biopic

American  

[bahy-oh-pik] / ˈbaɪ oʊˌpɪk /

noun

1. a biographical movie or TV show.

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biopic British  

/ ˈbaɪəʊˌpɪk /

noun

1. informal a film based on the life of a famous person, esp one giving a popular treatment

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Etymology

Origin of biopic

1950–55; bio(graphy) + (motion) pic(ture)

Explanation

A biopic is a fictional film that's based on a true story of a famous person. If you develop a cure for cancer or get elected president, someone may make a biopic about you one day! Biopic is a shorthand term for biographical (moving) picture that's been around since the 1950s. Some of these films stick very closely to the biography of their subject, in an attempt to tell a true story of a real person. Others take great liberties with the biographical details in order to make a more interesting plot. Either way, if you like movies about historical figures, movie stars, and sports legends, you should check out some biopics!

Example Sentences

Che had to stand behind the Michael Jackson biopic that conspicuously leaves out much of the pop star’s life after the 1980s.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

According to the film's producers, the biopic covers how football became "the young boy's only escape from his tough home life".

From BBC • May 12, 2026

The most recent blockbusters, Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" and the "The Devil Wears Prada 2", organised their own tightly controlled promotional events, boosted by influencers and social media.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

Instead of returning for the blockbuster’s sequel, Vince opts to pursue his passion project, the Pablo Escobar biopic “Medellin.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

As luck would have it, though, the only English-language film being shown in Belgrade was Lust for Life, the lush biopic of the mad nineteenth-century Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady