10 Biopics Celebrating the Triumph of the Human Spirit

Description: Julia Roberts stars as Erin Brockovich, a single mother who takes on a major corporation in a battle for justice, highlighting the struggle against corporate greed and environmental injustice.

Fact: Julia Roberts won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role. The real Erin Brockovich made a cameo appearance in the film.

Description: Roman Polanski's film about Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who survives the Holocaust by living in hiding, is a testament to the human spirit's resilience.

Fact: Adrien Brody won an Oscar for Best Actor, becoming the youngest actor to win in that category at the time. Polanski, who also survived the Holocaust, won Best Director.

Description: This film explores the life of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who battles schizophrenia, showcasing his struggle to maintain his genius while facing mental illness.

Fact: Russell Crowe was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Nash. The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture.

Description: This poignant film tells the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffers a massive stroke and learns to communicate by blinking his left eye, showcasing the struggle for communication and expression.

Fact: The film was shot from the perspective of Bauby, with the camera often positioned to mimic his limited field of vision. Mathieu Amalric, who plays Bauby, was nominated for a BAFTA.

Description: Will Smith delivers a heartfelt performance as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman who battles against all odds to provide for his son, embodying the American Dream's struggle and success.

Fact: The film's title misspells "Happiness" as "Happyness" to reflect a real-life incident where Chris Gardner's son misspelled the word. Will Smith's son, Jaden, plays his on-screen son.

Description: Chronicling Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, this film is a testament to the power of non-violent protest.

Fact: Oprah Winfrey, who also produced the film, plays Annie Lee Cooper, a civil rights activist. The film was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Description: This film captures the struggle of King George VI to overcome his stammer, with the help of an unorthodox speech therapist, Lionel Logue, during a time when Britain needed a strong voice.

Fact: Colin Firth won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of King George VI. The film was also nominated for 12 Oscars, winning four.

Description: Based on Solomon Northup's memoir, this film portrays his harrowing journey from freedom to slavery and back, highlighting the brutal reality of the American slave trade.

Fact: The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture. Chiwetel Ejiofor was nominated for Best Actor for his role as Solomon Northup.

Description: Eddie Redmayne stars as Stephen Hawking, depicting his struggle with motor neuron disease while making groundbreaking contributions to science, showcasing the triumph of intellect over adversity.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne won an Oscar for Best Actor. The film was based on Jane Hawking's memoir, "Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen".

Description: This biopic delves into the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, and his fight for gay rights, culminating in his tragic assassination.

Fact: Sean Penn won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Harvey Milk. The film was shot in San Francisco, where Milk's story unfolded.