Top 20 Best & Worst Biopic Impressions

#10: Best: Chadwick Boseman as James Brown

“Get On Up” (2014)

There was never a role that the late Chadwick Boseman couldn’t pull off. From Jackie Robinson to T’Challa, he excelled every time. That being said, one of his best performances was that of James Brown. Taking on the legendary singer was no small feat, and Boseman stepped up to the challenge. Capturing Brown’s magnetic energy, flaws and charisma, the Oscar nominee also nailed his signature dancing and sound. The best biopic performances are ones where you see the person, not a caricature, and Chadwick Boseman’s single handedly achieved that.

#10: Worst: Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great

“Alexander” (2004)

Unfortunately, this biopic was far from great. In 2004, Oliver Stone’s “Alexander” brought the Macedonian king aka Alexander the Great to the big screen. Despite an all-star cast and massive budget, this period piece was a bust. Plagued with historical inaccuracies, the film fell harder than a crumbling empire. But that wasn’t the only thing wrong with it. Colin Farrell, who played the title role, was completely miscast. The use of his Irish accent didn’t help matters and neither did his wooden acting. That being said, Farrell is a talented actor, with a near flawless track record. Thankfully, “Alexander” was just a rare misstep.

#9: Best: Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury

“Bohemian Rhapsody” (2018)

Shortly after making a splash with his techno-thriller series “Mr. Robot,” this actor stepped into a new genre: the biopic. In 2016, it was announced that Rami Malek would be taking on the role of Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The highly anticipated project saw Malek seamlessly transform into the iconic musician. Channeling Mercury’s dynamic stage presence and rock star persona, the actor also mastered his accent. Despite the movie earning some lukewarm praise, the actor was well received, so much so that it earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2019.

#9: Worst: Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar

“J. Edgar” (2011)

He’s one of the greatest actors of his generation, but even the best can’t win 'em all. In 2011’s “J. Edgar” Leonardo DiCaprio plays the late FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover. Directed by Clint Eastwood, many found the biopic to be a mess. And then there’s DiCaprio’s performance. For an actor with a body of work like his, this portrayal was kind of underwhelming. Weaving in and out of Hoover’s accent and excessively shouting, it just doesn’t meet Leo’s standard. To be fair, he was acting in a film with many flaws, so there was a lot working against him.

#8: Best: Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman

“Man on the Moon” (1999)

This role took method acting to a whole new level. When Jim Carrey signed up to play comedian Andy Kaufman in the biopic, “Man on the Moon,” he went all in. Always in character, Carrey delivered a thoughtful, raw and deeply earnest portrayal of the beloved artist. Never breaking during the four month long shoot, Carrey requested that everyone refer to him as Andy, creating a surreal experience behind the scenes. In fact, his process was so in-depth that it spun off a 2017 documentary called “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond.”

#8: Worst: Naomi Watts as Diana, Princess of Wales

“Diana” (2013)

Over the years, there have been a handful of onscreen portrayals of the late Princess Diana Spencer. From Elizabeth Debicki and Emma Corrin on “The Crown” to Kristen Stewart in “Spencer,” there’s been no shortage of strong depictions of the late royal recently. Years prior, Naomi Watts played her in a biopic titled “Diana,” which chronicled the final years of her life. It seemed like a perfect fit considering Watts and Spencer look alike. But that’s where the similarities end. The film and Watts' performance failed to capture Diana in any way, shape or form. The whole thing plays like a hammy soap opera, and doesn't do Diana any justice.

#7: Best: Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison

“The Doors” (1991)

This performance lit everyone’s fire! The late Val Kilmer as rocker Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Door’s” is everything he should be and more. From his eerily similar vocals to his no holds barred portrayal of the troubled musician, Kilmer doesn’t just portray Morrison, he channels him. A lot of what makes his portrayal such a success was his preparation. Before shooting, the “Top Gun” alum dedicated months to rigorous rehearsal, eventually learning 50 of the band’s songs. They say practice makes perfect, and in this case it couldn’t be more true.

#7: Worst: John Wayne as Genghis Khan

“The Conqueror” (1956)

There’s a lot of bad biopics, but this one might be the worst! John Wayne as Genghis Khan in “The Conqueror” almost sounds too wild to be true. Unfortunately, it’s real and Wayne produces a doozy of a performance. First off, his casting is racially problematic and many would argue he had no business playing the Monologian leader. The use of his Western accent is laughable and his acting isn’t much better. Not only was he bad, but the film was a disaster. It was shot in Utah near a nuclear testing site, and over the years, 91 crew members were diagnosed with cancer.

#6: Best: Angela Bassett as Tina Turner

“What’s Love Got to Do With It?” (1993)

Angela Bassett proved her mettle when she stepped into the shoes of the legendary singer Tina Turner. Playing the iconic performer in the film “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” Bassett danced and acted her way to an Academy Award nomination. Her performance is so spot on, that it’s almost like watching a documentary. To prepare for the role, Basset did 16 hour long rehearsals to get every move and gesture just right. Her hard work paid off and now, the role lives on as one of the best biopic performances of all time.

#6: Worst: John Travolta as John Gotti

“Gotti” (2018)

There are a lot of things wrong with 2018’s “Gotti” and unfortunately, John Travolta’s performance is one of them. Playing the famed New York City mafia boss John Gotti, the actor’s portrayal is just a straight up bad imitation rather than a fully realized embodiment of the person he was playing. Not only that but the depiction comes off as a revering Gotti rather than critiquing a man who committed countless heinous crimes. Upon its release in theatres, the film ended up receiving a jaw dropping 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

#5: Best: The N.W.A Actors

“Straight Outta Compton” (2015)

With Ice Cube and Dr. Dre helping shape this biopic about N.W.A’s early days and their eventual split, the whole production leans into being as real as possible. They brought in O’Shea Jackson Jr. to play his dad, Ice Cube, who pushed him to train and earn it instead of handing him the part. Meanwhile, Dr. Dre told Corey Hawkins to relax and just feel his way into the role. Jason Mitchell didn’t have Eazy-E to guide him, but his work shows how much time he spent studying him closely. The whole cast really throws themselves fully into telling this story with honesty, heart, and a genuine respect for everything the group truly lived through.

#5: Worst: Aston Kutcher as Steve Jobs

“Jobs” (2013)

Before “Jobs,” Kutcher was mostly known for comedy, so casting him as Steve Jobs felt... unexpected. He definitely looked the part, but many people walked away thinking looks alone couldn’t carry the whole thing. To be fair, the blame doesn’t land entirely on Kutcher. Plenty of folks feel the movie itself just doesn’t give him much to work with, basically calling the script flat and saying this version of Jobs doesn’t really get an arc people can latch onto. For some, it was tough to buy the performance altogether. Don’t get us wrong, not everyone thought he was a bad pick, but most agreed that the weak screenplay didn’t do him any favors.

#4: Best: Sean Penn as Harvey Milk

“Milk” (2008)

This is the kind of casting that probably wouldn’t happen now, but Sean Penn brings so much heart to the role that it’s easy to see why people still talk about this performance. He disappears into it in a way that makes you forget you’re watching an actor at all. Milk was such a huge figure in California politics, the first openly gay man elected to public office in the state, and Penn really taps into both the emotional weight of that and the determined strength it takes to carry it. He makes Milk feel like a real fleshed-out person, not just a historical name, and that’s why he ended up taking home the Oscar.

#4: Worst: Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin

“Beyond the Sea” (2004)

Before anyone even opened their mouth, people were already thrown off by the huge age gap between Spacey and the version of Bobby Darin he was supposed to be playing. It also doesn’t help that Spacey starred in, directed, co-produced, and co-wrote it, which had plenty of people calling the whole thing a straight-up “vanity project.” Some even questioned if Darin’s life really needed a biopic in the first place. On top of that, the movie’s non-linear, slightly fantasy-style approach didn’t work for everyone. And no matter how well Spacey sang, audiences just couldn’t see past a forty-something man trying to pass as someone nearly half his age.

#3: Best: Austin Butler as Elvis

“Elvis” (2022)

Austin Butler really connected with Elvis from the very start, even during his audition. When he got the role, he completely disappeared into it, capturing Elvis’ voice, moves, and magnetism without ever turning it into a caricature. It felt like Butler had taken great care to show us the man behind the legend, not just the flashy showman with hypnotic hips. The Presley family loved it too. Priscilla and Lisa Marie both praised Butler and the film for handling Elvis’ story with real care and authenticity. His performance earned huge acclaim and an Oscar nomination. Butler got so lost in the role that even after shooting wrapped, Elvis still hadn’t quite left the building.

#3: Worst: Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor

“Liz & Dick” (2012)

When reviews dropped for this biopic, they were brutal. And no one got hit harder than Lindsay Lohan, who was trying to make her big-screen comeback. One outlet even suggested this role could end her career, while another called her performance “half train wreck, half SNL skit.” The kindest word we managed to find that described her performance was “mediocre.” So what went wrong? For starters, many didn’t think Lohan had the look, the voice, or the presence to pull off Elizabeth Taylor. What she did deliver came across as “flat,” “wooden,” and completely “lacking charisma.” For many, it felt like nothing more than a stunt casting, and not even a good one.

#2: Best: Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland

“Judy” (2019)

Renée Zellweger took her performance up and beyond the rainbow with her emotional honesty and thoughtful attention to detail. This wasn’t about just mimicking the icon, but about truly capturing her voice, her fragility, and her spirit. Zellweger even sang some of the songs live, letting audiences feel the warmth and richness of her voice in real time. She brought out both Garland’s incredible stage energy and the pain she carried offstage, from her tough childhood to the weight of fame. The result feels real and deeply moving. Critics praised how fully she embodied Garland, giving us the next best option to watching the real Judy and helping the film earn widespread admiration.

#2: Worst: Joseph Fiennes as Michael Jackson

“Urban Myths” (2017-20)

Imagine making a casting choice so bad that the episode actually gets pulled from the air. Yeah, you just need to look at Fiennes as MJ to know this couldn’t possibly go well. Director Ben Palmer said they cast him because they believed he would give the most “nuanced, characterful performance,” but also admitted that finding someone who actually looked like Jackson would be tricky. The Jackson family wasn’t having it, leading the criticism and calling out what they saw as an attempt to “whitewash” the singer. Even Fiennes later admitted the whole thing was misguided. With smarter casting, maybe we will still get to see that supposed star-studded road trip.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable (and one dishonorable) mentions.

Best: Daniel Radcliffe as Al Yankovic, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” (2022)

No One Could Have Played Weird Al Better Than Harry Potter Himself!

Best: Jennifer Lopez as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, “Selena” (1997)

We Could Fall In Love With This Performance Anytime

Worst: Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart, “Amelia” (2009)

Unfortunately, This Portrayal Never Took Flight

Best: Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, “Malcolm X” (1992)

A Role That Earned Washington an Oscar Nomination

#1: Best: Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles

“Ray” (2004)

Few actors managed to embody the person they’re playing quite like Jamie Foxx did here. It’s like he studied Ray Charles under a microscope, picking up everything from his posture to his tiniest mannerisms. He even went through a physical transformation to look more like the singer and spent hours practicing at the piano so no one could accuse him of miming. The singing might not all be him, but he more than makes up for it with a magnetic stage presence and a real capture of Charles’ quieter, private moments. Foxx brings Charles’ soul to life, and watching him, you feel the man behind the legend. No surprise it earned him an Oscar.

#1: Worst: Zoe Saldaña as Nina Simone

“Nina” (2016)

You know a casting choice is bad when even the actor ends up apologizing for taking the role. Worse still, Nina Simone’s own family actively distanced themselves from the film. Makeup and prosthetics were used to make Saldaña look more like Simone, but many people found that offensive. It felt like they cared more about appearance and bringing in a household name than honoring who Nina really was. It's almost like they didn't even fully understand the story they were trying to tell. Simone’s family was unimpressed with the choice, especially after Saldaña initially defended her casting. The estate even tweeted, “Please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life.”

Which famous figure would you like to see portrayed in a biopic? Let us know in the comments!