Rotten Tomatoes Critics Rank Top 10 Pop Music Biopics

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentRotten Tomatoes Critics Rank Top 10 Pop Music BiopicsByTim Lammers,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I cover Hollywood and entertainment.Follow AuthorApr 21, 2026, 06:00am EDTJaafar Jackson and KeiLyn Durrell Jones in "Michael."Lionsgate/Glen WilsonMichael Jackson is finally getting the music biopic treatment this week with Michael, starring the late pop icon’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson — Jermaine Jackson’s son — in the title role.Playing in Thursday previews before opening in theaters nationwide on Friday, Michael examines the life and legacy of the King of Pop (Jackson) from his time as a young singer (Juliano Krue Valdi) in The Jackson 5 through adulthood as a solo artist on his way to becoming one of the most influential singers of all time.Forbes‘EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert’ Is Now Streaming - How To WatchBy Tim LammersThe first big test Michael will face will come with reviews of the film on Tuesday, where director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan will find out where the film ranks among other pop music biopics. The music biopic has been immensely popular with audiences in the past 10 years with big-screen chronicles of Freddy Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), Elton John in Rocketman (2019), Elvis Presley in Elvis (2022) and Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.The movie and TV review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes has a ranking of the top 50 music biopics of all time. However, for the list below, only music biopics from the pop genre — including country, hip-hop, pop, punk and rock singers — from RT’s rankings are highlighted.MORE FOR YOUForbesStudio Delays ‘Project Hail Mary’ Streaming Release And Extends Theatrical RunBy Tim LammersDespite their popularity with audiences, the pop music biopics Bohemian Rhapsody (starring Oscar winner Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury) Elvis (starring Oscar nominee Austin Butler) and A Complete Unknown (starring Timothée Chala...