Hidden Figures of History: The Best Biopics You Missed

This film chronicles the true story of three African-American female mathematicians at NASA during the Space Race, overcoming segregation and gender bias to play crucial roles in the agency's historic successes and orbital launches.

Set in the 1950s, this drama follows an art history professor who challenges the traditional expectations of her students at Wellesley College, encouraging them to question societal norms and pursue independent careers and identities beyond domestic roles.

While Stephen Hawking is well-known, this film focuses on his personal struggles, his relationship with Jane, and his early scientific breakthroughs, offering an intimate look at the human side of one of history's greatest minds during a pivotal era of cosmology.

This powerful biographical drama depicts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign for equal voting rights via a march from Selma to Montgomery, highlighting the strategic planning and brutal opposition faced during a critical juncture in the Civil Rights Movement.

Richard Attenborough's epic biographical film details the life of Mahatma Gandhi, tracing his journey from a naive lawyer to the leader of India's non-violent independence movement against the British Raj, emphasizing his philosophy of passive resistance.

This film explores Alan Turing's critical work in cracking the Enigma code during World War II, shedding light on his persecution for his sexuality and the foundational impact his cryptographic work had on modern computing and wartime strategy.

Although slightly speculative, this film is based on Jordan Harrison's play and explores the ethical implications of digital immortality and memory through a family interacting with a hologram of a deceased relative, offering a unique narrative on grief and history.

This biographical drama focuses on the life of aviator Amelia Earhart, blending interviews with contemporary aviators with dramatized sequences to explore her pioneering flights and her mysterious disappearance, challenging the myths surrounding her final journey.

Presented through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy, the son of a Nazi commandant, this film offers a harrowing and poignant perspective on the Holocaust, illustrating the innocence and ignorance of youth amidst the horrors of the Holocaust.

Steven Spielberg's film focuses on the final months of Abraham Lincoln's life, specifically his political maneuvering to pass the Thirteenth Amendment, providing a detailed look at the complex political landscape that led to the abolition of slavery in the US.

Based on the true story, this film follows a single mother who becomes a legal assistant and uncovers a massive environmental scandal involving corporate negligence, highlighting the power of individual activism in holding large corporations accountable for public health violations.

This biographical epic tells the extraordinary life of Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China, from his ascension to the throne as a toddler to his eventual role as a common citizen, covering the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the rise of the People's Republic.

Focusing on the militant wing of the suffragette movement in early 20th-century Britain, this film highlights the sacrifices and radical actions of ordinary women fighting for the right to vote, bringing attention to the less glamorous but crucial aspects of the movement.

While a documentary, this film is a unique historical biopic in spirit, following a blind blues singer who travels to Tuva to learn throat singing, offering a deep cultural exchange and historical insight into the preservation of ancient musical traditions in post-Soviet Russia.

This biographical drama portrays the life of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, focusing on her decades of house arrest and her unwavering commitment to democratic reform in Myanmar despite severe personal risks.

Spike Lee's epic biography follows the life of Malcolm X, from his early struggles as a hustler to his rise as a prominent civil rights leader and his eventual transformation after his pilgrimage to Mecca, offering a complex view of American racial politics.

Set in 1960s Mississippi, this drama explores the lives of African-American maids working for white families, focusing on one maid who decides to share her stories in a book, shedding light on the systemic racism and social dynamics of the era.

This French drama tells the story of a marine trainer who loses her legs and a bouncer with vision problems, exploring their unlikely connection and resilience, offering a raw and unfiltered look at physical disability and human connection outside typical historical narratives.

This film examines the personal and professional reactions of Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death, providing a nuanced look at the clash between traditional monarchy and modern media sensitivity in 1997 Britain.

Based on the true story of crystal textile worker Norma Rae Webster, this film depicts her efforts to unionize a Southern textile mill, highlighting the struggles of labor rights and gender equality in the industrial workplace during the 1960s and 70s.