Biographical Dramas on Netflix
Last updated April 19, 2024
Beneath Hill 60
2010 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsThis drama based on a true story highlights the heroism of Australian engineer Oliver Woodward, who's sent to the Western Front during World War I and becomes part of an audacious plan to detonate an explosive charge under the German front lines.
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In the Name of the Father
1993 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsNominated for seven Oscars in 1993, this biopic features the dramatic prowess of Daniel Day-Lewis as the Irishman Gerry Conlon, who was wrongfully sentenced to life in prison for an IRA terrorist attack that killed four people. As if a forced confession weren't enough injustice, the police work to implicate Conlon's father (Pete Postlethwaite) in the same crime. Emma Thompson plays the lawyer who worked for years to uncover the truth.
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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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Brian's Song
2001 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsIn this remake of the Emmy-winning 1971 tearjerker, the friendship of Chicago Bears running backs Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers gets them through difficult times -- especially when Piccolo is stricken with terminal cancer.
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Che
2008 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsBenicio Del Toro delivers a searing, emotional performance as Ernesto "Che" Guevara, an asthmatic Argentine doctor who became one of Latin America's most legendary revolutionary leaders in the 1950s. Director Steven Soderbergh recounts the events of the Cuban revolution, in which Guevara, Fidel Castro (Demiàn Bichir), Tamara Bunke (Franka Potente) and other revolutionaries worked to overthrow the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista.
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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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Triumph of the Heart
1991 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsA poignant story in the mode of "Brian's Song" and "Something for Joey". This is the tale of Ricky Bell, an all-pro running back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who died of a rare muscle disease in the prime of his career.
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A Man Called Peter
1955 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsBased on a true story, this drama centers on young Scotsman Peter Marshall, who travels to America and becomes pastor of the Church of the Presidents in Washington, D.C., on his way to becoming chaplain of the U.S. Senate.
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Che
2008 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsBenicio Del Toro delivers a searing performance as Ernesto "Che" Guevara, an asthmatic Argentine doctor who became one of Latin America's most legendary revolutionary leaders in the 1950s.
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Ike: Countdown to D-Day
2004 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsTom Selleck stars as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in this action-packed dramatization that chronicles the 90 tense days leading up to his execution of one of history's most renowned military operations: World War II's Normandy invasion.
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October Sky
1999 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsAs the Soviet satellite Sputnik streaks across the heavens in October 1957, it's a source of inspiration for 17-year-old Homer Hickam. Drafting a few friends to help, Homer crafts a rocket to compete for a science fair scholarship.
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Raging Bull
1980 | NR | 3.9 out of 5 StarsRobert De Niro won an Oscar for his portrayal of self-destructive boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's widely acclaimed biopic, which paints a raw portrait of a tormented soul unable to control his violent outbursts.
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Into the Wild
2007 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsA young man gives up everything -- including his trust fund and ties to a seemingly stable family -- to lead a solitary life in the wild. Eschewing convention to trek across Alaska's harsh and unforgiving terrain, he resolves to live off the land.
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A Child Called Jesus
1987 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsRe-creating Jesus's life from age 3 to age 12, this miniseries fills in what happened after his birth, when his family moved near Egypt to evade King Herod's persecution. Produced for Italian television, the drama was filmed in Tunisia.
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Casanova
2005 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsAging Casanova reflects on the romantic adventures of his youth, in particular a love triangle with his one true love. The legendary lothario seduces a string of women as he escapes prison, engages in a duel and more in this fast-paced miniseries.
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Mobsters
1991 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsDirector Michael Karbelnikoff's blood-soaked crime saga traces the ascent of notorious street thugs Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel and Frank Costello to the top of the syndicate. Setting aside their ethnic differences, the quartet ultimately turns their small-time bootlegging enterprise into domination of the underworld. The high-powered cast includes Christian Slater, F. Murray Abraham, Lara Flynn Boyle and Anthony Quinn.
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A Child Called Jesus
1987 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsProduced for Italian television, this drama envisions the childhood of Jesus Christ, combining evidence from Bible passages with conjecture. Re-creating Jesus' life through age 12, the miniseries explores a period when the family moved near Egypt.
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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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The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend
1991 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 Stars"Pistol" Pete Maravich (Adam Guier) pushes himself to the limit in this stirring biopic recounting the National Basketball Association all-star's adolescence and first year on his high school's varsity squad. Promoted to the team when he was only in eighth grade, Maravich gets support from his dad (a former college and professional coach) and witnesses the 1950s' racial boundaries while striving to become the greatest cager of all time.
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Brian's Song
1971 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsThis Emmy-winning drama focuses on the friendship between Chicago Bears fullback Brian Piccolo and running back Gale Sayers, which becomes a mutually motivating gridiron rivalry and inspiring strength when Piccolo is diagnosed with cancer.
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The Other Side of the Mountain: Part 2
1978 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsA sequel based on the real-life struggles of alpine ski racer Jill Kinmont. After suffering some traumatic losses, Jill is bouncing back. But the arrival of a new man in her life prompts her to question whether she's ready for love.
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Pope Pius XII
2010 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsThis controversial miniseries explores the German occupation of Rome during World War II, and the Vatican's reaction to the Nazis' treatment of Jews. James Cromwell stars as Pope Pius XII, as he struggles to save Vatican City from destruction.
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Pope Pius XII
2010 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsThis controversial miniseries explores the German occupation of Rome during World War II, and the Vatican's reaction to the Nazis' treatment of Jews. James Cromwell stars as Pope Pius XII, as he struggles to save Vatican City from destruction.
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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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Casanova
2005 | NR | 3.8 out of 5 StarsAging Casanova reflects on the romantic adventures of his youth, in particular a love triangle with his one true love. The legendary lothario seduces a string of women as he escapes prison, engages in a duel and more in this fast-paced miniseries.
Details about Casanova
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