Best Movies like Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Rocketman, like Bohemian Rhapsody, dramatizes the life of a legendary British rock musician, following Elton John’s rise to fame and personal struggles with identity and excess within the music industry.

The story of Elton John's life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin. Rocketman is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,038 people. The movie made an estimated total of $167,300,000 in the box office.

Walk the Line focuses on the origins and tumultuous career of Johnny Cash, depicting the challenges of balancing musical stardom with personal turmoil—echoing themes of success and excess seen in Bohemian Rhapsody.

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. Walk the Line is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.5 by 3,177 people. The movie made an estimated total of $186,800,000 in the box office.

Love & Mercy examines the creation and legacy of a world-famous band, the Beach Boys, centering on Brian Wilson’s internal battles. Both films delve into the pressures, artistry, and relationships behind iconic musical groups.

In the late 1960s, the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson stops touring, produces "Pet Sounds" and begins to lose his grip on reality. By the 1980s, under the sway of a controlling therapist, he finds a savior in Melinda Ledbetter. Love & Mercy is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.1 by 774 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,600,000 in the box office.

Ray chronicles the life and rise of Ray Charles, intertwining his battles with fame and addiction with his groundbreaking contributions to music—paralleling the personal and professional challenges central to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Born on a sharecropping plantation in Northern Florida, Ray Charles went blind at seven. Inspired by a fiercely independent mom who insisted he make his own way, He found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the Southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation and then exploded with worldwide fame when he pioneered coupling gospel and country together. Ray is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 32m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,260 people. The movie made an estimated total of $124,700,000 in the box office.

Control tells the story of Ian Curtis and his journey as frontman of Joy Division, exploring the complexities of musical creativity, personal tribulations, and the impact of fame on his relationships—similar to the band-focused narrative in Bohemian Rhapsody.

The story of Joy Division’s lead singer Ian Curtis, from his schoolboy days in 1973 to his suicide on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980. Control is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.5 by 951 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,200,000 in the box office.

I'm Not There uses multiple actors to explore different facets of Bob Dylan’s persona, reflecting on transformative moments in a famous musician’s life much like Bohemian Rhapsody captures Freddie Mercury and Queen’s evolution.

Six actors portray six personas of music legend Bob Dylan in scenes depicting various stages of his life, chronicling his rise from unknown folksinger to international icon and revealing how Dylan constantly reinvented himself. I'm Not There is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 15m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.5 by 787 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,001,121 in the box office.

Beyond the Sea presents the life and career of Bobby Darin, mapping the rise to stardom, confrontations with the limelight, and artistic achievement—mirroring the depiction of a celebrated musician’s journey in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Based on the life and career of legendary entertainer, Bobby Darin, the biopic moves back and forth between his childhood and adulthood, to tell the tale of his life. Beyond the Sea is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2004 with an average rating of 6.3 by 179 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,400,000 in the box office.

A Star Is Born centers on the lives of musicians navigating the highs and lows of fame, artistic ambition, and personal relationships, sharing much with Bohemian Rhapsody’s depiction of the struggles and rewards found within the music industry.

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. A Star Is Born is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.5 by 12,306 people. The movie made an estimated total of $436,388,866 in the box office.

La Vie en Rose tracks Edith Piaf’s rise from obscurity to international stardom, portraying the cost of artistic brilliance and the strain of fame—an emotional trajectory akin to Bohemian Rhapsody’s focus on Freddie Mercury.

From the mean streets of the Belleville district of Paris to the dazzling limelight of New York's most famous concert halls, Edith Piaf's life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love. Raised in her grandmother's brothel, Piaf was discovered in 1935 by nightclub owner Louis Leplee, who persuaded her to sing despite her extreme nervousness. Piaf became one of France's immortal icons, her voice one of the indelible signatures of the 20th century. La Vie en Rose is a movie from France in French, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.4 by 1,749 people. The movie made an estimated total of $86,274,793 in the box office.

The Runaways profiles a pioneering rock band’s formation and upheaval, showcasing young artists striving for success while facing the pitfalls of fame, echoing Bohemian Rhapsody’s blend of music history and personal challenges among band members.

Joan Jett and Cherie Currie, two rebellious teenagers from Southern California, become the frontwomen for The Runaways -- the now-legendary group that paved the way for future generations of female rockers. Under the Svengali-like influence of impresario Kim Fowley, the band becomes a huge success. The Runaways is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 6.5 by 854 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,995,811 in the box office.

Get On Up delves into the energetic life and groundbreaking impact of James Brown, highlighting his struggles and triumphs in the competitive music landscape, much like Bohemian Rhapsody portrays the complex journey of Queen’s lead performer.

A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history. Get On Up is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 19m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 6.8 by 574 people. The movie made an estimated total of $33,448,971 in the box office.

Nowhere Boy reveals John Lennon’s early years and the relationships shaping his path toward forming a world-famous band—a biographical approach reminiscent of Bohemian Rhapsody’s exploration of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s origins.

A rebellious teenager, future Beatle John Lennon lives with his Aunt Mimi in working-class mid-1950s Liverpool, England. Mimi's husband suddenly dies, and John spies his mother Julia at the funeral. Despite Mimi's misgivings, John intends to have a real relationship with his mother. Julia introduces him to popular music and the banjo and, though a family conflict looms, young John is inspired to form his own band. Nowhere Boy is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.2 by 866 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,577,779 in the box office.

Inside Llewyn Davis examines the aspirations and setbacks of a folk musician, using a character-driven story to unravel the realities behind pursuing a music career, paralleling the ambition and consequences found in Bohemian Rhapsody.

In Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, gifted but volatile folk musician Llewyn Davis struggles with money, relationships, and his uncertain future. Inside Llewyn Davis is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,961 people. The movie made an estimated total of $32,935,319 in the box office.

The Doors highlights the meteoric rise and inner struggles of Jim Morrison and his band, using a 1970s rock backdrop and a focus on self-destruction that strongly aligns with Bohemian Rhapsody’s storyline of creative brilliance and personal turmoil.

The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison. The Doors is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 20m runtime, released in 1991 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,623 people. The movie made an estimated total of $34,416,893 in the box office.

Sid and Nancy recounts the chaotic relationship between Sex Pistols’ Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, casting light on the destructive side of punk fame and excess, a thematic link to the personal and collective trials faced by Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody.

January 1978. After their success in England, the punk rock band Sex Pistols venture out on their tour of the southern United States. Temperamental bassist Sid Vicious is forced by his band mates to travel without his troubled girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, who will meet him in New York. When the band breaks up and Sid begins his solo career in a hostile city, the turbulent couple definitely falls into the depths of drug addiction. Sid and Nancy is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 1986 with an average rating of 6.7 by 578 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,826,523 in the box office.

8 Mile centers on a musician’s journey to success against adversity, following Eminem’s alter ego as he navigates competitive performance arenas and personal struggles, often mirroring Bohemian Rhapsody’s focus on rising talent and internal challenges.

For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and every moment… is another chance. 8 Mile is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 51m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.1 by 7,904 people. The movie made an estimated total of $242,875,078 in the box office.

Straight Outta Compton follows the formation and meteoric impact of rap group N.W.A., examining tensions, friendships, and the pressures of sudden fame—elements also central to the depiction of Queen’s journey in Bohemian Rhapsody.

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today. Straight Outta Compton is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 27m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.8 by 4,239 people. The movie made an estimated total of $201,634,991 in the box office.

Crazy Heart depicts an artist grappling with personal demons and the costs of a music career late in life. Like Bohemian Rhapsody, it contrasts creative accomplishments with the personal impact of living in the spotlight.

When reporter Jean Craddock interviews Bad Blake—an alcoholic, seen-better-days country music legend—they connect, and the hard-living crooner sees a possible saving grace in a life with Jean and her young son. Crazy Heart is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,209 people. The movie made an estimated total of $47,405,566 in the box office.

Judy spotlights the later years of a music icon, Judy Garland, and her attempts to maintain her career amid personal struggles—echoing Bohemian Rhapsody’s depiction of how fame and artistry can complicate personal well-being.

Thirty years after starring in 'The Wizard of Oz', beloved actress and singer Judy Garland arrives in London to perform sold-out shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub. While there, she reminisces with friends and fans and begins a whirlwind romance with musician Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. Judy is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 6.7 by 1,274 people. The movie made an estimated total of $38,981,322 in the box office.

August Rush weaves music and personal identity together as a central theme, exploring the unforgettable impact of musical connection and a search for belonging, much like Bohemian Rhapsody’s blend of passion, talent, and relationships.

Evan, a musically gifted orphan, runs away from his orphanage and searches New York City for his birth parents. On his journey, he's taken under the wing of the Wizard, a homeless man who lives in an abandoned theater. After discovering his talent, the Wizard gives Evan the name "August Rush" and devises a plan to profit from his talent. Little does Evan know that his parents, Lyla and Louis, are searching for him too. August Rush is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 7.4 by 2,855 people. The movie made an estimated total of $66,122,026 in the box office.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday portrays the vulnerability and resilience of an iconic singer amid societal pressures, much like Bohemian Rhapsody illustrates Freddie Mercury’s fight to stay true to himself in the face of widespread scrutiny.

Billie Holiday spent much of her career being adored by fans. In the 1940s, the government targeted Holiday in a growing effort to racialize the war on drugs, ultimately aiming to stop her from singing her controversial ballad, "Strange Fruit." The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.5 by 317 people.

Bird captures Charlie Parker’s tumultuous life as a jazz sensation, delving into the interplay between musical innovation, fame, and personal hardship as also explored in the narrative of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Saxophone player Charlie ‘Bird’ Parker comes to New York in 1940 and is quickly noticed for his remarkable way of playing. He becomes a drug addict but his loving wife Chan tries to help him. Bird is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 41m runtime, released in 1988 with an average rating of 6.9 by 357 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,000,000 in the box office.

Notorious traces Notorious B.I.G.’s career from obscurity to a defining voice in music, emphasizing how personal excess and industry pressures can shape a public figure’s journey, resonating with Bohemian Rhapsody’s central themes.

"Notorious" is the story of Christopher Wallace. Through raw talent and sheer determination, Wallace transforms himself from Brooklyn street hustler (once selling crack to pregnant women) to one of the greatest rappers of all time: The Notorious B.I.G. Follow his meteoric rise to fame and his refusal to succumb to expectations - redefining our notion of "The American Dream." Notorious is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2009 with an average rating of 7.0 by 808 people. The movie made an estimated total of $43,051,547 in the box office.

The Jazz Singer examines a performer’s struggle between tradition and ambition in pursuit of his musical dreams, a conflict reminiscent of the personal and professional crossroads faced by Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody.

A young Jewish man is torn between tradition and individuality when his old-fashioned family objects to his career as a jazz singer. The Jazz Singer is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 1980 with an average rating of 5.9 by 73 people. The movie made an estimated total of $27,118,000 in the box office.

Metallica: Through the Never combines a narrative approach with live concert footage, offering a dramatized view of a renowned band’s presence and impact, much as Bohemian Rhapsody celebrates musical performance as a storytelling device.

Trip, a young roadie for Metallica, is sent on an urgent mission during the band's show. But what seems like a simple assignment turns into a surreal adventure. Metallica: Through the Never is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.8 by 321 people. The movie made an estimated total of $7,972,967 in the box office.

Stardust explores the formative years of a legendary rock icon, chronicling the early challenges and creative turning points on the path to stardom, closely paralleling the thematic focus of Bohemian Rhapsody.

In 1971, rock star David Bowie travels to America for the first time to promote his third album, The Man Who Sold the World. There, he embarks on a coast-to-coast publicity tour. During this tour, Bowie creates his iconic Ziggy Stardust persona, inspired by artists like Iggy Pop and Lou Reed. Stardust is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2020 with an average rating of 3.9 by 45 people. The movie made an estimated total of $62,251 in the box office.

Blaze follows a lesser-known musician’s life and artistry, focusing on creative struggles, relationships, and the sometimes fleeting nature of recognition, sharing Bohemian Rhapsody’s emphasis on the personal cost of pursuing fame.

Inspired by the life of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw country movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The film weaves together three periods in Blaze's life, exploring his love affair with Sybil Rosen; his last, dark night on Earth; and the impact his songs and his death had on his fans, friends, and foes. Blaze is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.3 by 61 people. The movie made an estimated total of $467,306 in the box office.

Cadillac Records charts the development of groundbreaking musical acts under one label, illustrating the interplay of artistry, ambition, and industry dynamics in a way that echoes Queen’s rise in Bohemian Rhapsody.

The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America's musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James and Chuck Berry. Cadillac Records is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.1 by 483 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,880,045 in the box office.

Miles Ahead examines key moments in Miles Davis’s career, using music as an anchor for a portrait of ambition, reinvention, and the challenges artists face, strongly tied to the narrative focus in Bohemian Rhapsody.

An exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis. Miles Ahead is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.4 by 239 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,460,466 in the box office.

Bolden provides another take on a musician who shaped a genre, exploring his biography and the sacrifices behind creative innovation, in a structure and spirit similar to Bohemian Rhapsody.

A mythical account of the life of Buddy Bolden, the first Cornet King of New Orleans. Bolden is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 4.1 by 19 people.

Respect tells the story of Aretha Franklin’s struggle to forge her own path while navigating obstacles in the music industry, reflecting the themes of resilience and self-discovery found in Bohemian Rhapsody.

The rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom. Respect is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 25m runtime, released in 2021 with an average rating of 6.8 by 477 people. The movie made an estimated total of $31,217,372 in the box office.

The Idolmaker follows a producer’s efforts to craft chart-topping artists, shedding light on the creation of musical personas and the pressures of sustaining commercial success—an industry perspective relevant to the context of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Based on the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marucci, who discovered, among others, Frankie Avalon and Fabian. The Idolmaker is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 1980 with an average rating of 5.6 by 23 people.

Great Balls of Fire! presents Jerry Lee Lewis’s rise in the rock scene, focusing on his energetic stage presence and the turmoil linked to his personal life, reminiscent of the blend of performance and vulnerability in Bohemian Rhapsody.

The story of Jerry Lee Lewis, arguably the greatest and certainly one of the wildest musicians of the 1950s. His arrogance, remarkable talent, and unconventional lifestyle often brought him into conflict with others in the industry, and even earned him the scorn and condemnation of the public. Great Balls of Fire! is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 1989 with an average rating of 6.3 by 348 people. The movie made an estimated total of $13,741,060 in the box office.

24 Hour Party People spotlights the cultural and personal upheavals involved in launching Manchester’s music scene, portraying relationships, excess, and innovation—a comparable milieu to Bohemian Rhapsody’s band-driven journey.

Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester's punk groups are clamoring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records label and The Hacienda club. 24 Hour Party People is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.0 by 521 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,802,899 in the box office.

Coal Miner’s Daughter offers a biographical look at country star Loretta Lynn’s climb from humble beginnings to stardom, using music as a means of transformation, much like the trajectory observed with Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame. Coal Miner's Daughter is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 1980 with an average rating of 7.2 by 286 people. The movie made an estimated total of $67,182,787 in the box office.

Selena retells the swift rise and enduring legacy of a beloved singer, focusing on family, identity, and breaking boundaries. This aligns closely with Bohemian Rhapsody’s celebration of music as both a unifying force and a personal battleground.

In this biographical drama, Selena Quintanilla is born into a musical Mexican-American family in Texas. Her father, Abraham, realizes that his young daughter is talented and begins performing with her at small venues. She finds success and falls for her guitarist, Chris Perez, who draws the ire of her father. Seeking mainstream stardom, Selena begins recording an English-language album which, tragically, she would never complete. Selena is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 7.7 by 1,325 people. The movie made an estimated total of $60,000,000 in the box office.

The Buddy Holly Story illustrates the short yet impactful journey of a pioneering rock artist, using band formation and creative ambition as the central narrative—similar to Bohemian Rhapsody’s look at Queen’s ascent.

A chronicle of the rise and brief career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly, who aspires to play music the way he wants it to sound. Holly and his band, the Crickets, are first invited to record in Nashville, where they encounter creative differences with the producing staff. Later they play a major booking at the Apollo Theater, scheduled there under the mistaken assumption that they're a black band. Holly's career eventually goes solo -- until the tragic day the music dies. The Buddy Holly Story is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 54m runtime, released in 1978 with an average rating of 7.2 by 131 people. The movie made an estimated total of $14,363,400 in the box office.

Jimi: All Is by My Side concentrates on a transformative stage in Jimi Hendrix’s career, examining how fame, artistry, and cultural shifts shape a music legend—mirroring Bohemian Rhapsody’s biographical and creative focus.

A drama based on Jimi Hendrix's life as he left New York City for London, where his career took off. Jimi: All Is by My Side is a movie from Ireland in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 5.6 by 172 people. The movie made an estimated total of $340,911 in the box office.

I Saw the Light brings to life the career of Hank Williams, revealing the costs of fame and heartache endured by artists—paralleling the blend of musical triumph and struggle featured in Bohemian Rhapsody.

Singer and songwriter Hank Williams rises to fame in the 1940s, but alcohol abuse and infidelity take a toll on his career and marriage to fellow musician Audrey Mae Williams. I Saw the Light is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 6.2 by 222 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,646,788 in the box office.

Lords of Chaos tracks the birth of a controversial music movement and its consequences, using a biographical frame to explore ambition, notoriety, and the darker sides of band culture, much like Bohemian Rhapsody explores risks and relationships in music.

A teenager's quest to launch Norwegian Black Metal in Oslo in the 1990s results in a very violent outcome. Lords of Chaos is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 6.8 by 559 people. The movie made an estimated total of $365,353 in the box office.

Velvet Goldmine is set in the world of glam rock, weaving together the flamboyance and personal discovery found within musical subcultures, echoing Bohemian Rhapsody’s focus on iconic stage performances and identity in the spotlight.

Almost a decade since larger-than-life glam-rock enigma Brian Slade disappeared from public eye, an investigative journalist is on assignment to uncover the truth behind his former idol. Velvet Goldmine is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 6.9 by 547 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,300,000 in the box office.