Published: 24th June 2022

Memorable movies featuring memorable musicians

Musicians have always been a source of inspiration for filmmaking creatives. To coincide with the release of Elvis, we’re spotlighting some movies that feature some memorable musicians.

This includes some real-life and fiction titles that have graced big and small screens to entertain audiences through the years. From Beyoncé to Elton John, your eyes and ears are in for a treat!

Soul

mild bad language, fantasy threat

Soul is a US animated fantasy in which a music teacher is suddenly transported out of his own body and must fight to find his way back to his life.

language

There is infrequent mild bad language ('crap'), as well as milder terms, such as 'God' and 'butt'.

threat

There are scenes of mild fantasy threat, in which characters find themselves in another realm that controls life and death. The main protagonist dies, but this is comically presented, without any detail of injury, and he is immediately transformed into a colourful blob-like state. Other scenes contain darker blob-like beings, which initially appear threatening, but do not bring about any harm. There is also a scene in which a character is surrounded by looming figures who make belittling comments but the emphasis is on the resourcefulness of the protagonist to help rescue them both.

There is very mild rude humour, including a scene in which a man's face comes very close to a cat's behind.

The School Of Rock

contains mild language and sex reference​​​​​​​

The School Of Rock is a comedy, from 2003, in which a wannabe rock star poses as a substitute teacher in order to form a new band with his students.

language

Mild bad language includes uses of the terms 'crap', 'pissed', 'slut' and 'ass', as well as milder terms such as 'butt', 'hell' and 'damn'.

sex references

There are occasional references to groupies 'sleeping with' people, a man refers to himself as a 'sex God' and there is a use of the term 'slut'.

There is a passing drug reference when someone jokes that a teacher must be 'on crack'.

Bohemian Rhapsody

moderate sex references, drug references, infrequent strong language

Bohemian Rhapsody is a biopic drama which follows the life and music career of Freddie Mercury.

sex

A man tells his girlfriend that she is an 'epic shag'. There are undetailed references to orgies and to a man having several lovers. A brief scene set in a gay club shows men wearing bondage gear.

drugs

Lines of white powder are briefly seen lying on a table, and a man swallows an unidentified pill. Drug misuse is not condoned.

language

There is infrequent strong language ('f**k') as well as milder terms including 'wanker', 'twat', 'bollocks', 'shit', 'bloody', 'arse', and 'screw'. Discriminatory language includes use of the terms 'paki' and 'fag', although such language is clearly not endorsed by the film.

A man slaps a woman's backside at a party and grabs another man between his legs; the behaviour is not condoned.

Judy

scenes of drug misuse, infrequent strong language

Judy is a drama, based on real events, which concerns US singer and actress Judy Garland's arrival in England to perform a series of concerts in 1968.


drugs

There are several scenes in which Judy Garland takes unidentified pills, which she was compelled to take from an early age by a film studio head in order to maintain her weight and ensure she could work long hours. Her reliance on drugs throughout the rest of her life takes an increasing toll on her health, and drug misuse is therefore not condoned by the film as a whole.

language

The film contains infrequent strong language ('f**k'), as well as milder terms (for example. 'son of a bitch', 'shit', 'bastards', 'bloody', 'hell', 'jerk', 'God', 'Jesus' and 'goddamn').

There is also infrequent discriminatory language ('faggot'); however, this is not condoned by the film as a whole.

The film also contains mild sex references, as well as scenes in which adults smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol.

Searching For Sugar Man

contains one use of strong language and moderate drug references

Searching For Sugar Man is a documentary about two men's search for an enigmatic American musician whose records were hugely popular in South Africa but who everyone believed to be dead.

Dreamgirls

infrequent strong language, drug references

Dreamgirls is an extended version of the musical drama, from 2006, in which a group of female singers achieve stardom but experience a damaging split along the way.



language

Infrequent strong language ('f**k' and 'motherf**ker') is not used in an aggressive manner or personally directed.

drugs

There are verbal and visual references to drugs, most notably in a subplot involving a character who dies as a result of drug misuse.

A Star Is Born

strong language, drug misuse

A Star Is Born is an extended version of the US romantic drama in which a country star helps an aspiring singer launch her career.

language

There is frequent use of strong language ('f**k', 'motherf**ker'); milder terms include 'bitch', 'tits', 'asshole', 'ass', 'shit', 'pissing' and 'bullshit'.

drugs

There is occasional sight of a man swallowing unidentified pills and at one point crushing and snorting them. There is also brief marijuana misuse. The work as a whole does not condone drug misuse.

There is a scene of implied off-screen suicide, in addition to infrequent non-graphic verbal suicide references. Infrequent moderate violence includes a sequence in which one man punches another's face, knocking him down. There are infrequent moderate sex scenes, without visible nudity, as well as fleeting sight of breast nudity in a scene in which a man and a woman share a bath. There is also a brief glimpse of full frontal female nudity in a non-sexual context.

This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.

Rocketman

drug misuse, sex, very strong language

Rocketman is a British musical drama based on the life and career of singer, songwriter and musician Elton John.

drugs

People are shown snorting cocaine and using bongs. There are occasional references to drug and alcohol addiction.

sex

A large group of people are shown writhing and thrusting together during a stylised orgy sequence, without visible nudity. Another scene features a short sequence of below-frame oral sex.

language

There is infrequent use of very strong language ('c**t'), in addition to more frequent use of strong language ('f**k'). Milder terms include 'cock', 'bitch', 'prick', 'twat', 'arsehole', 'shit' and 'bastard'. There is also infrequent use of homophobic terms including 'fag', 'fairy' and 'poofter'; the work as a whole does not condone discriminatory language or behaviour.

Infrequent moderate violence includes a sequence in which one man slaps another. In another scene a man is shown overdosing on prescription pills.

Tina

strong language, domestic abuse, suicide references

Tina is a US documentary film about the iconic female rockstar Tina Turner.

language

There is use of strong language ('motherf**ker', 'f**k') and use of milder terms ('screw', 'piss', 'shit', 'Jesus', 'Christ', 'damn').

violence

There are verbal references to domestic abuse including references to a woman's partner hitting and throwing objects at her and being sexually violent. There are also verbal accounts of a young girl witnessing physical altercations between her parents.

suicide

There are references to a person overdosing and having their stomach pumped.


There is drug misuse when a man is seen smoking a joint. There is a non-directed use of racist language ('n****r') when a man repeats a conversation he has had with a record label representative about a Black artist.

Amy​​​​​​​

very strong language, strong drug references

Amy is a documentary exploring the life and work of singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.


language

There is infrequent use of very strong language ('c**t') and occasional use of strong language ('f**k').

drugs

There are frequent references to the use of various illegal drugs, including marijuana, crack cocaine and heroin, as well as extensive alcohol abuse. The references are occasionally accompanied by sight of drugs, including cocaine being cut and needles lying on a table. However, the work as a whole does not glamorise or condone drug use.

There are occasional moderate sex references, as well as discussion of Winehouse's bulimia and depression. Infrequent references to self harm also occur.

This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.

Sound Of Metal

strong language, sex references

Sound Of Metal is a US drama in which a rock musician, and recovering heroin addict, loses his hearing.

language

There is use of strong language ('f**k', 'motherf**ker') as well as other terms such as 'bitch' and 'Jesus'.

sex

A T-shirt is decorated with a rudimentary artistic image of fellatio, including an erect penis. There is a comic reference to anal sex.

flashing/flicking lights

This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.


It is implied that characters have a history of self-harming. There are moderate references to suicide, and also to heroin in the context of recovery. There is artistic breast and pubic nudity. Surgical detail is mild. A man's growing deafness is a theme of the film.