Biographical Dramas on Netflix
Last updated March 08, 2025
The Legend is Born: Ip Man
2010 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsThis martial arts biopic follows the early years of Ip Man -- the master who would one day become Bruce Lee's mentor -- as he perfects his Wing Chun style of combat against a small army of villainous foes.
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The Young Victoria
2009 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsEighteen-year-old British royal Victoria ascends to the throne and is romanced by future husband Prince Albert in this lush period film that chronicles the early years of the British monarch's larger-than-life reign.
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Maria Di Nazaret
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsMary, Mother of God. Mary is an ordinary young woman who works in the olive groves and spends time with her friends. If she only knew that these three little words -- Mother of God -- would one day be synonymous with her name. Humbled by the role she is asked to play as the mother of the Messiah, she unwaveringly fulfills the mission assigned to her. An ordinary girl chosen for an extraordinary role unlike any other.
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Maria Di Nazaret
2012 | NR | 4.1 out of 5 StarsIn this biographical drama, the young Mary of Nazareth grows up as just another young Israelite working in the olive groves under Roman occupation. Following her life, the film captures the weight of Mary's fated role as the Mother of God.
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The Lady
2011 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsBased on the inspiring true story, this epic yet intimate biopic tells the story of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's leading pro-democracy reformer who was held under house arrest for 15 years, and her English husband, who worked tirelessly for her release.
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Mao's Last Dancer
2010 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsA delegation from Madame Mao's Beijing Dance Academy selects 11-year-old peasant villager Li Cunxin to study ballet in far-off Beijing, where he trains for seven grueling years to become one of China's greatest dancers. His efforts win him the opportunity to dance in America, opening his eyes to a new love and the possibility of a dramatic defection from China in this remarkable true story based on Cunxin's autobiography.
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The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
1958 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsIngrid Bergman stars as Gladys Aylward, a real-life missionary who goes to China during the Sino-Japanese War. As the hostile Chinese begin to trust her, she takes on an arduous task: guiding 100 children through enemy territory and into safety.
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Lawrence of Arabia
1962 | NR | 4.0 out of 5 StarsThis Oscar-winning epic tells the true story of T.E. Lawrence, who helped unite warring Arab tribes to strike back against the Turks in World War I. This lush, timeless classic underscores the clash between cultures that changed the tide of war.
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The World's Fastest Indian
2005 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis fact-based drama stars Anthony Hopkins as quirky New Zealander Burt Munro, a 67-year-old grandfather who flies across Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats and attempts to break into the record books on his customized Indian Scout motorcycle.
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Coach Carter
2005 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsSamuel L. Jackson stars in the true story of high school basketball coach Ken Carter, who controversially puts school before sports and benches his entire undefeated team because of poor academic performance.
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Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen
2005 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis biopic chronicles how the shrewd Virgin Queen assumed the throne of a nation in turmoil, stabilized the economy, earned her subjects' devotion and manipulated a succession of suitors to political advantage.
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Patton
1970 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsGen. George S. Patton (George C. Scott) earned the nickname "Blood and Guts" for his determination on the battlefield. This epic-scale production follows the commander as he guides his troops across Africa and Europe, illuminating a man whose life was defined by war. Director Franklin J. Schaffner's multiple Oscar winner is a character study masquerading as a World War II film, with astonishing combat scenes and reflection on Patton's inner life.
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Jet Li's Fearless
2006 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsJet Li stars as real-life martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia, a world-class Chinese fighter who dreams of continuing his father's legacy and restoring pride in his nation. But as Huo's sparring skills grow, so does his ego.
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Chasing Mavericks
2012 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis thrilling biopic tells the story of legendary surfer Jay Moriarity's quest to ride the monstrous Northern California waves at Mavericks -- and details his close friendship with surfing mentor Frosty Hesson.
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Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen
2005 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis biopic chronicles how the shrewd Virgin Queen assumed the throne of a nation in turmoil, stabilized the economy, earned her subjects' devotion and manipulated a succession of suitors to political advantage.
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Confucius
2010 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsThis sweeping epic revisits China's Spring and Autumn periods through the dramatic biography of Confucius, the legendary Eastern philosopher who, in spite of his mastery of the Six Arts, has difficulty instituting his political philosophies.
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Radio
2003 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsA small-town high school football coach (Ed Harris) befriends a developmentally disabled man (Cuba Gooding Jr.) nicknamed "Radio," who has always been the target of jokes and teasing, in this heartwarming drama based on the real-life experiences of James Robert Kennedy. Although their friendship raises eyebrows at first, Radio's growth under the coach's guidance ultimately inspires the local townsfolk to think differently about being different.
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Finding Neverland
2004 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsPeter Pan and the denizens of Neverland have captured the hearts and minds of J.M. Barrie's readers. But this Oscar-winning film reveals how the imaginative author envisioned a world that was at once so wondrous and perilous.
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The Social Network
2010 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsDirector David Fincher's biographical drama chronicles the rise of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg from Harvard student to Internet superstar. As the entrepreneur is driven to succeed, his personal relationships suffer and he lands in legal trouble.
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Frida
2002 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsJulie Taymor directs this Oscar-winning biopic of painter Frida Kahlo, focusing on her often rocky relationship with husband Diego Rivera and her controversial political and sexual reputation (she was a communist and openly bisexual).
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Christopher and His Kind
2011 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsThis intimate adaptation of acclaimed novelist Christopher Isherwood's memoir conjures the young explorer's 1931 arrival, with poet W.H. Auden, on Berlin's decadent cabaret scene, along with the hearts he gained and lost in that anything-goes era.
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Carlos
2010 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsIlich Ramírez Sánchez -- aka Carlos the Jackal -- is an elusive Venezuelan terrorist who executed scores of assassination plots, abductions and bombings across Europe and the Middle East. This biopic follows Carlos from 1973 to 1994.
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The Agony and the Ecstasy
1965 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsCharlton Heston stars as Renaissance artist Michelangelo, who begrudgingly paints the Sistine Chapel for imperious Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison) in this epic adaptation of Irvine Stone's novel directed by Carol Reed. While the novel covers Michelangelo's life from birth to death, the film focuses on the battle of wills between the perfectionist artist and the impatient Pope who commissions (and eventually commands) him to paint the famed chapel.
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The Damned United
2009 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsDirector Tom Hooper's fictionalized biopic chronicles the colorful career of Brian Clough, the fiercely strong-willed and outspoken soccer manager who served a famously short tenure at the helm of England's reigning champs, Leeds United, in 1974.
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Elizabeth: The Golden Age
2007 | NR | 3.7 out of 5 StarsCate Blanchett reprises her role as the Virgin Queen in this lushly costumed but historically muddy sequel to 1998's Elizabeth which focuses on the queen's tempestuous relationship with the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh.
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