With the upcoming release of Elvis, the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Biopics.
Each writer ranks his or her top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. MONEYBALL
Moneyball is one of the greatest sports films of all time. The cast - anchored by an excellent performance from Brad Pitt - is stacked with the likes of Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Chris Pratt, while the story is just as much about things off the field as on it. It's a fantastic look behind the scenes of a team that changed major league sports forever. - Nick
4. THE SOCIAL NETWORK
The Social Network is an absolute powerhouse of a film that might feature one of the best screenplays ever written. It masterfully takes the true story of Facebook, which could be perceived as boring, and makes it captivating and entertaining. With a compelling lead performance from Jesse Eisenberg and incredible direction from David Fincher, this film is genuinely one of a kind. - Adriano
3. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
Is there a more rewatchable, better acted, and more compelling Leonardo DiCaprio movie than Catch Me If You Can? You could argue otherwise, but I don’t think he has another film that makes you genuinely smile, cry, and care as much as you do for the battle between Frank Abagnale Jr. (DiCaprio) and Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks). Add pitch perfect roles for Amy Adams, Martin Sheen, Jennifer Garner, and the incomparable Christopher Walken, and you get one of the greatest and most likable biopics of all time. - Amarú
2. GOODFELLAS
“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster” – That’s how GoodFellas starts before diving into the rise and fall of mobster-turned-informant Henry Hill (the late, great Ray Liotta). It’s the perfect opening line for a nearly flawless film that features arguably the best performances of Liotta’s, Robert De Niro’s, and Joe Pesci’s careers in what is almost unanimously the best film of director Martin Scorsese’s career. Forget Best Biopic, GoodFellas is one of the greatest movies ever made, which is, in fact, pretty damn gangster. - Quentin
1. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
The Wolf of Wall Street isn’t your usual biopic about a respectable person. No, this flick follows the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), who represents the downward spiral and moral deterioration of American capitalism. It’s a rollercoaster ride through Belfort’s life, from being a nobody to becoming one of the wealthiest and sleaziest men alive. The film finds both star and director at their best, with DiCaprio giving a powerhouse performance in a true Martin Scorsese masterpiece that is a must watch for everyone. - Paige
HONORABLE MENTIONS
INTO THE WILD
MALCOLM X
I, TONYA
ALI
LORDS OF DOGTOWN
Photo Credits: Photo 1 - Columbia Pictures; Photo 2 - Sony Pictures; Photo 3 - Dreamworks Pictures; Photo 4 - Warner Bros; Photo 5 - Paramount Pictures