--
By Stephanie Ornelas
Pictured: Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)
Biographical films give us the opportunity to learn about lives different from our own, with all the tragedy, triumph, and tears that accompany them. The people who tell those stories provide us with a unique lens. Today is National Biographers Day, the day Samuel Johnson - famous poet, essayist, literary critic, and editor - met his biographer James Boswell, who authored the beloved book The Life of Samuel Johnson.
Like Boswell's piece on Johnson, these projects are a powerful reminder that sometimes, when you're given a small window into someone's life through a film or a book, you can learn more than you thought possible. They help us understand the lives (or segments thereof) of past and present prominent people - both famous and infamous.
Johnson once wrote, It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. So, to honor this day, here are eight Sundance films available to stream right now that tell the incredible stories of the lives (and some, the deaths) of a few notable public figures.
RBG (2018)
In this Oscar-nominated film, filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen gain unprecedented access to explore the life and career of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg - and examine how her legacy propelled the battle for gender equality. (Available to stream on Tubi and Vudu.)
Lucy & Desi (2022)
Director Amy Poehler explores the unlikely partnership and enduring gift of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. With special access to family archives, Poehler takes a look at the life of the '50s comedy trailblazers Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. (Available to stream on Amazon Prime.)
Grizzly Man (2005)
Werner Herzog's remarkable film chronicles the life and death of bear enthusiast Timothy Treadwell and what drove him to live among grizzly bears on an Alaskan reserve. A devoted conservationist, Treadwell believed he had finally bridged the gap between human and beast. But when one of the bears he loved and protected turns on him, his footage serves as a window into our understanding of nature's grim realities. (Available to stream on YouTube.)
NAVALNY (2022)
In this jaw-dropping film, creator Daniel Roher was given unprecedented access to Russian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Alexei Navalny. NAVALNY details the 2020 assassination attempt of Navalny, in which he was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent. (Available to stream on Hulu Premium.)
Biggie & Tupac (2002)
Formerly known as LA Story, the feature-length film centers around two murdered American rappers, Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. In the film, creator Nick Broomfield suggests the two murders were planned by Suge Knight, head of Death Row Records. (Available to stream on Amazon Prime.)
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (2022)
Sometimes the best stories are told by our friends who were there in the beginning. The film jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy documents the life of rapper, record producer, and fashion designer Kanye West. Directors Coodie and Chike were given front-row seats to the early stages of Kanye's music career, giving fans and viewers not just a peek inside West's triumphs, but also his struggles. (Available to stream on Netflix.)
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It (2021)
Director Mariem P rez Riera tells the story of Rita Moreno, a girl born into poverty on a Puerto Rican farm who overcomes relentless racism to become an award-winning singer, actor, and dancer. In addition to looking closely at her personal life, including romances and personal struggles, the film also addresses the extremely limited ideas Hollywood has of Latin actors and actors of color, a problem that persists in the present day. (Available to stream on Netflix.)
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work (2010)
Following the life and career of veteran comedian Joan Rivers, directors Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg explore her early years in the comedy industry and touch on her longtime professional relationships with celebrities like Johnny Carson, George Carlin, Phyllis Diller, Kathy Griffin, and her own daughter, Melissa Rivers. (Available to stream on Roku Channel.)
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
20/08/2026
Multiview available via SaaS for streaming platforms and operators through broadpeak.io, with live demonstrations at IBC2026
Broadpeak , a leader in streaming ...
20/08/2026
Techex, a leading provider of live broadcast infrastructure solutions, has appointed Stuart Almond as Chief Revenue Officer, further strengthening its executive...
20/08/2026
Avid today announced that MediaCity Studios has upgraded its production infrastructure with an enhanced end-to-end Avid production ecosystem, including the dep...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
20/08/2026
IPC Expands Brazilian Presence with New Channel Partner CCATech
Industry veterans Carlos Abrah o and Bruno Lopes strengthen local support and expand IPCs prese...
20/08/2026
Zixi Enters Mauritius Market Through Strategic Deployment with MTC Jockey Club
Worlds Oldest Horse Racing Club in the Southern Hemisphere Selects Zixis Softwar...
20/08/2026
LA JOLLA, CA-Scripps Research assistant professor Tiantian Liu has received a five-year NIAID DP2 award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Di...
20/08/2026
Audiences reveal appetite for multicultural Australia on-screen 20 August 2026
Dr Georgie McClean, Dr Rebecca Huntley (L-R)
By Dr Georgie McClean and Dr Rebec...
20/08/2026
How Mavis Studio Is Expanding Live Production Teaching at Sussex
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image displays a student about to mix be...
20/08/2026
Vertical Unscripted Series Legal Queens Captured with Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton August 19, 2026
0 Comments
Reality TV veteran Eric Gardner create...
20/08/2026
It's a new way into the cloud.
GeForce NOW welcomes Firefox support to the cloud, opening up another way to jump into high-performance PC gaming straight ...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
-- 
