Best Japanese Biography Movies
This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best Japanese Biography Movies" contains films with the following parameters. Style: serious, realistic, captivating, dramatic, thought provoking and period piece. Plot: biopic, storytelling, friendship, husband wife relationship, mentor, dialogue, death, life, runaway and life & death. Genre: Drama, Biography and History. Country: Japan, USA and UK.
Best Japanese Biography Movies
TOP Movies: American Made (2017), Green Book (2018), Blue (1993), The Theory of Everything (2014), Steve Jobs (2015), Straight Outta Compton (2015), Unbroken (2014), Malcolm X (1992), Kiss and Cry (2017), The Danish Girl (2015), The Wind Rises (2013), Public Enemies (2009), The World's Fastest Indian (2005), Asakusa Kid (2021), Marie Antoinette (2006), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005), The Asadas (2020), Becoming Jane (2007), Mishima (1985).
List of Best Movies
231K
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min.
Story:
The true story of pilot Barry Seal, who transported contraband for the CIA and the Medellin cartel in the 1980s.
Style:
black comedy, exciting, factual, humorous, emotional ...
Plot:
pilot, drug cartel, money laundering, aviation, cia, money, smuggler, cocaine, fbi, trial, arms smuggling, cia agent ...
Time:
80s, year 2017, 2010s, year 1978, year 1985 ...
Place:
colombia, panama, nicaragua, latin america, usa ...
Is relevant?
673K
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, Music
Country: USA, China, Japan
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Tony Lip, a bouncer in 1962, is hired to drive pianist Don Shirley on a tour through the Deep South in the days when African Americans forced to find alternate accommodations and services due to segregation laws below the Mason-Dixon Line relied on ...
Style:
feel good, road movie, uplifting, funny, inspirational ...
Audience:
family friendly, date night, adult
Plot:
racism, road trip, musician, interracial friendship, travel, lgbtq, racial prejudice, journey, friendship, driver, black american, dignity ...
Time:
60s, year 1962, 20th century, 2010s
Place:
southern usa, bronx new york city, america, birmingham alabama, new york ...
Is relevant?
3K
Genre: Biography
Country: UK, Japan
Duration: 79 min.
Story:
Against a plain, unchanging blue screen, a densely interwoven soundtrack of voices, sound effects and music attempt to convey a portrait of Derek Jarman's experiences with AIDS, both literally and allegorically, together with an exploration of ...
Style:
realistic, serious, atmospheric, underground film, experimental ...
Plot:
private detective, storytelling, death, autobiography, terminal illness, lgbt, gender, church, infidelity, underground, eyesight, lgbtqi ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Place:
england, asia
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
The Theory of Everything is the extraordinary story of one of the world’s greatest living minds, the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who falls deeply in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde.
Style:
touching, uplifting, inspirational, compassionate, sentimental ...
Audience:
kids, teens, chick flick
Plot:
genius, disability, love, cambridge university, physicist, mathematics, husband wife relationship, prodigy, supportive spouse, handicapped, against the odds, relationships ...
Time:
year 2014, 2010s, 20th century, 60s, 70s ...
Place:
oxford university, england, united kingdom
Is relevant?
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186K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter.
Style:
cerebral, realistic, factual, talky, melancholic ...
Audience:
teens, date night
Plot:
entrepreneur, business, entrepreneurship, marketing, computer, biopic, prodigy, internet, father daughter relationship, computers and web, technology, inventions and discoveries ...
Time:
20th century, year 2015, 2010s, 90s, year 1998 ...
Place:
san francisco, north america, usa, california
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Music, Musical
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 147 min.
Story:
In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, ...
Style:
realistic, hood, intense, clever, inspirational ...
Audience:
manly
Plot:
hip hop, racism, music, ghetto, gangster, redemption, rap, rags to riches, profanity, rapper, african american, gang ...
Time:
90s, year 2015, 2010s, year 1990, year 1995 ...
Place:
los angeles, california, milwaukee wisconsin, usa, detroit ...
Is relevant?
198K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport, War
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 137 min.
Story:
A chronicle of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during World War II.
Style:
dramatic, epic, motivational, uplifting, serious ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
world war two, war, survival, soldier, jail, motivation, biopic, prisoners of war, hopes, prison, torture, captivity ...
Time:
1940s, 20th century, year 2014, 2010s, 1930s ...
Place:
japan, pacific ocean, asia, germany, berlin germany ...
Is relevant?
110K
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 202 min.
Story:
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left ...
Style:
political, factual, inspirational, thought provoking, intense ...
Plot:
civil rights, racism, politics, african american, black history, civil rights movement, assassination, islam, biopic, childhood, black, anti racism ...
Time:
20th century, 90s, 60s, 50s, 1940s ...
Place:
usa, africa, new york, saudi arabia, manhattan new york city ...
Is relevant?
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Genre: Biography, Drama, Music, Romance, Sport
Country: Canada
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
A romantic drama based on the story of Carley Allison, a promising 18 year old figure skater and singer who made medical history in her fight against a rare 1 in 3.5 billion type of sarcoma.
Style:
light, sincere, captivating, exciting, depressing ...
Audience:
girls' night
Plot:
cancer, figure skating, terminal illness, teenage girl, ice skater, skating, hospital, doctor, nurse, supportive parent, rise to the top, contests and competitions ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: UK, USA, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Japan
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
When Gerda Wegener asks her husband Einar to fill in as a portrait model, Einar discovers the person she's meant to be and begins living her life as Lili Elbe. Having realized her true self and with Gerda's love and support, Lili embarks ...
Style:
touching, inspirational, period piece, costume drama, romantic ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick
Plot:
transsexual, lgbt, art, transgender, couple relations, painting, love, gay, lgbtq, gays and lesbians, artist, gender ...
Time:
1920s, 1930s, year 2015, 2010s, 20th century
Place:
denmark, paris france, idaho, copenhagen, europe ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Biography, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
A lifelong love of flight inspires Japanese aviation engineer Jiro Horikoshi, whose storied career includes the creation of the A-6M World War II fighter plane.
Style:
anime, touching, sentimental, emotional, adult animation ...
Audience:
kids, family friendly, teens
Plot:
tuberculosis, world war two, dream, earthquake, inventions and discoveries, flying, hopes, aviation, biopic, love and romance, engineer, wartime ...
Time:
1930s, 2010s, year 2013, 1920s, 1940s ...
Place:
japan, germany, asia, tokyo
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 140 min.
Story:
Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, ...
Style:
suspense, period piece, crime thriller, factual, exciting ...
Audience:
manly, boys' night
Plot:
bank robber, bank robbery, mafia, gunfight, criminal, robbery, group of criminals, heist, criminal heroes, great depression, gang, manhunt ...
Time:
1930s, year 1933, year 2009, 20th century, 2000s ...
Place:
indiana, chicago, tucson arizona, illinois, arizona ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: New Zealand, Japan, USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.
Style:
inspirational, realistic, emotional, road movie, touching ...
Audience:
family outing, chick flick
Plot:
motorcycle, human spirit, against the odds, motorcycle race, follow your dream, car race, racing, auto mechanic, elderly, race, goodhearted, eccentricity ...
Time:
year 2005, 2000s, 20th century, year 1967, year 1914 ...
Place:
new zealand, california, nevada, utah, usa ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
In 1965, Takeshi Kitano drops out of a university and enters the Asakusa France Za, which is a performance theater. He becomes an apprentice to Senzaburo Fukami, who is a legendary entertainer. Senzaburo Fukami demands that Takeshi Kitano keep the ...
Style:
thought provoking, psychological, disturbing, captivating
Audience:
kids
Plot:
popularity, life, theater, theatre play, rising to stardom, stage actor, training, entertainment industry, desire for fame, comedian, legend, university ...
Time:
70s, 80s, year 1965, 60s
Place:
tokyo, japan
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA, France, Japan
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
The retelling of France's iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 15 to her reign as queen at 19 and ultimately the fall of Versailles.
Style:
visually stunning, period piece, visual, costume drama, factual ...
Audience:
girls' night, chick flick, teen drama
Plot:
queen, french revolution, historical character, french history, royal court, royal family, decadence, royalty, aristocracy, teenage girl, monarchy, princess ...
Time:
18th century, ancient times, year 2006, victorian era, georgian era ...
Place:
france, versailles, europe, austria, vienna ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
After the Evil Queen marries the King, she performs a violent coup in which the King is murdered and his daughter, Snow White, is taken captive. Almost a decade later, a grown Snow White is still in the clutches of the Queen. In order to obtain ...
Style:
fairy tale, dark fantasy, epic, exciting, modern fairy tale ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, chick flick, family outing, date night ...
Plot:
witch, magic, good versus evil, fantasy world, snow white, heroine, evil queen, princess, sorceress, destiny, queen, immortality ...
Time:
middle ages, year 2012, 2010s, medieval times, 16th century
Place:
england, germany
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK, France, Japan, USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
The story of journalist, Edward R Murrow's stand against Senator McCarthy's anti-communist witch-hunts in the early 1950s.
Style:
political, tense, period piece, factual, melancholic ...
Plot:
politics, media, television, mccarthyism, journalist, reporter, fighting the system, cold war, propaganda, terrorist, patriotism, communism ...
Time:
1950s, 20th century, 50s, year 2005, 90s ...
Place:
new york, washington d.c., california, usa, soviet union ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
Masashi is a photographer. He has his parents and an older brother Yukihiro. Through the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Masashi begins to take staged photos of his family.
Style:
captivating, psychological, disturbing, surprise ending
Audience:
family outing
Plot:
photographer, disaster, tsunami, family relations, father son relationship, brother brother relationship, catastrophe, nuclear holocaust, problem, earthquake, blood, photograph ...
Time:
2010s, year 2011, 2000s
Place:
japan, tokyo
Is relevant?
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Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Ireland, USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
A biographical portrait of a pre-fame Jane Austen and her romance with a young Irishman.
Style:
romantic, sweet, touching, costume drama, period piece ...
Audience:
chick flick, teens, date night, girls' night, adult
Plot:
unfulfilled love, love story, couples, writer's life, love and romance, love, prejudice, fall in love, biopic, women, passion, destiny ...
Time:
18th century, 19th century, victorian era, ancient times, 50s ...
Place:
england, ireland, britain, europe, london
Is relevant?
16K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Japan, USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
A fictional account of the life of Japanese author Yukio Mishima told in four parts. The first three parts relate events in three of his novels: The temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kyoko's House, and Runaway Horses. The last part depicts the ...
Style:
surreal, serious, atmospheric, psychedelic, mind bending ...
Plot:
suicide, homoeroticism, art, rebellion, friendship, nationalism, writers, emperor, radical, writer's life, state affairs, tragic hero ...
Time:
20th century, year 1985, 60s, post world war two
Place:
japan, kyoto japan, mount fuji, tokyo
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography
Country: Japan, Hong Kong
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Bruce Lee in G.O.D. is a "docudrama" about the filming of Game of Death. The first 40 minutes of the film is a dramitisation of events before Lee dropped filming for GOD to do Enter the Dragon, interspersed with interviews with people ...
Style:
exciting, captivating, realistic, serious
Plot:
martial arts, actor, martial artist, tough guy, warrior, asian, jeet kune do, wing chun, kung fu fighting, karate, kung fu master, philosopher ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK, Japan, USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story:
Wealthy Sunny von Bülow lies brain-dead, husband Claus guilty of attempted murder; but he says he's innocent and hires Alan Dershowitz for his appeal.
Style:
talky, suspense, tense, suspenseful, serious ...
Plot:
courtroom drama, lawyer, legal, courtroom, murder, court, trial, biopic, coma, uncover truth, protagonist as suspect, false accusation ...
Time:
20th century, year 1990, 90s, 80s
Place:
rhode island
Is relevant?
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: USA, Japan, Canada
Duration: 123 min.
Story:
The story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr.
Style:
intense, inspirational, depressing, period piece, crying ...
Plot:
mixed martial arts, biopic, gym, athlete, substance abuse, addiction, perseverance, competition, violence, training camp, obsession, interview ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 2000, year 1999, 2020s ...
Place:
phoenix arizona, tokyo, japan, birmingham alabama
Is relevant?
Related movie lists
1K
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 127 min.
Story:
In the early 1200s, Dogen brought Chinese Zen philosophy to Japan, and established the Japanese Zen sect of Buddhism. He taught that a person was capable of realizing Buddhahood within himself, by way of Zazen. Zazen is extended hours of sitting and ...
Style:
spiritual, atmospheric, psychological, captivating, contemplative ...
Plot:
buddhism, zen, enlightenment, buddhist monk, meditation, religion, spirit, asian history, buddhist, abstinence, poverty, teaching ...
Time:
13th century
Place:
japan, tibet, china
Is relevant?
386
Genre: Biography, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
The unknown life of Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai in the Edo period, who is said to have painted more than 30,000 works throughout his life, such as "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji"
Style:
captivating, suspenseful, exciting, dramatic, serious ...
Plot:
painter, painting, art, artist, drawing, profession, famous painting, picture, creative process, fight, perseverance, art history ...
Place:
japan, mount fuji
Is relevant?
71K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Country: UK, France, Australia, Japan, USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story:
Control is the biography of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, taking his story from schoolboy days of 1973 to his suicide on the eve of the band's first American tour in 1980.
Style:
atmospheric, depressing, sad, cult classic, stylized ...
Audience:
teens, pre-teens
Plot:
music, suicide, punk, singer, musician's life, depression, musician, punk rock, rock and roll, biopic, epilepsy, music band ...
Time:
70s, year 2007, y2k, year 1980, year 1973 ...
Place:
england, london, manchester, northern england, europe
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Drama, Family
Country: Japan
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took in Hachikō, a golden brown Akita, as a pet. During his owner's life, Hachikō walk with him in the morning and greeted him at the end of each ...
Style:
depressing, educational, touching, independent film, sincere ...
Audience:
date night
Plot:
friends, friendship, dog, animal, suffering, time travel, sadness, best friend, bittersweet, gift, loyalty, dog actor ...
Time:
1920s, 1930s, 20th century
Place:
japan, tokyo, asia
Is relevant?
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, Germany, Japan, USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
A film about the life and career of the eccentric avant-garde comedian, Andy Kaufman.
Style:
inspirational, depressing, touching, humorous, tragicomedy ...
Plot:
comedian, biopic, showbiz, wrestler, female nudity, sexism, character study, prank, life philosophy, human spirit, actor's life, rising to stardom ...
Time:
90s, 80s, 20th century, year 1999, 70s ...
Place:
new york, usa, north america, manhattan new york city, lithuania ...
Is relevant?
19K
Genre: Biography, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Germany, Japan
Duration: 118 min.
Story:
The story of Oscar Wilde, genius, poet, playwright and the First Modern Man. The self-realisation of his homosexuality caused Wilde enormous torment as he juggled marriage, fatherhood and responsibility with his obsessive love for Lord Alfred ...
Style:
homoerotic, costume drama, period piece, touching, historical drama ...
Plot:
homosexuality, gay, lgbt, glbt, writers, lgbtq, hypocrisy, male homosexuality, biopic, gay sex, scandal, gay lead character ...
Time:
19th century, victorian era, edwardian era, 1880s, year 1997 ...
Place:
ireland, britain, england, europe, london ...
Is relevant?
Genre: Animation, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
The time: 1814. The place: Edo, now known as Tokyo. A much accomplished artist of his time and now in his mid-fifties, Tetsuzo can boast clients from all over Japan, and tirelessly works in the garbage-loaded chaos of his house-atelier. He spends ...
Style:
anime, touching, sentimental, psychological, captivating ...
Plot:
art history, artist, father daughter relationship, drawing, painting, sister sister relationship, illness, painter, rivalry, society, family relations, dog ...
Time:
19th century, 2010s
Place:
japan, tokyo
Is relevant?
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