A biographical motion picture—often shortened to biopic—is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their lives.

Because the figures portrayed are actual people, whose actions and characteristics are known, biopics are considered some of the most demanding films of actors and actresses. Will Smith and Jim Carrey both gained respect as dramatic actors after starring in biopics, Smith as Muhammad Ali in Ali and Carrey as Andy Kaufman in Man on the Moon.

Traditionally biographical films focus on beloved, historically important people. However, recently some have focused on more dubious figures (The People vs. Larry Flynt, Blow, Monster, Control etc.)