10 New Biopic Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Fall

What to look for: Broadway director Julie Taymor, 67, of The Lion King fame, found cinematic success with her imaginative, Salma Hayek–starring biopic Frida, and now she's turning to Steinem's 2015 memoir, My Life on the Road, for inspiration. If the pluralized title isn't a dead giveaway, the film stars four actresses playing the Ms. magazine founder at four different ages. Rounding out the cast of historic feminists are Bette Midler (74) as Bella Abzug, Janelle Monáe as Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Lorraine Toussaint (60) as Florynce Kennedy.

Has she been biopic-ed before?: Yes, most recently by Rose Byrne in this year's Mrs. America miniseries.

Where to watch: Coming Sept. 30 to Amazon Prime

The biopic: The Good Lord Bird

The historical figure: Ethan Hawke as abolitionist John Brown

What to look for: Historians are constantly assessing and reassessing the merits of the notorious abolitionist, who argued that violence was the only effective way to end the evils of slavery. Draw your own conclusions as you watch this surprisingly raucous adventure, which is based on the National Book Award–winning novel by James McBride and costars Hamilton's Daveed Diggs as Frederick Douglass.

Has he been biopic-ed before?: Canadian actor Raymond Massey played Brown twice, in Santa Fe Trail (1940) and Seven Angry Men (1955).

Where to watch: Coming Oct. 4 to Showtime

The biopic: The Right Stuff

The historical figures: Jake McDorman as Alan Shepard, Patrick J. Adams as John Glenn and more

What to look for: If you're a fan of the 1983 epic movie about America's first astronauts, you'll love this gritty eight-episode retelling, also based on the Tom Wolfe book. You may recognize some of the actors playing the test pilots turned Mercury Seven astronauts from their work on other shows: McDorman (Shepard) stepped into the role of Murphy Brown's adult son for the 2018 reboot, Colin O'Donoghue (Gordon Cooper) played Hook on Once Upon a Time, and Adams (Glenn) starred for nine seasons — and married Meghan Markle — on Suits.

Have they been biopic-ed before?: The cast has big spacesuits to fill. The 1983 version included acting heavyweights such as Ed Harris, Sam Shepard and Dennis Quaid.

Where to watch: Coming Oct. 9 to Disney+

RELATED: If you love movies based on books, we've got your whole fall reading (and watching!) list right where you want it. Check it out: Dear Book Lovers: Have We Got a TV Watch List for You!

The biopic: The Trial of the Chicago 7

The historical figures: Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman, Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden and (many!) more

What to look for: For his second film as director, Aaron Sorkin, 59, takes on the Chicago Seven, antiwar protestors charged with inciting riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Much like his TV shows, such as The West Wing, the film stars an impressively deep bench of award-winning talent that — in addition to Cohen, Redmayne, and Succession's Jeremy Strong as three of the namesake defendants — includes Mark Rylance (60), Frank Langella (82), William Hurt (70) and Michael Keaton (69).

Have they been biopic-ed before?: The summer of ‘68 is well-trod cinematic territory, but Abbie Hoffman's life has been dramatized more than most; the Yippie founder was played most famously by Vincent D'Onofrio in 2000's Steal This Movie!

Where to watch: Coming Oct. 16 to Netflix

The biopic: The Crown

The historical figures: Gillian Anderson, 52, as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Emma Corrin as Lady Diana Spencer

What to look for: The Crown may already be your favorite show, but its aging-up recasting strategy makes it feel fresh every season. Joining last year's newcomers, Olivia Colman and Helena Bonham Carter, 54, for Season 4 will be Anderson as the Iron Lady and Corrin as the future princess.

Have they been biopic-ed before?: Meryl Streep, 71, earned her third Oscar playing Thatcher in 2011's The Iron Lady, while Diana, starring Naomi Watts, 51, was critically panned two years later. A Diana musical, starring Jeanna de Waal, was set to premiere on Broadway this spring before the pandemic put performances on indefinite pause.

Where to watch: Coming Nov. 15 to Netflix

The biopic: Ammonite

The historical figure: Kate Winslet as 19th-century paleontologist Mary Anning

What to look for: Anning may not be a household name, but her fossil discoveries along the English coast had an incredible impact on the way we think about prehistoric life.

Fun fact: Some even believe she was the inspiration for the tongue twister, “She sells seashells by the seashore.” In this melancholy period romance, Anning strikes up a forbidden relationship with a young married woman played by Saoirse Ronan. They have 11 Oscar nominations (and one win) between them, so expect the acting to be as rock-solid as the fossils Anning is unearthing.

Has she been biopic-ed before?: Yes, surprisingly! Indie filmmaker Sharon Sheehan recently wrote, directed and starred in a two-part feature Mary Anning & the Dinosaur Hunters.

Where to watch: Coming Nov. 19 at locations/on platforms to be named

RELATED: Like some of the season's most intriguing films, Ammonite just previewed at an international film festival (Toronto!). Want to get a first look at great new films along with the critics? This year you can — virtually, that is — and we've got the inside guide on how: You Can Virtually Attend the Season's Best Film Festivals

The biopic: Mank

The historical figure: Gary Oldman, 58, as Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz

What to look for: Oldman — who recently won an Oscar playing Winston Churchill — stars as the famed Hollywood writer, as he battles with Orson Welles over screenplay credits for Citizen Kane. Director David Fincher, 58, based the film on a script written by his late journalist father, Jack.

Have they been biopic-ed before?: John Malkovich, 66, earned an Emmy nomination for playing Mankiewicz in the 1999 HBO made-for-TV movie RKO 281.

Where to watch: Coming soon to Netflix