3 music biopics to watch instead of the new Springsteen movie

Though the new Bruce Springsteen biopic falls short, these three are worth the watch.

Michael Douglas, right, as Liberace and Matt Damon as his young lover Scott Thorson on the set of Steven Soderbergh’s movie, “Behind the Candelabra’’ in L.A. Thorson filed a $113 million palimony lawsuit against the famous pianist in 1982 and later wrote a book about his experiences. (Miguel Aguilar/Pacific Coast News)

By Kevin Slane

October 27, 2025 | 2:47 PM

3 minutes to read

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I regret to inform you that the new Bruce Springsteen biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere,” is a bit of a slog. (You can read my full review, and get a second opinion from BDC’s resident Springsteen superfan.)

The film tries to subvert the conventional biopic template by slowing down and telling a focused, highly personal story about the production of Springsteen’s album, “Nebraska.” But the result is a film that drags unnecessarily while still unable to break free from the trappings of its genre.

Luckily, there are plenty of music biopics to watch this weekend instead. Here are three of my favorites that are currently streaming.

Skip Springsteen and watch these 3 music biopics instead

“Behind the Candelabra” (2013): Michael Douglas gives a brilliant late-career performance as Liberace, the Vegas legend who at one point was the highest paid entertainer in the world. It’s an unvarnished look at the deeply closeted entertainer, showcasing both his bottomless charisma and the callous way he used (and discarded) people in his life, including Matt Damon’s spurned lover Scott Thorson. (HBO Max)

“I’m Not There” (2007): The 2024 Bob Dylan biopic “‘A Complete Unknown’ makes clear that Bob Dylan is an enigma who tries on different personas like a new pair of sunglasses. Todd Haynes’ experimental, nonlinear 2007 film literalizes that quality by casting six different actors (including Oscar winners Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, and Christian Bale) to play abstract representations of six different phases of Dylan’s life. (Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex)

“Selena” (1997): This 1997 biopic was released only two years after the tragic murder of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, but unlike other ripped-from-the-headlines cash grabs, this film treats its subject with dignity. The film launched Jennifer Lopez — in her first lead role — to another level of fame and fortune, while simultaneously cementing the legacy of a singer gone too soon to enjoy that same level of global stardom. (HBO Max, Paramount+)

Play or Skip

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Press play on these movies and shows:

“Weapons” (2025): One of the best horror movies of 2025 is headed to HBO Max after a surprisingly strong run at the summer box office. The film is about a small Pennsylvania town where 17 children climb out of their beds and disappear in the middle of the night. The tragedy defies explanation, leading the townspeople to seek comfort in conspiracy theories and scapegoats — including the kids’ teacher, played by Julia Garner. (HBO Max)

“A House of Dynamite” (2025): Equally suspenseful but with a lot less gore than “Weapons,” “A House of Dynamite” is about a team of government officials facing a crisis – an unidentified missile flying towards the U.S. We see the action unfold from multiple perspectives, including Rebecca Ferguson as the Situation Room captain and Idris Elba as the president. As is often the case in films directed by Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”), every decision and every second counts in this thriller. (Netflix)

Rebecca Ferguson as Capt. Olivia Walker in “A House of Dynamite.” MUST CREDIT: Eros Hoagland/Netflix

“Nobody Wants This” Season 2: Looking for something lighter? Try the second season of this hit romcom series about a rabbi (Adam Brody, “The O.C.”) and Gentile podcaster (Kristen Bell, “Veronica Mars”) who begin dating. Season 1 chronicled the early stages of their relationship; now comes the thornier questions of marriage, kids, and religious conversion. (Netflix)

But go ahead and skip this one:

“Harlan Coben’s Lazarus” (2025): Mystery author Harlan Coben seems to be on a mission to catch Stephen King by having every single book he’s ever written adapted for the screen. (King adaptations are still winning the race, for now.) The latest, “Lazarus,” is a forgettable six-episode affair about a psychiatrist who is seeing ghosts (or is he?) as he digs into cold cases following his father’s death. (Prime Video)