Recounting the life stories of popular celebrities and other public figures,biopicshave been a source of inspiration and education to audiences for many, many years. But while there are plenty of great biopics that handle their real-life subjects with the requisite care and grace, there are also far too many that have failed the people whose stories they claim to represent. The movies we’re looking at in this article fall firmly into the latter camp.
Sometimes, this sort of mishandling takes the form of an unnecessarily sensationalized story or characterization. But the worst of the lot are the films that outright exploit their subjects, butchering their legacy in favor of a dramatic narrative. Whatever the exact reason, all of these movies have faced rightful criticism for their disrespectful treatment of beloved figures, serving as a dire warning to all future filmmakers to tread carefully when it comes to the stories of real people and events. Read on to discover our selection of the most disrespectful biopics of all time, ranging from bland dramatizations and grossly inaccurate productions to outright disasters that should never have been made.
8‘The Doors’ (1991)
Based on the history of the titular counterculture rock band and their legendary frontmanJim Morrison,The Doorsis a 1991 biopic starringVal Kilmeras Morrison. The movie follows Morrison’s life as an iconic figure of the counterculture movement, dealing with his hippie lifestyle, recreational drug use, and obsession with death. Besides Kilmer, the movie also starsMeg Ryan,Kyle MacLachlan,Frank Whaley,Kevin Dillon,Billy Idol, andKathleen Quinlan.
The Doorshad a very mixed reception from both critics and the real-life people whose stories are depicted in the film, drawing criticism for its historical inaccuracies and sensationalized depiction of Morrison as an unstable alcoholic. While the movie has earned some praise for Kilmer’s compelling performance, the handling of its subject leans more into the myth of Morrison than the man, forgoing any real insight into his personality or music. The result is a film that’s highly questionable and, at best, a misrepresentation of fact.
7‘The Blind Side’ (2009)
Based onMichael Lewis’s eponymous 2006 book,The Blind Sideis a biographical sports drama that follows the story of NFL playerMichael Oher(Quinton Aaron). The movie explores how Oher overcame an impoverished upbringing to become a successful offensive lineman with the help ofLeigh AnneandSean Tuohy, played bySandra BullockandTim McGraw, respectively. The film also featuresKathy Bates,Jae Head,Lily Collins,Ray McKinnon, and more in supporting roles.
The Blind Sidewas a highly successful film when it first premiered in 2009, earning universal praise for Bullock’s performance, which won her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. If it were just a fictional movie, the film would probably rank among the best dramas of the 2000s, but its real-life roots are what make this movie so problematic. The film has been criticized for propagating “white savior” tropes and for depicting Oher as largely illiterate, unintelligent, and unfamiliar with the sport, even though he was already a rising talent before the Tuohys entered his life. In 2023, the movie became even more controversial when Oher alleged that the Tuohys lied about adopting him and tricked him into giving them legal authority to make business deals in his name, including the one that led to the movie’s creation.
6‘Diana’ (2013)
Based onKate Snell’s 2001 bookDiana: Her Last Love,Dianais a biographical drama that follows the final two years in the life ofDiana, Princess of Wales. StarringNaomi Wattsin the title role, the movie begins with Diana’s divorce from then-Prince Charles and explores her secret relationship with heart surgeon Dr. Hasnat Khan. Besides Watts, the film also starsNaveen Andrews,Cas Anvar,Douglas Hodge,Geraldine James, and more in supporting roles.
There have beennumerous attemptsat telling Diana’s story over the years, but this 2013 film is by far the most critically panned, drawing almost universal criticism for its direction and screenplay. The movie does try to paint its subject in a sympathetic light, but it still sensationalizes her story and fails to deliver anything close to a rewarding experience. The film performed fairly well at the box office, but it’s ultimately a shoddy attempt at capturing the story of one of Britain’s most beloved public figures that falls far short of the mark.
5‘Wired’ (1989)
Based onBob Woodward’s eponymous 1984 book,Wiredis a 1989 biopic of comedian and actorJohn Belushi, starringMichael Chiklisas Belushi in his film debut. The movie begins with Belushi’s death from a drug overdose and explores his life through a series of flashbacks. Besides Chiklis, the film also starsRay Sharkey,J. T. Walsh,Patti D’Arbanville, and more in supporting roles.
Released just a few years after Belushi’s death,Wiredwas a critical and commercial flop that was universally panned for being in poor taste, not to mention terribly written, directed, and acted. Both Woodward’s book and the film earned criticism from fans, reviewers, and Belushi’s family and friends for their sensationalized representation of the belovedSaturday Night Livestar. The movie’s disastrous reception even led to Chiklis being effectively blackballed from the film world for 18 months, and, while he did do some great work on TV, his movie career languished for years until his casting in 2005’sFantastic Four.
4‘Liz & Dick’ (2012)
A biographical romance drama,Liz & Dickchronicles the tumultuous relationship ofElizabeth TaylorandRichard Burton. StarringLindsay LohanandGrant Bowleras Taylor and Burton, the film explores the story of their romance, beginning with their extramarital affair on the set ofCleopatra, and the pressures placed on the relationship by endless media scrutiny. Besides Logan and Bowler, the movie also starsTheresa Russell,David Hunt,Bruce Nozick,Tanya Franks, and more in supporting roles.
Liz and Dickwas a controversial film from the moment Lindsay Lohan was cast in the lead role, and that controversy exploded once the movie premiered on Lifetime in 2012. The mismatched casting could possibly have been forgiven in a better film, butLiz & Dick’s mediocre writing and campy treatment earned it overwhelmingly negative reviews and ratings disappointment. Ironically, Lohan’s performance in the film is actually quite solid, but the movie is one of theworst biopicsever made, little more than a futile cash grab that doesn’t even scratch the surface of its real-life love story.
3‘Grace of Monaco’ (2014)
Following the story of legendary actressGrace Kelly,Grace of Monacois a biographical drama that focuses on a period of tension between the star and her husband, Monaco’sPrince Rainier III, while the country is engaged in a dispute with France. StarringNicole Kidmanas Princess Grace, the film explores the former actress’s crisis of identity and marriage as she considers an offer to star in theAlfred HitchcockmovieMarnie, forcing her to choose between her duties as a sovereign and her artistic passion. Besides Kidman, the film also featuresFrank Langella,Parker Posey,Derek Jacobi,Paz Vega,Roger Ashton-Griffiths, andMilo Ventimigliain supporting roles, withTim Rothco-starring as Prince Rainier.
Ahead of its premiere at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival,Grace of Monacofaced intense criticism from Monaco’s royal family, especially from Prince Rainier and Princess Grace’s children, who found the film to be a historically inaccurate and glamorized portrayal of their parents. Upon its release, the movie was critically panned as a wooden and vapid film that utterly fails its subject. Though Kidman’s performance is admirable, the film has nothing of interest to say, and its contrived attempts to dramatize the relationship between Princess Grace and her husband come across as both disrespectful and ill-thought-out.
2‘Nina’ (2016)
Based on the life of legendary musician and civil rights activistNina Simone,Ninais a 2016 biopic starringZoe Saldañain the lead role. The film explores a difficult period in Simone’s life, well past the peak of her popularity, as she attempts to rebuild her career with the help of her nurse-turned-assistant-turned-manager Clifton Henderson (played byDavid Oyelowo). The movie also starsElla Thomas,Mike Epps,Kevin Mambo,Ronald Guttman, and more in supporting roles.
Ninawas heavily criticized even before its premiere, largely due to Saldaña’s casting in the lead, and Simone’s family refused to endorse the film, openly criticizing it. Though the film itself is quite respectful, Saldaña, who is Afro-Latina and wore dark makeup and prosthetics to play Simone, later admitted that she regretted accepting the role and apologized to the family. Even the movie’s director was critical of the film, claiming that she was cut out of the decision-making process by the studio, and filed a lawsuit against them for breaching the terms of her deal.
1‘Blonde’ (2022)
Adapted fromJoyce Carol Oates’ 2000 novel,Blondeis a highly fictionalized take on the life of Hollywood iconMarilyn Monroe. StarringAna de Armasin the lead role, the film chronicles Monroe’s rise to fame, her turbulent career, and her eventual demise. The movie’s ensemble cast also includesAdrien Brody,Bobby Cannavale,Xavier Samuel, andJulianne Nicholson, among others.
There are so, so many things wrong withBlonde, beginning with the fact that it’s a fictional story that was falsely marketed as a biopic. The film was already controversial before its release, earning a rare NC-17 rating for its extremely graphic depictions of rape, abortion, and more, and once it came out, the movie was even more controversial because of its exploitative, sexist, and disrespectful take on Monroe’s life. Thoughde Armas’ performanceis phenomenal, it doesn’t make up for the movie’s misguided approach, purporting to be a critique of how Hollywood exploited Monroe in life while doing the exact same thing to her in death.
