Best Biographical Movies of 2026: New and Upcoming Biopics

The best biographical movies give us a closer look at the people behind the names we know and reveal incredible untold stories. And 2026 has brought a wide variety of these films, also known as biopics, to the screen, with musicians, athletes, actors and historical figures at the center.

Whether you want to learn more about a personal hero or discover someone you’ve never heard of, there’s plenty to add to your watchlist.

Below, explore the upcoming biographical movies on our radar, followed by our picks for the best biopics of 2026 to watch right now.

Discover the real stories behind extraordinary lives. Watch more biographical movies and documentaries with DIRECTV!

Explore TV Plans

2026 Biographical Movies at a Glance

Upcoming Biographical Movies in 2026

Some remarkable stories are still heading to the screen this year. Here are upcoming biopics to keep on your watchlist:

‘Jimmy’ (2026)

Director: Aaron Burns
Starring: KJ Apa, Max Casella, Kara Killmer, Neal McDonough
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 6, 2026, in theaters

KJ Apa stars as Jimmy Stewart in this biopic about the Hollywood actor’s service during World War II and his struggle to return to acting afterward. Already an Oscar winner, Stewart puts his career on hold to become a combat pilot during the war, flying missions over Europe. He returns home deeply affected by the war and uncertain about his life and his future in Hollywood. This is until director Frank Capra approaches him with It’s a Wonderful Life. The biopic explores how Stewart’s wartime experiences changed him and how acting helped him find a renewed sense of purpose, leading to a role in what would eventually become one of the most beloved holiday films of all time.

‘I Play Rocky’ (2026)

Director: Peter Farrelly
Starring: Anthony Ippolito, Matt Dillon, AnnaSophia Robb, Toby Kebbell
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: November 6, 2026, in select theaters

Before Rocky Balboa became a movie icon, Sylvester Stallone had to convince Hollywood to let him play the character he created. Anthony Ippolito stars as the struggling actor and screenwriter, whose Rocky script attracts interest, just not on his terms. With little money and no guarantee of success, Stallone risks losing his big break by refusing to hand the leading role to someone else. I Play Rocky goes behind the scenes of the original film to explore the stubborn determination that helped bring it to life.

‘Being Heumann’ (2026)

Director: Siân Heder
Starring: Ruth Madeley, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Ray Fisher
Rated: R
Release Date: November 6, 2026, in select theaters; November 13 on Apple TV

Ruth Madeley plays Judy Heumann, a disability rights activist tired of waiting for the government to act. In 1977, she joins fellow protesters in occupying a federal building, demanding protections against discrimination. As the occupation stretches on, the group must organize, support one another and maintain pressure on officials who would much rather see them leave. Directed by CODA filmmaker Siân Heder, Being Heumann focuses on the people and collective effort behind a defining moment in disability rights history.

‘Madden’ (2026)

Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, Kathryn Hahn, Sienna Miller, John Mulaney
Rated: R
Release Date: November 18, 2026, on Prime Video

Football fans know John Madden’s voice, and gamers know his name. Madden explores how the former Raiders coach became such a lasting presence in American sports. Nicolas Cage takes on the titular role, with Christian Bale playing Raiders owner Al Davis and Kathryn Hahn portraying Madden’s wife, Virginia. Following his coaching career, broadcasting success and involvement in the Madden NFL video games, the film also examines the friendships and marriage that supported his life beyond football.

‘Elsinore’ (2026)

Director: Simon Stone
Starring: Andrew Scott, Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn
Rated: R
Release Date: November 20, 2026, in select theaters

Andrew Scott portrays Ian Charleson, the Chariots of Fire actor who took on one of theater’s most demanding roles while living with AIDS in the late 1980s — a time when the disease was surrounded almost entirely by fear and stigma. After Daniel Day-Lewis leaves a National Theatre production of Hamlet, he steps into the lead, determined to continue doing the work he loves despite his rapidly declining health. Supported by his doctor, friends and fellow performers, he prepares for what will become his last stage role. Elsinore explores his ambition while examining the importance of care and community during a time when people living with AIDS faced prejudice and isolation.

‘Hershey’ (2026)

Director: Mark Waters
Starring: Finn Wittrock, Alexandra Daddario, Alan Ruck, Richard Kind
Rated: PG
Release Date: November 25, 2026, in theaters

Building a chocolate empire takes more than a good recipe. Finn Wittrock stars as Milton Hershey, whose early business failures do little to discourage his entrepreneurial ambitions. Alongside his wife, Kitty, played by Alexandra Daddario, he builds a successful company and begins considering what their wealth could accomplish beyond the candy business. When Kitty becomes ill, their shared commitment to helping children takes on greater significance. Hershey explores the couple’s marriage, business risks and the educational legacy they chose to create.

‘Artificial’ (2026)

Director: Luca Guadagnino
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, Monica Barbaro, Ike Barinholtz, Mark Rylance
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2026, in theaters

The race to develop artificial intelligence becomes a struggle over who gets to control it in Artificial. Andrew Garfield plays Sam Altman, the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, with Yura Borisov as researcher Ilya Sutskever and Mark Rylance as AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton. Spanning two decades of research and Silicon Valley competition, the film follows the breakthroughs that attract powerful investors and entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk, played by Ike Barinholtz. Artificial explores how scientific ambition and corporate interests collide, raising questions about who gets to shape a technology that could change millions of lives — and whether the race to dominate leaves enough room to consider the consequences.

Best Biographical Movies of 2026 to Watch Right Now

Ready to find your next movie? These five biopics explore lives shaped by ambition, creativity and extraordinary challenges. Here are our picks for the best biographical movies of 2026, listed in release order:

‘Michael’ (2026)

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: April 24, 2026

Jaafar Jackson steps into his uncle’s shoes in Michael, which follows Michael Jackson’s rise to fame, from childhood performances with the Jackson Five to his emergence as a solo superstar. Behind the choreography and familiar songs is a young artist navigating family expectations while developing his own creative identity. Colman Domingo plays his demanding father, Joe, with Nia Long as his mother, Katherine. The recreations of Jackson’s beloved performances are a major draw, giving fans a chance to relive the iconic dance moves, vocals and stage presence that made him the King of Pop.

‘Young Washington’ (2026)

Director: Jon Erwin
Starring: William Franklyn-Miller, Ben Kingsley, Mary-Louise Parker, Andy Serkis
Rated: PG-13
Release Date: July 3, 2026

Young Washington follows the formative years of America’s first president, when he was an ambitious young man determined to make a name for himself. William Franklyn-Miller portrays Washington as he pursues a military career, only to be denied a commission in the British Army because of his colonial background. Instead, he joins the Virginia Militia, where a mission into French-controlled territory sets off a chain of events that helps ignite the French and Indian War. Combining large-scale battle sequences with a more personal coming-of-age story, Young Washington offers a look at the failures, sacrifices and experiences that helped shape the future commander in chief and first president of the United States.

‘Tony’ (2026)

Director: Matt Johnson
Starring: Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall
Rated: R
Release Date: August 7, 2026

Before the books, television shows and trips around the world, Anthony Bourdain was a teenager finding his footing in a restaurant kitchen. Dominic Sessa portrays the 19-year-old Bourdain during the summer of 1976, when he takes a job in a restaurant in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Immersed in the hectic, unpredictable world of professional kitchens, Bourdain encounters an eccentric cast of characters and discovers a passion for cooking that will change the course of his life. The film captures the long hours, colorful personalities and chaotic energy of restaurant life.

‘Primetime’ (2026)

Director: Lance Oppenheim
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers
Rated: R
Release Date: September 25, 2026

Robert Pattinson stars as Chris Hansen, the television journalist who became a household name for confronting suspected online predators on NBC’s To Catch a Predator. Set in 2006, Primetime follows Hansen as he pushes the boundaries of investigative journalism in pursuit of higher ratings and national recognition. But when one of the show’s controversial sting operations takes a turn, the consequences threaten to overshadow his success. Directed by Lance Oppenheim, the darkly satirical thriller explores the sensationalism of reality television and the increasingly blurred lines between journalism, entertainment and exploitation.

‘Tenzing’ (2026)

Director: Jennifer Peedom
Starring: Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe, Thinley Lhamo, Caitríona Balfe
Rated: PG
Release Date: October 9, 2026

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest takes more than endurance in Tenzing. Genden Phuntsok portrays Tenzing Norgay, the experienced Himalayan climber whose skills help make the historic 1953 ascent possible. Supported by his wife, Dawa, and expedition secretary Jill Henderson, Tenzing fights to be recognized as a member of the climbing team rather than someone simply employed to support it. Tom Hiddleston plays Edmund Hillary, the mountaineer who reached the Summit alongside him. Beyond the breathtaking mountain scenery and perilous climb, the story told from Tenzing’s perspective brings overdue attention to the man at the heart of the achievement.

Watch Biographical Movies and Documentaries With DIRECTV

There’s always another story worth discovering. Whether you prefer a biopic that brings history to life or a documentary told by the people who lived it, DIRECTV has plenty to keep you watching.

Don’t have DIRECTV yet? Sign up today to find your next pick for movie night!

Explore TV Plans