Best British Biography Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best British Biography Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: dramatic, period drama, period piece, serious, inspirational and realistic. Plot: biopic, mentor, betrayal, catastrophe, runaway, historical event, husband wife relationship, friendship, courage and real life. Genre: Biography, Drama and History. Country: UK, USA and India.
Best British Biography Movies
TOP Movies: Oppenheimer (2023), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), Belfast (2021), Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007), 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Founder (2016), Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Frida (2002), I Swear (2025), Out of Africa (1985), The King's Speech (2010), Scoop (2024), Belle (2013), A Man for All Seasons (1966), Chariots of Fire (1981), Hamnet (2025), Argo (2012), The Killing Fields (1984), The Young Victoria (2009), Gandhi (1982).
List of Best Movies
1.0M
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 180 min.
Story:
The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.
Style:
period piece, epic, exciting, captivating, dramatic ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
nuclear, scientist, world war two, atomic bomb, american politics, physics, laboratory, arizona desert, top secret, husband wife relationship, moral dilemma, desert ...
Time:
1940s, year 1945, 1950s, year 1954, year 1943 ...
Place:
new mexico, england, zurich switzerland, north america, soviet union ...
Is relevant?
671K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min.
Story:
WWII American Army Medic Desmond T. Doss, who served during the Battle of Okinawa, refuses to kill people and becomes the first Conscientious Objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Style:
inspirational, touching, sentimental, christian film, harsh ...
Audience:
manly, girls' night
Plot:
world war two, war, soldier, conscientious objector, survival, us military, combat, american soldier, religion, bible, military, pacifist ...
Time:
1940s, year 2016, 20th century, middle ages, year 1945 ...
Place:
okinawa japan, japan, tennessee, usa
Is relevant?
117K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 98 min.
Story:
Buddy is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the ...
Style:
black and white, period piece, psychological, disturbing, captivating ...
Audience:
date night, teens
Plot:
working class, bigotry, british politics, intolerance, riot, child, poverty, child protagonist, family relations, european, boy, social problems ...
Time:
year 1969, year 1970, 60s
Place:
ireland, northern ireland, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Story about the remarkable friendship between a reclusive writer and illustrator and a chaotic homeless man, whom he gets to know during a campaign to release two charity workers from prison.
Style:
realistic, bleak, serious, sincere, sentimental ...
Plot:
homeless, bullying, male friendship, homelessness, addiction, male bonding, biopic, suicide, abuse, tragic hero, human nature, haunted by the past ...
Time:
90s, 21st century
Place:
england
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In ...
Style:
heartbreaking, harsh, atmospheric, inspirational, motivational ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
slavery, racism, survival, civil rights, african american, black history, torture, slave trade, american history, freedom, racial discrimination, rape ...
Time:
19th century, 1850s, year 2013, victorian era, 2010s ...
Place:
louisiana, new orleans, america, africa, southern usa ...
Is relevant?
202K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise ...
Style:
inspirational, motivational, realistic, cerebral, uplifting ...
Audience:
family friendly, teens
Plot:
business, businessman, fast food, capitalism, rags to riches, entrepreneurship, entrepreneur, salesman, money, marketing, greed, food ...
Time:
50s, 1950s, 2010s, year 2016, year 1954 ...
Place:
usa, america, california, arizona, illinois ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
Singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bass guitarist John Deacon take the music world by storm when they form the rock 'n' roll band Queen in 1970. Hit songs like "Killer Queen", "Bohemian ...
Style:
inspirational, touching, rough, sexy, period piece ...
Audience:
teens, family friendly, chick flick, adult
Plot:
musician, music, lgbt, gay, aids, rock band, singer, rock music, musician's life, friendship between men, music industry, rock concert ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, year 1984, year 1982, year 1975 ...
Place:
atlanta georgia, england, britain, edinburgh scotland, munich germany ...
Is relevant?
101K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
"Frida" chronicles the life Frida Kahlo shared unflinchingly and openly with Diego Rivera, as the young couple took the art world by storm. From her complex and enduring relationship with her mentor and husband to her illicit and ...
Style:
visually appealing, independent film, sexy, emotional, sincere ...
Audience:
chick flick, adult
Plot:
painter, artist, art, painting, female artist, bohemian life, lgbtq, disability, feminism, female protagonist, life, relationships ...
Time:
1940s, 1930s, year 2002, 1920s, 20th century ...
Place:
mexico, paris france, empire state building manhattan new york city, mexico city, america ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
12K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
Inspired by the life of John Davidson, charting his journey from a misunderstood teenager in 1980's Britain to a present day advocate for the understanding and acceptance of Tourette Syndrome. Diagnosed aged fifteen, John navigates his way ...
Style:
inspirational, heartfelt, emotional, educational, dramatic ...
Plot:
biopic, empathy, acceptance, personal growth, resilience, character study, kindness, mental health, coming of age, high school life, social realism, bullying ...
Time:
80s, 90s
Place:
britain, scotland
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 161 min.
Story:
Out of Africa tells the story of the life of Danish author Karen Blixen, who at the beginning of the 20th century moved to Africa to build a new life for herself. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by Karen Blixen from 1937.
Style:
touching, visually stunning, sexy, period piece, romantic ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night
Plot:
love story, writers, love and romance, colonialism, true love, love, infidelity, nobility, fall in love, destiny, tribal chief, hunter ...
Time:
1910s, 1920s, ancient times, 20th century, victorian era ...
Place:
africa, kenya, south africa, denmark
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
The King's Speech tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit ...
Style:
inspirational, period piece, sincere, sentimental, uplifting ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, adult
Plot:
british history, stuttering, world war two, british royal family, royal family, politics, queen, friendship, british monarchy, monarchy, historical character, king ...
Time:
1930s, year 2010, pre world war two, 50s, 2000s ...
Place:
england, britain, london, united kingdom, scotland ...
Is relevant?
22K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
Inspired by real events, this fictional dramatization gives an insider account of how the women of Newsnight secured Prince Andrew's infamous interview.
Style:
thought provoking, informative
Plot:
journalist, male nudity, interview, journalism, prince, scandal, social issues, royalty, royal family, british royal family, career, female journalist ...
Time:
year 2019, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
new york, london, buckingham palace
Is relevant?
35K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
BELLE is inspired by the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate mixed race daughter of a Royal Navy Admiral. Raised by her aristocratic great-uncle Lord Mansfield and his wife, Belle's lineage affords her certain privileges, yet ...
Style:
period piece, costume drama, sentimental, captivating, historical drama ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
racism, slavery, interracial relations, white male black female relationship, high society, social differences, aristocracy, interracial couple, society, hopes, love and romance, biracial ...
Time:
18th century, ancient times, georgian era, regency period, victorian era ...
Place:
england, indiana, europe, london, africa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
A Man for All Seasons is the filmed version of the life of Thomas More. An English man comes to Sir Thomas More to ask if he can divorce his wife since King Henry VIII has made it illegal. Sir Thomas More stands up in opposition to the King even ...
Style:
period piece, political, costume drama, inspirational, spiritual ...
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
catholic, renaissance, historical event, politics, royalty, lawyer, courtroom drama, courtroom, saint, monarch, british history, idealism ...
Time:
16th century, middle ages, ancient times, medieval times, year 1966
Place:
england, britain, persia, europe, london ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: UK
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
The true story of British athletes preparing for and competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
Style:
inspirational, period piece, historical drama, costume drama, christian film ...
Audience:
family outing, teens, date night, kids
Plot:
christian, prejudice, athlete, integrity, olympics, faith, missionary, runner, religion, racing, catholic, friendship ...
Time:
1920s, 20th century, 1910s, post world war one, year 1978 ...
Place:
scotland, england, israel, paris france, france ...
Is relevant?
41K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 125 min.
Story:
The powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare's timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.
Style:
bleak, melancholic, lyrical, costume drama, crying ...
Plot:
bare chested male, grief, tragedy, death of child, mourning, shakespeare, literary, family tragedy, creative process, mother son relationship, biopic, bittersweet ...
Time:
16th century
Place:
london
Is relevant?
663K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
Style:
clever, tense, captivating, political thriller, suspenseful ...
Audience:
chick flick, date night, adult
Plot:
cia, secret agent, politics, rescue mission, revolution, u.s. embassy, secret mission, propaganda, danger, hostage, undercover, espionage ...
Time:
70s, 80s, year 1979, year 1980, 20th century ...
Place:
middle east, iran, tehran iran, los angeles, istanbul turkey ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 141 min.
Story:
The Killing Fields tells the real-life story of a friendship between two journalists, an American and a Cambodian, during the bloody Khmer Rouge takeover of Cambodia in 1975, which led to the death of 2-3 million Cambodians during the next four ...
Style:
disturbing, tense, rough, political, heartbreaking ...
Plot:
genocide, journalism, vietnam war, civil war, photographer, war, violence, reporter, photograph, brutality, khmer rouge, mass murder ...
Time:
20th century, 70s, year 1973, 80s, year 1984 ...
Place:
cambodia, vietnam, east asia, asia, new york ...
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
From Academy Award® winners Graham King and Martin Scorsese, along with the makers of Gosford Park and The Departed, comes the story of Queen Victoria’s early rise to power. From an object of a royal power-struggle to her romantic courtship and ...
Style:
period piece, costume drama, romantic, touching, historical drama ...
Audience:
chick flick, girls' night
Plot:
royal family, queen of england, marriage, royalty, queen, politics, queen victoria, royal court, aristocracy, love and romance, princess, love story ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, middle ages, ancient times, 1800s ...
Place:
london, buckingham palace, england, britain, europe ...
Is relevant?
247K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, India
Duration: 191 min.
Story:
In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of ...
Style:
spiritual, epic, political, inspirational, breathtaking ...
Audience:
kids, teens
Plot:
protest, idealism, biopic, freedom, politics, life philosophy, independence, british empire, leadership, religious intolerance, assassination, indian history ...
Time:
1930s, 1920s, year 1948, 19th century, victorian era ...
Place:
india, south africa, britain, los angeles, new delhi ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 134 min.
Story:
1183 AD: King Henry II's three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won't commit to a choice. They and his wife variously plot to force him.
Style:
costume drama, suspense, political, factual, atmospheric ...
Plot:
power struggle, political intrigue, king, christmas, british history, dysfunctional family, royalty, medieval, infidelity, monarch, british royal family, monarchy ...
Time:
middle ages, medieval times, 12th century, year 1968, 20th century
Place:
england, france, britain
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
The story of Professor Stephen Hawking's early years is told for the first time in a major drama for BBC Two.It is 1963, and our young cosmologist celebrates his 21st birthday. At the party is a new friend, Jane Wilde - there is a strong ...
Style:
inspirational, sentimental, emotional, motivational, bad ending ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
physicist, science, genius, scientist, disability, storytelling, self discovery, biopic, life is a bitch, family relations, hospital, marriage proposal ...
Time:
60s, year 2004
Place:
england
Is relevant?
286
Genre: Biography
Country: UK
Duration: 59 min.
Story:
Stanley Laurel's last visit to Oliver Hardy, as originally told in Neil Brand's radio play.
Style:
entertaining
Plot:
biopic, spaceship, misunderstanding, comedy duo, divorce, depression era, imagination, cross dressing, death of child, team, chemistry, rehearsal ...
Time:
1920s, year 1957
Place:
malibu california, santa monica california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
The extraordinary true story of eccentric British artist Louis Wain, whose playful, sometimes even psychedelic pictures helped to transform the public's perception of cats forever.
Style:
sad, surreal, dramatic, tragicomedy, stylized ...
Plot:
cat, artist, family relations, childhood trauma, painting, art, life is a bitch, life philosophy, painter, breast cancer, cancer, grief ...
Time:
1890s, 19th century, 1880s, 1900s, victorian era ...
Place:
london, new york
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
In September 2013, members of the cast, writers and crew gathered on Tyneside to reminisce and celebrate the show that captured the imagination of a generation and made it trendy to be a Geordie. Back With The Boys Again – The Story of Auf ...
Style:
humorous, captivating, satirical, entertaining, funny ...
Plot:
friendship, nostalgia, stand up comedian, joke, live performance, comedian, biopic, public speaking, satire, male bonding, celebration, behind the scenes ...
Is relevant?
33K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
Gritty adaption of William Shakespeare's play about the English King's bloody conquest of France.
Style:
exciting, costume drama, breathtaking, realistic, atmospheric ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
medieval, shakespeare, battles, politics, royalty, royal family, tragedy, king, honor, king of england, war, love and romance ...
Time:
15th century, middle ages, year 1989, medieval times, ancient times
Place:
england, france, europe, britain, london ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Country: UK
Duration: 80 min.
Story:
A drama-documentary presented by Alan Yentob, with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role.
Style:
sincere, disturbing, semi autobiographical, thought provoking, art film ...
Plot:
art, painter, painting, artist, art history, famous painting, obsession, depression, anguish, mental illness, genius, loneliness ...
Time:
19th century
Is relevant?
554K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
A biographical drama centered on the rivalry between Formula 1 drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the 1976 Formula One motor-racing season.
Style:
inspirational, realistic, exciting, clever, visually stunning ...
Audience:
boys' night, adult
Plot:
racing, race car, car race, racecar driver, formula 1, success, rise to the top, motor sport, car racing, race, world champion, rivalry ...
Time:
70s, year 2013, 2010s, year 1970, year 1976 ...
Place:
europe, britain, vienna, japan, mount fuji ...
Is relevant?
27K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 195 min.
Story:
A radical American journalist becomes involved with the Communist revolution in Russia and hopes to bring its spirit and idealism to the United States.
Style:
epic, political, breathtaking, philosophical, sentimental ...
Plot:
politics, communism, journalism, russian revolution, revolutionary, biopic, writers, love story, reporter, infidelity, cold war, train ...
Time:
1920s, 1910s, year 1917, year 1981, 20th century ...
Place:
russia, soviet union, st. petersburg russia, new york, usa ...
Is relevant?
265K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, Australia, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.
Style:
touching, emotional, sentimental, inspirational, feel good ...
Audience:
family outing, chick flick, family friendly, date night, kids
Plot:
adoption, poverty, loneliness, courage, survival, childhood, mother son reunion, foster child, foster home, train, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, brother brother relationship ...
Time:
year 1986, 2010s, year 2016, year 2012, year 2010 ...
Place:
india, australia, tasmania, kolkata, melbourne
Is relevant?
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