Comingsoon.net is cranking up the volume to determine the best movies about fake musicians and bands—after all, anyone can do a biopic, but it takes some real talent to make a compelling movie about artists who’ve never actually existed in the real world. Check out our selections in the gallery below!
Already tired of this recent string of music biopics? You’re not a bad person for feeling that way—honestly, they’re all the same anyway. Your typical rags-to-riches, nobody-to-somebody stories all follow the same beats, but they’re all accompanied with popular music in an attempt to make you forget about the fact that you’ve seen this story play out a million times before. It definitely helps when the band or musician is fictional—when this is the case, then the music is one-of-a-kind and the story being told doesn’t have to rely on a real person to authorize the narrative.
More than this, though, movies about fictional bands and musicians have the liberty to break new ground creatively. As evidenced by the sheer originality of these films listed below, biopics tracking fictional musicians are far superior to the poor-quality efforts of the past year or two—yes, we’re talking about Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman specifically. These very real films about very fake bands and musicians are honestly great.
fake band movies
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A Star Is Born (1954, 1976, 2018)
No matter which version of A Star Is Born you’re watching, it’s sure to be a genuinely great look at the rise and fall of a music icon. The original film follows an actor on the rise, but the ‘54 version, the ‘76 version, and the 2018 version all show up-and-comers across different genres.
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Almost Famous (2000)
Cameron Crowe hasn’t made anything as good as Almost Famous. Based on his own experiences as a Rolling Stone reporter, the movie shows what it’s like to follow around a popular musician while they’re on tour during the height of 70s rock.
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Green Room (2015)
We need more movies about punk. Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room is an absolute punch to the face and the gut, a violent and abrasive look at a punk group held captive by murderous white supremacists.
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Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
Leave it to the Coen Brothers to make not just one, but two of the greatest movies about folk music—O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Inside Llewyn Davis. The latter is a masterpiece, showing a week in the life of a struggling solo act played by Oscar Isaac.
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Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)
The Lonely Island have always been underrated when it comes to the feature films they associate with—from Hot Rod to MacGruber to The Watch to Popstar, the comedy trio consistently cranks out comedy gold without the box office numbers to match. The latter is a satire of modern pop music, with its main character Conner4Real epitomizing the commercialization of the 21st century pop star.
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Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Edgar Wright’s needledrops have long been one of the most-praised aspects of his filmography, from Shaun of the Dead all the way to Baby Driver. That’s what makes Scott Pilgrim vs. the World so great—not only is it a perfect example of what makes Wright great, it’s also filled with all kinds of excellent original songs from the titular character’s fictional band, Sex Bomb-Omb.
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That Thing You Do! (1996)
Tom Hanks’s directorial debut arrived after a long string of success for the actor throughout the 90s. He was untouchable, and this likely played a big part in him being able to direct this charming little comedy about a fictional rock band during the heyday of rock and roll.
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The Blues Brothers (1980)
Saturday Night Live stand-outs Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi completely changed the game with their film The Blues Brothers. Tracking a fictional musical duo, the film redefined comedy by proving how talented SNL’s cast could be.
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This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Christopher Guest’s films make up a large part of the mockumentary genre, effectively paving the way for shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation. One of the earliest films from the writer follows a fake rock band named Spinal Tap and the turbulent relationship between its members.
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Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
Probably the goofiest script Judd Apatow has ever put out, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story parodies the life of Johnny Cash and the success of Walk the Line while also roping in countless other groups and acts, as well. It’s a musician biopic satire to end all musician biopics.
