The Highest Grossing Biopic Movies Of All Time, Ranked

Highlights

• Biographical movies captivate audiences, combining good storytelling, realistic characters, and stunning cinematography for commercial success.
• "A Beautiful Mind," "Green Book," and "Schindler's List" are powerful biopics that explore the complexity of the human mind, social issues, and acts of heroism.
• Leonardo DiCaprio shines in biopic roles such as "Catch Me If You Can" and "The Wolf of Wall Street," captivating viewers with his electrifying performances. These movies grossed over $350 million each.

"Based on a true story": These five simple words have the power to change the way you digest a movie internally. Biographic movies hold a unique fascination for the general audience, bringing to the screen the stories of individuals that are much more than meets the eye.

A harmonious balance of good storytelling, realistic character portrayals, and appealing cinematography strike the perfect chord, and subsequently translate into commercial success. From musical legends and scientists to historical figures of the past and everything in between, they tell different stories crafted by top Hollywood directors, and imprint the silver screen with memorable dialogues and iconic scenes.

We broke down the best-earning biopics of all time based on their domestic, international, and worldwide box office. Every movie on our list earned at least $317.66 million while the best-selling biopic of all time has earned nearly $1 billion. We also focused specifically on theater box office and not on post-theater earnings.

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10 A Beautiful Mind (2001) - $317.66 Million

A Beautiful Mind tells the story of a mathematical genius, John Nash (portrayed by critically acclaimed actor Russell Crowe), who struggles with schizophrenia while making groundbreaking contributions. While movies centered on academic themes are not traditionally known for being commercially successful, director Ron Howard handled it differently, skillfully drawing viewers into Nash's world while exploring the complexity of the human mind, making it a thought-provoking cinematic experience.

A Beautiful Mind grossed $317.66 million worldwide, on a low budget of $58 million. Its box office success reflected the public's fascination with the intersection of brilliance and mental struggle.

9 Green Book (2018) - $319.99 Million

Green Book is a biographical comedy-drama featuring two Hollywood juggernauts, Viggo Mortensen and two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. Set against the backdrop of racial tension in the 1960s, the movie follows the unlikely friendship between an Italian-American bouncer, Tony Lip, highly talented African-American pianist, Don Shirley, and their journey through the segregated South.

Brought to life by writer-director Peter Farrelly with the help of Tony Lip's son, this biopic not only sheds light on important social issues, but also highlights the power of basic human empathy. The movie was critically acclaimed, receiving numerous awards and nominations; at the 2019 Academy Awards Ceremony, it won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali.

Green Book took the box office by storm, too, making $319.99 million worldwide.

8 Schindler's List (1993) - $322.19 Million

A movie frequently referenced in other films, Schindler's List is one of Steven Spielberg's finest works. This epic drama is based on the 1982 novel Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally; although it was a historical fiction, it draws inspiration from the story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who transformed from a greedy opportunist into a compassionate hero, saving the lives of 1,200 Jews by employing them in his factories during the Holocaust.

Liam Neeson delivers an outstanding performance as Schindler, capturing his flaws and his determination to do what is right. The movie was an instant hit at the box office, picking up over $322 million; it also received twelve nominations at the Oscars, winning seven.

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7 Catch Me If You Can (2002) - $355.61 Million

A thrilling biopic that kept audiences on the edge of their seats, another of Spielberg's works, this movie tells the story of Frank Abagnale Junior (played by Leonardo di Caprio) a master con artist who successfully impersonated various professionals, and forged millions of dollars in checks between 1965 and his eventual prosecution after long evading law agencies around the world.

Abagnale reportedly cashed $2.5 million worth of bad checks, defrauding many banks and corporations in the process. Spielberg not only showcased Abagnale's criminal activities, but did well to dive into his troubled personal life that led to his life of crime.

Catch Me If You Can premiered on Christmas day in 2002, and recouped its $52 million budget seven times over at the end of its cinematic run.

6 The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) - $389.81 Million

An argument can be made that Leonardo di Caprio is the king of biopic movies; his fifth collaboration with visionary director Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street, ticked off all the entertainment boxes for its audience. The film chronicles the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, a fraudulent Wall Street stockbroker who indulged in unethical practices, committing several financial crimes to amass a fortune – before being prosecuted and released in 2000.

DiCaprio, as he often does, delivered an electrifying performance as Belfort, effortlessly mirroring his charismatic (yet morally deficient) persona, which drew praise from Belfort himself and his fans. The Wolf of Wall Street is Scorsese's highest-grossing film, at $389 million.

5 The King's Speech (2010) - $430.06 Million

The King's Speech is a historical drama directed by Tom Hooper. It is a biopic detailing the story of King George VI, played by Colin Firth, as he battles with a debilitating stammer and his journey to finding his voice with the help of his speech therapist Lionel Logue, brought to the big screen by Australian actor Geoffrey Rush.

The duo's on-screen chemistry flawlessly connected with the audience on an emotional level. The King's Speech was a major box office and critical success.

Critics praised the movie for its screenplay, historical accuracy, and score; the film scored a rating of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. With earnings reaching $430 million (from a modest budget of $15 million), it holds a place as one of the biographical movies that reaped substantial profits in recent times.

4 The Greatest Showman (2017) - $429.96 Million

P.T. Barnum's life story is a glittering spectacle, brilliantly portrayed by Hugh Jackman and directed by Michael Gracey in his directorial debut. The movie sweeps audiences into the world of circus and the birth of show business with its dazzling musical numbers and storytelling, detailing Barnum's journey and evolution from a spotlight-hungry entertainer to a simple family man.

This biopic (and pop musical) film has immense universal appeal, drawing audiences from across the globe with standout songs (such as "This Is Me" and "A Million Dreams.") This translated into commercial success, which saw the movie gross over $429.96 million worldwide – making it the fifth-highest grossing musical of all time.

3 American Sniper (2014) - $547.4 Million

American Sniper grossed $547 million with a reported profit of $243 million, making it the second-most profitable film in 2014; it is the highest-grossing war film of all time. The movie owes its success to a simplified but mind-stirring plot; it tells the story of Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper with an unparalleled record of kills during his tours in Iraq.

Bradley Cooper delivered a remarkable performance as Chris Kyle, depicting both his physical prowess and emotional struggles; from tense war scenes to quieter moments, Cooper brought depth to the role. American Sniper's success at the box office can be attributed to the fact that it resonated with the audience, showcasing patriotism and raising questions about the morality of war.

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2 Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - $879.99 Million

Few films have rendered the spirit of a musical legend as vividly as Bohemian Rhapsody. This biopic musical drama, directed by Bryan Singer, traces the meteoric rise of the iconic rock band Queen, with Rami Malek's portrayal of Freddie Mercury bringing his life and personal struggles to the silver screen.

The movie did well to highlight some of the band's intense performances, including their unforgettable Live Aid concert in 1985. The film holds the record of the highest-grossing musical biopic of all time, making $879.99 million; critics also praised it for its historical accuracy.

Bohemian Rhapsody won four awards at the 91st Academy Awards, and was the film with the most wins at that ceremony.

1 Oppenheimer (2023) - $942.06 Million

Oppenheimer soars to astronomical heights in the biopic movies genre, in terms of critically acclaimed and commercial success. Oppenheimer tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American theoretical physicist credited for his role in creating the atomic bomb during World War II.

Christopher Nolan did what he does best, and impeccably shed light on the protagonist's professional life, touching on his moral dilemmas and internal conflicts as he grappled with the devastating power he helped unleash on humanity. The buzz surrounding Oppenheimer was palpable, fueled by its star-studded cast and the return of the enigmatic Christopher Nolan to the director's chair.

Three months after its release, the movie set the record for the highest-grossing biopic, earning a deserved $942 million; it was also commended for its accuracy, with some scenes taken word-for-word from actual real-world events.

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