Biographical History backdrop

Biographical History movies

History told through a real person’s life, focused on turning points, impact, and private tradeoffs.

The Smashing Machine

1. The Smashing Machine

History Drama Biographical History Psychological Drama
6.4
20252h 3min

Overview

In the late 1990s, up-and-coming mixed martial artist Mark Kerr aspires to become the greatest fighter in the world. However, he must also battle his opioid dependence and a volatile relationship with his girlfriend Dawn.

Themes

Addiction and rehabilitation, Relationship strain under crisis, Price of fame, Mentor influence under pressure, Comeback through adversity, Athletic performance and identity

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Swiped

2. Swiped

History Drama Biographical History Professional Drama
6.4
20251h 51min

Overview

Whitney Wolfe uses extraordinary grit and ingenuity to break into the male-dominated tech industry.

Themes

Online harassment escalation, Gender bias in tech, Investor influence on careers, Women-led leadership challenges, Leadership exclusion dynamics, Empowerment through entrepreneurship

Available on

Disney Plus
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Brutalist

3. The Brutalist

Drama History Historical Drama Biographical History
7.3
20243h 35min

Overview

When an innovative modern architect flees post-war Europe, he is given the opportunity to rebuild his legacy. Set during the dawn of the modern United States (in Pennsylvania), his wife joins him, and their lives are forever changed by a demanding, wealthy patron.

Themes

Displacement and belonging, Gendered power dynamics, Class aspiration and assimilation, Postwar reconstruction pressures, Trauma and memory in design, Patronage and ambition, Immigrant reinvention through architecture

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
HBO Max
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Maria

4. Maria

History Drama Music Biographical History Historical Drama
6.4
20242h 4min

Overview

Maria Callas, the world's greatest opera singer, lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris, as she confronts her identity and life.

Themes

Paris memory, Opera singer pressure, Period drama tension, Female protagonist conflict, Surrealism disorientation, Historical scrutiny

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Apprentice

5. The Apprentice

History Drama Biographical History Psychological Drama
7.1
20242h 2min

Overview

A young Donald Trump, eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn, the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

Themes

Real estate ambition, Power through mentor protégé relationship, Blackmail and bribery, Tax abatement politics, Discrimination and exploitation, Surveillance via wiretapping

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Lee

6. Lee

History Drama War Biographical History World War II
6.9
20241h 57min

Overview

The true story of photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II.

Themes

Censorship of war imagery, Gendered wartime labor, Trauma and memory transmission, Professional ethics in conflict photography, Bearing witness under danger, Archival recovery and legacy

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Young Woman and the Sea

7. Young Woman and the Sea

History Drama Biographical History Sports Biography
7.5
20242h 9min

Overview

This is the extraordinary true story of Trudy Ederle, the first woman to successfully swim the English Channel. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the 21-mile trek from France to England.

Themes

Mentorship under pressure, Gender bias in sport, 1920s gender norms, Female athletic perseverance, Sponsorship and legitimacy, Breaking barriers in sport

Available on

Disney Plus
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Back to Black

8. Back to Black

Music History Drama Music Biopic Historical Drama
6.3
20242h 2min

Overview

The extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame from her early days in Camden through the making of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black that catapulted Winehouse to global fame. Told through Amy’s eyes and inspired by her deeply personal lyrics, the film explores and embraces the many layers of the iconic artist and the tumultuous love story at the center of one of the most legendary albums of all time.

Themes

Substance abuse cycles, Biography under pressure, Addiction shaping artistry, Mental illness and ambition, Alcoholism and fame, Public scrutiny and vulnerability

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Bob Marley: One Love

9. Bob Marley: One Love

Music History Drama Music Biopic Biographical History
6.2
20241h 44min

Overview

Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley overcomes adversity to become the most famous reggae musician in the world.

Themes

Family loyalty under strain, Public image vs private life, Peace amid political pressure, Health vs career, Fame vs responsibility, Creative resilience under disruption

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Iron Claw

10. The Iron Claw

History Drama Biographical History Historical Drama
7.6
20232h 12min

Overview

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.

Themes

Dysfunctional family, Grief and mourning, Brotherhood under pressure, Toxic masculinity, Curse and tragedy, Mental illness

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.