In this 2010 hit, Jesse Eiesenberg stars as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, before he found his fortune. Today, Zuckerberg has a net worth of over $88 billion, but the film dives into the fact that some of his old classmates at Harvard sued him, claiming that the idea that led to what is now known as Facebook was stolen from them. The film reveals the darker side to Zuckerberg and his unmatched ambition.
The Social Network managed to bag eight Academy Award nominations and won for three, including Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also voted 27 out of 100 on a list of the best films of the century, created by 117 different critics.
Monster (2003)
Charlize Theron is nearly unrecognizable on screen in her role as Florida prostitute turned serial killer, Aileen Wuornos in Monster. The biographical drama follows the troubled woman along in her endeavors as she’s beaten, battered and bruised to a point that turns her into a killer. It's a tragic story that raises questions about the American justice system and the treatment of women.
Aside from following her abuse and string of murders, it tells the tale of her falling in love with another woman, played by Christina Ricci. Wuornos was ultimately executed by the state of Florida for her crimes, while Theron received an Oscar for her performance in the role.
The Theory of Everything (2014)
This biographical romantic drama stars Eddie Redmayne as legendary physicist extraordinaire, Stephen Hawking. The English genius was a theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge at the time of his death. The film was adapted from a 2007 novel, based on the scientist’s relationship with his wife, Jane, titled: Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen .
The Theory of Everything follows Hawking’s rise in science, along with his diagnosis and decline of health. It received a number of positive reviews, as well as five Oscar nominations. At the British Academy Film Awards, it was up for ten accolades. In the film, Redmayne shares the screen with Felicity Jones, Charlie Cox, Emma Watson, and Harry Lloyd, among others.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Bohemian Rhapsody is a 2018 film, with the same title as one of the most popular songs of the band/lead singer that it’s based around. Rami Malek plays Freddie Mercury, the frontman of the legendary band Qeen who’s dealing with both inner and outer turmoil in his shortlived career, as well as his struggles with the AIDS virus.
Malek earned an Oscar for his role in the picture, which grossed over $900 million at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of all time, at the time of its release. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, as it only holds a 60% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Milk (2008)
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician in California’s history. Milk didn’t get involved in politics, nor reveal his orientation until he was 40-years old. Actor Sean Penn dove into the portrayal of Milk and his quest to transform his area into a haven for LGBT folks during the 70s. The politician initially opened a camera shop in the Castro District before going into politics. In 1977 he became the nation's first openly gay in public office.
In the 2008 film, he’s played by Sean Penn, who the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. Josh Brolin plays Milk’s predecessor in office, Dan White, who ultimately winds up murdering the activist, motivated by his hatred for those with different sexual preferences. The film was made with a modest $1 million budget and received a number of awards and nominations, including a whopping 8 Oscars.