Top 10 Biopics When the Actors Actually Sang

Charting the early life, rise to fame, and tragic ending of 50s rock and roll idol Buddy Holly, the filmmakers of this 1978 biopic opted for realism. Star Gary Busey and his onscreen bandmates sang and played all their numbers live during the shoot. Although Holly was a small guy, his wailing and growling style left some big shoes to fill. Tackling some of rock and roll’s most popular songs, Busey was a revelation in the role. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the music won the Best Adaptation Score Oscar.

Based on the luminaries who made up the real-life Chess Records, this 2008 biopic boasted an impressive cast. Although not every single song was sung by the actors, plenty of them actually were. It makes sense, as most of the actors were well-known vocalists and musicians before then. Though not exact soundalikes, Mos Def, Beyoncé, and Jeffrey Wright, in their respective roles as Chuck Berry, Etta James, and Muddy Waters, revive the classic tracks these artists made famous. The movie itself got mixed reviews for its lack of originality, but the soundtrack was often its most celebrated component.

In this 2010 biopic, Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning play Joan Jett and Cherie Currie of the late 70s band, the Runaways. Both actresses were at a crossroads in their careers, and playing two trailblazing, boundary-smashing women of rock gave both stars a chance to cut their teeth on more mature roles. What’s more is that their vocals were used in many scenes, including on the band’s biggest hit, “Cherry Bomb.” Both Joan Jett and Cherie Currie themselves were reportedly impressed with their onscreen counterparts. With its driving soundtrack and the charisma of its leads, “The Runaways” is a rousing tribute to late 70s punk rock seediness.

Val Kilmer auditioned for a role in this wild retelling of the 60s rock band’s brief rise and fall from stardom by producing a tape of him singing various songs by the Doors. It worked almost too well. Director Oliver Stone decided to have him perform the songs in the movie himself. Kilmer’s stamina was constantly put to the test with multiple takes of concert scenes as the energetic, hard-partying frontman, Jim Morrison. His hard work paid off. The movie is a wild ride, made more immersive and intimate by the inclusion of the actor’s voice, allowing him to fully inhabit the role. Even critics who weren’t exactly in love with the film felt his performance alone was worth the price of admission.

Despite already giving one Oscar-winning turn, Renée Zellweger was hesitant to take this role. That’s understandable. Judy Garland is only one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers, no big deal. But the fact that Zellweger did her own singing makes it an even more courageous decision. Zellweger didn’t seek to impersonate Garland, but opted instead to build the voice around her view of Judy as a character. Playing the legendary entertainer in her later years, her voice is worn and slightly damaged, but nonetheless powerful and full of emotion. Zellweger tears through Garland’s most famous songs, winning a second Oscar.

This biopic takes a more unconventional approach. Yes, it still covers the ups, downs, triumphs, and failures of Sir Elton John from his childhood in Britain to his superstardom, but it also does it in a highly stylized, fantastical way. Taron Egerton takes the role of the piano-playing pop icon, and sings all the songs himself. Pairing surreal imagery with Egerton’s powerhouse performance, “Rocketman” finds a novel way to track a famed performer’s battles with addiction, betrayal, and the pressures of fame. The movie’s premiere showings were met with standing ovations, and it would receive several nominations and awards for both Egerton and the soundtrack.

Director Baz Luhrmann is known for his frantic and jarring approach. So, when he announced he was helming an Elvis Presley biopic, people knew this wasn’t going to be a straightforward kind of movie. People were even more intrigued and maybe even skeptical when it was announced that several actors would be singing. Performers Kodi Smit-McPhee, Yola, and Shonka Dukureh sang the songs of the famous vocalists they played. But it was star Austin Butler who stole the show as “the King.” Although his voice is mixed with the real Elvis’ in his older years, much of his performances as a younger man were performed solely by Butler.

The most ironic thing about this one is that the star of the movie and its subject sound almost nothing alike. Diana Ross’ lilting and pristine coo would never be mistaken for Billie Holiday’s resonant rasp. Yet, Ross’ performance is so believable that it doesn’t even matter. While the 2021 biopic starring Andra Day found an actress who could match Billie Holiday’s sound, “Lady Sings the Blues” proved that Diana Ross wasn’t just dabbling in acting. The former Supreme was able to create a fully fleshed-out character from the history of one of music’s most tragic and battered souls.

Johnny Cash wasn’t a one-man band. His wife and frequent duet partner, June Carter Cash, was an important, if not essential part of his success and longstanding legacy. In “Walk the Line,” their very personal story is given a very personal touch. Not only do stars Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon do their own singing, but they also learned how to play their characters’ instruments. It’s a harmonious match, whether you’re talking about the actors’ musicianship or their onscreen chemistry. If its success with critics and audiences is any indication, it’s easily one of the best movies of its kind.

Sissy Spacek turned out to be a pretty great match for Loretta Lynn, especially when you consider the singer only picked her because they looked alike. It’s even more unlikely how good she is considering the actress only wanted to do her own singing so the producers would quickly realize their mistake in casting her. But Spacek embodies her Oscar-winning role from head to toe, taking complete ownership of Lynn’s characteristically sassy country classics. Just as uncanny is actress Beverly D’Angelo’s take on Patsy Cline’s haunting records. Their very real skills as vocalists elevate the movie, grounding it in the kind of authenticity its real subject was known for.