The 10 Most Rocking, Soulful and Inspiring Diva Biopics

Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987)

The star: Barbie as Karen Carpenter

The plot: Biopics can be a bit paint-by-number, but not so this 1987 cult classic by future Oscar-nominated director Todd Haynes, 60 (Carol, Far from Heaven). Filmed over the course of 10 days at Bard College, this very weird arthouse film — don't say we didn't warn you! — uses Barbie and Ken dolls to tell the tragic story of Karen Carpenter and her battle with anorexia. A copyright infringement lawsuit by Richard Carpenter (74) successfully blocked the film's release.

Best musical moment: When the Carpenters sing “(They Long to Be) Close to You” in a montage that intercuts their rise up the charts with scenes of the Vietnam War.

Watch it: You can find bootleg copies of the film on YouTube.

What's Love Got to Do With It (1993)

The star: Angela Bassett (62) as Tina Turner (81)

The plot: Adapted from Turner's blockbuster 1986 autobiography, I, Tina, this decades-spanning film charts the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll's abusive relationship with husband and musical partner Ike Turner (Laurence Fishburne, 60) and the eventual transition to her record-setting solo career, and you can't help but root for her every step of the way. Armed with Turner's trademark toned biceps and legs worthy of a marathon runner, Bassett beat out the likes of Halle Berry (54), Whitney Houston, and Pam Grier (72) for the role, which earned her a Golden Globe Award.

Best musical moment: When a radiant and newly single Turner belts out the title track — which then segues into a video of the real Turner singing the hit song.

Watch it: What's Love Got to Do With It, on Amazon Prime Video

DON'T MISS THIS: The 11 Best Movie Musicals Set in New York City

Selena (1997)

The star: Jennifer Lopez (52) as Selena Quintanilla-Pérez

The plot: J. Lo earned a Golden Globe nomination for her breakout role as the South Texas–born Tejano star, beloved by American and Mexican audiences alike for such songs as “I Could Fall in Love” and “Dreaming of You.” If you want to learn more about the groundbreaking Grammy winner — whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 23 when she was murdered by her fan club president Yolanda Saldívar — watch Netflix's 18-episode Selena: The Series, which premiered last year.

Best musical moment: When Selena sings “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” in a montage of different tour stops, in a scene that shows off Lopez's undeniable onstage charisma.

Watch it: Selena, on Apple TV, Google Play ($3.99), Amazon Prime Video ($3.99)

La Vie en Rose (2007)

The star: Marion Cotillard as Édith Piaf

The plot: Nicknamed “la môme piaf” (Parisian slang for “the little sparrow") due to her tiny stature, France's national chanteuse rose from a childhood living in a brothel to international acclaim, beloved for her distinctive alto and a slew of standards like “La vie en rose” and “Hymne à l'amour.” Cotillard fully transformed into the singer, shaving her hairline back and redrawing her eyebrows, and she became only the second actress after Sophia Loren (for Two Women in 1961) to win a best actress Oscar for a performance in a foreign language.

Best musical moment: When a frail and sickly Piaf — who looks decades older than her 47 years — performs “Non, je ne regrette rien” at the Olympia music hall shortly before her death.

Watch it: La Vie en Rose, on Apple TV, Google Play ($2.99), Amazon Prime Video ($3.80), or YouTube ($2.99)

The Runaways (2010)

The stars: Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie (61) and Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett (62)

The plot: In this 1970s-set flick, a teenaged Joan Jett teams up with record producer Kim Fowley (played by Michael Shannon) to form an all-female rock band, and they recruit the David Bowie–loving Cherie Currie as frontwoman. They never quite reached superstardom in the States, but the band's backstory is filled with enough booze, drugs and in-fighting to fill an entire season of VH1's Behind the Music.

Best musical moment: When the Runaways tear through their punk-tinged single “Cherry Bomb” at a concert in Japan, where they experienced a Beatlemania-style welcome and the song hit number one on the charts.

Watch it: The Runaways, on Netflix

Judy (2019)

The star: Renée Zellweger (52) as Judy Garland

The plot: Featuring flashbacks to Garland's teenage years on the set of The Wizard of Oz, this cinematic adaptation of Peter Quilter's West End and Broadway play End of the Rainbow focuses on the last year of the icon's life. It's 1968, and Garland agrees to a sold-out run at London's Talk of the Town cabaret in what would prove to be some of her final public performances before her accidental overdose the next year at the age of 47. Zellweger, who did her own singing in the film, won her second Oscar, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and a Critics’ Choice Award for the role.

Best musical moment: When Garland is overcome with emotions during a performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and the audience joins in to help her finish the song.

Watch it: Judy, on Hulu

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

The star: Andra Day as Billie Holiday

The plot: Holiday's story is too dramatic to be contained by just one film. Born Cassandra Monique Batie, R&B star Andra Day — who's best known for her single “Rise Up” — took her stage name from Holiday's “Lady Day” nickname, so it's no surprise that she connected deeply with the singer. Directed by Lee Daniels (61), the film focuses on the government's ongoing attempts to stop Holiday from performing the anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit.” For her efforts, Day pulled off an upset at this year's Golden Globes, beating Frances McDormand (64) and Viola Davis (55) for best actres.

Best musical moment: When Holiday sings “Strange Fruit” — decked out in her trademark red lipstick and white gardenia — at a Southern tour stop in defiance of the KKK.

Watch it: The United States vs. Billie Holiday, on Hulu

Nicholas DeRenzo is a contributing writer who covers entertainment and travel. Previously he was executive editor of United Airlines’ Hemispheres magazine and his work has appeared in The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, Sunset and New York magazine.