From country legends to rock icons and rap pioneers, music biopics have become some of Hollywood’s biggest box-office hits. Here are the highest-grossing music biopics of all time. ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ which chronicles the rise of rap group NWA, earned $201.6 million. It starred O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Ice Cube and Corey Hawkins as Dr Dre. Produced by Cube and Dre themselves, the film revived NWA’s cultural influence, boosting their debut album to No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The most recent release is Antoine Fuqua’s ‘Michael,’ which chronicles the first two decades of Michael Jackson’s career. Starring his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, the film has faced widespread criticism for presenting a sanitized version of the King of Pop’s rise to fame. Despite this, it proved a commercial success, grossing an impressive $217.3 million worldwide within just four days of its April 2026 debut. Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ brought in $288.7 million worldwide. The film follows Elvis Presley’s journey to superstardom and his fraught partnership with his manager Colonel Tom Parker, played by Tom Hanks. Austin Butler’s immersive portrayal of Presley earned rave reviews, and the soundtrack hit No. 26 on the Billboard 200. The 2018 hit ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ reigns supreme, having earned $910.8 million worldwide. The Queen biopic showcases Freddie Mercury’s immense talent, culminating in the 1985 Live Aid concert. Rami Malek won an Oscar for his portrayal of Mercury, and the film went on to win four Academy Awards overall. The soundtrack even peaked at number two on the charts.
