Nowhere Boy

A working-class boy grows up, raised by a strict aunt instead of his flighty absentee mother. As he grows into a young man, John Lennon becomes a musician, forming a band that eventually leads him to become a music legend.

Watch Nowhere Boy on Netflix.

14
Saving Mr. Banks
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Saving Mr. Banks

In the 1960s, Walt Disney pulls out all the stops to convince reclusive, prickly author P.L. Travers to allow him to make Mary Poppins into a movie. Along the way, Travers recalls her own origin story as a young girl in Australia with her charming but irresponsible father.

Watch Saving Mr. Banks on Netflix.

15
The Theory of Everything
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The Theory of Everything

Brilliant physics student Stephen Hawking falls in love with Jane Wilde, an arts student. Shortly into their romance, though, Hawking is diagnosed with a life-changing disease, and what follows is a daily struggle to live, love, and continue his work.

Watch The Theory of Everything on Netflix.