Recounting the life stories of popular celebrities and other public figures, biopics have been a source of inspiration and education to audiences for many years. While there are numerous great biopics that handle their real-life subjects with the necessary care and grace, there are also far too many that have failed the people whose stories they claim to represent. The movies we’re examining in this article fall firmly into the latter category.

Sometimes, this mishandling manifests as an unnecessarily sensationalized story or characterization. However, the worst offenders are the films that outright exploit their subjects, distorting their legacy in favor of a dramatic narrative. Regardless of the reason, all of these movies have faced rightful criticism for their disrespectful treatment of beloved figures, serving as a dire warning to future filmmakers to tread carefully when it comes to the stories of real people and events. Read on to discover our selection of the most disrespectful biopics of all time, ranging from bland dramatizations and grossly inaccurate productions to outright disasters that should never have been made.

8

‘The Doors’ (1991)

Based on the history of the titular counterculture rock band and their legendary frontman Jim Morrison, The Doors is a 1991 biopic starring Val Kilmer as Morrison. The movie follows Morrison’s life as an iconic figure of the counterculture movement, dealing with his hippie lifestyle, recreational drug use, and obsession with death. Besides Kilmer, the movie also stars Meg Ryan, Kyle MacLachlan, Frank Whaley, Kevin Dillon, Billy Idol, and Kathleen Quinlan.

The Doors had a very mixed reception from both critics and the real-life people whose stories are depicted in the film, drawing criticism for its historical inaccuracies and sensationalized depiction of Morrison as an unstable alcoholic. While the movie has earned some praise for Kilmer’s compelling performance, the handling of its subject leans more into the myth of Morrison than the man, forgoing any real insight into his personality or music. The result is a film that’s highly questionable and, at best, a misrepresentation of fact.

7

‘The Blind Side’ (2009)

Based on Michael Lewis’s eponymous 2006 book, The Blind Side is a biographical sports drama that follows the story of NFL player Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron). The movie explores how Oher overcame an impoverished upbringing to become a successful offensive lineman with the help of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw, respectively. The film also features Kathy Bates, Jae Head, Lily Collins, and more in supporting roles.

The Blind Side was a highly successful film when it first premiered in 2009, earning universal praise for Bullock’s performance, which won her an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. If it were just a fictional movie, the film would probably rank among the best dramas of the 2000s, but its real-life roots are what make this movie so problematic. The film has been criticized for propagating “white savior” tropes and for depicting Oher as largely illiterate, unintelligent, and unfamiliar with the sport, even though he was already a rising talent before the Tuohys entered his life. In 2023, the movie became even more controversial when Oher alleged that the Tuohys lied about adopting him and tricked him into giving them legal authority to make business deals in his name, including one that led to the movie’s creation.

6

‘Diana’ (2013)

Based on Kate Snell‘s 2001 book Diana: Her Last Love, Diana is a biographical drama that follows the final two years in the life ofDiana, Princess of Wales. StarringNaomi Watts in the title role, the movie begins with Diana’s divorce from then-Prince Charles and explores her secret relationship with heart surgeon Dr. Hasnat Khan. Besides Watts, the film also starsNaveen Andrews,Cas Anvar,Douglas Hodge,Geraldine James, and more in supporting roles.

There have been numerous attempts at telling Diana’s story over the years, but this 2013 film is by far the most critically panned, drawing almost universal criticism for its direction and screenplay. The movie does try to paint its subject in a sympathetic light but still sensationalizes her story and fails to deliver anything close to a rewarding experience. The film performed fairly well at the box office but ultimately represents a shoddy attempt at capturing the story of one of Britain’s most beloved public figures that falls far short of the mark.

5

‘Wired’ (1989)