With the release of the Michael Jackson biopic Michael and four separate Beatles feature films in production, it is time to call for a moratorium on music biopics. This genre, which often devolves into expensive karaoke, needs a break.
The Problem with Music Biopics
The new Michael Jackson film has seen box office success but received mixed to negative reviews. Critics describe it as shallow, resembling a well-performed playlist of his songs rather than a deep exploration of his complex life. The movie ends in 1988, a deliberate choice to avoid addressing the darker aspects of his later years.
This is not a new complaint. After Bohemian Rhapsody, which I considered a cinematic misstep, my frustration grew. Biopics are notoriously difficult to execute well, caught between obligations to living subjects, family members, rights clearances, and the need to tell a compelling story. These constraints often flatten the narrative.
A Saturated Market
Recent years have brought biopics about Bob Dylan, Elton John, Elvis Presley (two films), Robbie Williams, Bruce Springsteen, and Amy Winehouse. Now, four Beatles films are in the works, each focusing on a different member. The conversation around these movies inevitably revolves around casting, likeness, and vocal accuracy—how much the actor resembles the real person and sounds like them. The result is often a comparison game rather than a meaningful cinematic experience.
These are stories we already know, performed by actors mimicking icons. The worst outcome is essentially expensive karaoke. Aren't we tired of this formula?
Room for Innovation
Robbie Williams took a creative risk by portraying himself as a monkey in his biopic. More experimental approaches like that, or films about lesser-known but influential musicians, would be refreshing. I want stories that have been distorted or misunderstood, not another prestige recreation of a famous man's life and hits.
One exception I have long wished for is a biopic about Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas. She disliked the nickname "Mama Cass" and had a fascinating, tragic career overshadowed by a cruel myth about her death and the fatphobia she endured—themes that resonate today.
If I am to watch another music biopic, it must tell a story that speaks to something meaningful. Otherwise, count me out. You can include that in my own biopic.
