Music Biopics
biopic = “bai-oh-pik” = movie about someone’s life
biography = book about someone’s life
What does biology mean?
Have you watched a good biopic before? Why did you enjoy it?
ology = study of / science
bio = life
biology = 生物学
Recently there have been biopics for
Bob Marley (One Love - 2024)
Elton John (Rocketman - 2019)
Elvis Presley (Elvis - 2022)
Freddie Mercury / Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody - 2018)
Can you put the films in order of how much they made at the Box Office?
The critic review scores were:
Bob Marley - 60%
Elton John - 89%
Elvis Presley - 77%
Freddie Mercury - 66%
Does this change your box office predictions?
Box office in millions ($)
181
195
289
911
Film
Bob Marley
Elton John
Elvis Presley
Freddie Mercury
Recently some biopics have flopped at the box office so some artists are being more creative with their films
flop = 1) fall to the floor
2) fail
Amy Winehouse - 2024
Whitney Houston - 2022
Aretha Franklin - 2021
Judy Garland - 2019
US release: October 11th 2024
Piece by Piece
Pharrell Williams is a singer, rapper and producer.
He’s been a solo artist and in groups like N.E.R.D and the Neptunes
He has produced songs for…
Jay Z
Nelly
Snoop Dog
Usher
Pitbull
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Nsync
Madonna
Britney Spears
Gwen Stefani
Justin Timberlake
Beyonce
Shakira
What is special about his biopic?
Do you think it will be a hit?
(the budget was $16 million)
Do you think critics will like it?
The critic review score is 82%
Release Date: December 25th 2024
Better Man
Robbie Williams was in a popular British boyband (Take That) but left to pursue a successful solo career.
He’s a big star in the UK and a few other countries (Russia, Australia) but NOT the US.
In his life he’s been addicted to alcohol, drugs, women and food but he seems to be clean now
What is unique about his biography?
Why did Robbie William decide to do this?
Williams has said in some interviews that felt like a performing monkey and he’s often a cheeky monkey
These are common idioms in English:
“I feel like a performing monkey” = I feel like I’m only here to entertain people (like in a circus)
“cheeky monkey” = very cheeky person = a person who is a little rude in a funny way
Do you think this film will be a hit?
(the budget was $110 million)
So far the film has been shown at film festivals only. It has an 88% critic review score.
The Apprentice
There is a new Donald Trump biopic in cinemas now
It’s about Trump starting his business in the 70’s and 80’s in New York and is quite critical of him:
He finds a mentor in New York who teaches him to be a respected successful businessman
He succeeds in business by lying a lot
When his mentor gets AIDS he cuts all ties with him
He chases his first wife, Ivana, but cheats on her and later divorces her
Trump tweeted the movie is a “cheap, defamatory and politically disgusting hatchet job, put out right before the 2024 Presidential Election, to try and hurt the Greatest Political Movement in the History of our Country”
Do you think this will be a hit?
Will it be more popular in the US or outside the US?
The movie seems to be making more money overseas than in the US.
Perhaps Americans are tired of seeing Trump
On top of that many cinemas and streamers didn’t want to release it because they are worried about being sued by Donald Trump