Auto-Biopics: Celebrities portray themselves in their own biopic
by jrshouse | created - 25 Apr 2016 | updated - 01 Dec 2020 | PublicScripted autobiographical films, not documentaries
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1. The Big Sick (2017)
R | 120 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.
Director: Michael Showalter | Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano
Votes: 143,479 | Gross: $42.87M
Kumail Nanjiani - Comedian and co-writer with his wife Emily.
2. The Greatest (1977)
PG | 101 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Muhammad Ali plays himself in a reconstruction of the events that brought him to fame.
Directors: Tom Gries, Monte Hellman | Stars: Muhammad Ali, Ernest Borgnine, John Marley, Lloyd Haynes
Votes: 1,624 | Gross: $8.28M
Muhammed Ali - Heavyweight Champion
3. Private Parts (1997)
R | 109 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The autobiographical story of Howard Stern, the radio rebel who is now also a TV personality, an author and a movie star.
Director: Betty Thomas | Stars: Howard Stern, Mary McCormack, Robin Quivers, Fred Norris
Votes: 39,174 | Gross: $41.20M
Howard Stern - Radio Host
4. The 15:17 to Paris (2018)
PG-13 | 94 min | Biography, Drama, Thriller
Three courageous young Americans prevent a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone, Ray Corasani
Votes: 35,530 | Gross: $36.25M
3 Americans Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler & Spencer Stone who stopped a 2015 terrorist attack on a Paris bound train, reenact the event.
5. The Ann Jillian Story (1988 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 96 min | Biography
Ann Jillian finds out she has cancer and the movie shows how she deals with that (the hospital treatments and impact on her life).
Director: Corey Allen | Stars: Ann Jillian, Tony Lo Bianco, Viveca Lindfors, George Touliatos
Votes: 206
Ann Jillian - Actress
6. To Hell and Back (1955)
Approved | 106 min | Action, Biography, Drama
The true WWII story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in U.S. history. Based on the autobiography of Audie Murphy who stars as himself in the film.
Director: Jesse Hibbs | Stars: Audie Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Charles Drake, Jack Kelly
Votes: 5,956
Audie Murphy - War Hero
7. The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
Approved | 77 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Biography of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player in the 20th century. Traces his career in the negro leagues and the major leagues. Restored in original Black and White.
Director: Alfred E. Green | Stars: Jackie Robinson, Ruby Dee, Minor Watson, Louise Beavers
Votes: 1,438
Jackie Robinson - Baseball Player
8. 43: The Richard Petty Story (1972)
G | 83 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Race car driver Richard Petty stars in his own b-movie bio.
Director: Edward J. Lakso | Stars: Darren McGavin, Kathie Browne, Noah Beery Jr., L.Q. Jones
Votes: 123
Richard Petty - Racecar Driver
9. Headin' Home (1920)
Not Rated | 71 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The "true story" of baseball great Babe Ruth; Ruth plays himself.
Director: Lawrence C. Windom | Stars: Babe Ruth, Ruth Taylor, William Sheer, Margaret Seddon
Votes: 331
Babe Ruth - Baseball Player
10. The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
Approved | 88 min | Biography, Music, Musical
The Dorsey Brothers bandleaders' lives traced from childhood music insisting father to fame rise eventual split furthering careers propelling with their music.
Director: Alfred E. Green | Stars: Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Janet Blair, Paul Whiteman
Votes: 644
Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey - Musicians
11. The Gong Show Movie (1980)
R | 89 min | Comedy
A week in the life of "The Gong Show" host and creator Chuck Barris who lives through a series of outrageous competitors, stressful situations, a nervous breakdown and other comical characters involved in his life and work on the TV show.
Director: Chuck Barris | Stars: Chuck Barris, Robin Altman, Brian O'Mullin, Jack Bernardi
Votes: 931 | Gross: $6.62M
Chuck Barris - Game Show Host
12. Harmon of Michigan (1941)
Passed | 65 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Tom Harmon (ol' # 98 for the Michigan Wolverines, husband of actress Elyse Knox and father of Mark Harmon and Kelly Harmon) took a back seat to no one on the football field (except the ... See full summary »
Director: Charles Barton | Stars: Tom Harmon, Anita Louise, Forest Evashevski, Oscar O'Shea
Votes: 68
Tom Harmon - College Football (Questionable whether the events in this movie actually happened at this time in his life)
13. Iron & Silk (1990)
PG | 92 min | Comedy, Drama
Mark Salzman always was interested in Kung-Fu and the Chinese culture, claims to have seen every Kung-Fu movie. 1982, with a degree in Chinese literature, he visits a province university in... See full summary »
Director: Shirley Sun | Stars: Mark Salzman, Qingfu Pan, Hangcheng Dong, Xihong Jiang
Votes: 640 | Gross: $0.36M
Mark Salzman - Martial Arts
14. Alice's Restaurant (1969)
GP | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
A cinematic adaption of Arlo Guthrie's classic song story.
Director: Arthur Penn | Stars: Arlo Guthrie, Patricia Quinn, James Broderick, Pete Seeger
Votes: 4,645 | Gross: $13.99M
Arlo Guthrie - Song Writer
15. The Bob Mathias Story (1954)
Approved | 80 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
California school boy and Stanford University student Bob Mathias was the first man to win two Olympic Gold Medals in the Decathlon in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics. The film begins with him ... See full summary »
Director: Francis D. Lyon | Stars: Bob Mathias, Ward Bond, Melba Mathias, Howard Petrie
Votes: 128
Bob Mathias - Olympic Gold Medalist
16. Crazylegs (1953)
Approved | 87 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The story of the life and career of football star Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch (who plays himself).
Director: Francis D. Lyon | Stars: Elroy 'Crazylegs' Hirsch, Lloyd Nolan, Joan Vohs, James Millican
Votes: 190
Elroy Hirsch - Football Player
17. The Flying Irishman (1939)
Approved | 71 min | Biography, Drama
This is the story of the historic 1938 flight of Douglas 'Wrong Way' Corrigan. Mr. Corrigan starred in this film, which chronicled his infamous flight. On July 17, 1938, Mr. Corrigan loaded... See full summary »
Director: Leigh Jason | Stars: Douglas Corrigan, Paul Kelly, Robert Armstrong, Gene Reynolds
Votes: 164
Douglas Corrigan - Football Player
18. The Flash Elorde Story (1961)
Action, Biography
Director: Cesar Gallardo | Stars: Gabriel Elorde, Aura Aurea, Ruben Rustia, Chiquito
Gabriel Elorde - Prize Fighter
19. Tatsumi (2011)
Not Rated | 96 min | Animation, Biography, Drama
A story based on the life and short stories of Yoshihiro Tatsumi, a mangaka known for his gekiga style of alternate Japanese manga.
Director: Eric Khoo | Stars: Tetsuya Bessho, Motoko Gollent, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, Mike Wiluan
Votes: 854
Yoshihiro Tatsumi - Animation Artist
20. Private Peat (1918)
50 min | Biography, Drama, War
Harold R. Peat tries to enlist in the United States army so that he may fight in World War I but is rejected by the recruiting officer. He is despondent until he and his friend, Old Bill, ... See full summary »
Director: Edward José | Stars: Harold R. Peat, Miriam Fouche, William Sorelle, Edwin J. Grant
Harold R. Peat - Lieutenant WWI
21. Beating Back (1914)
60 min | Adventure, Biography, Western
Oklahoma lawyer Al Jennings, whose father was a famous and respected judge, is enraged at the murder of his brother Ed, shot in the back by two killers. As if that wasn't enough, he finds ... See full summary »
Director: Caryl S. Fleming | Stars: Al J. Jennings, J. Morris Foster, Frank Farrington, Albert Froom
Votes: 23
Al J. Jennings - Attorney
22. Men Who Have Made Love to Me (1918)
70 min | Biography, Drama
The story of six affairs of the heart, drawn from controversial feminist author Mary MacLane's. None of MacLane's affairs - with "the bank clerk," "the prize-fighter," "the husband of ... See full summary »
Director: Arthur Berthelet | Stars: Mary MacLane, Ralph Graves, Paul Harvey, Cliff Worman
Votes: 18
Mary MacLane - Author
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