21 Must-See Music Biopics

There’s a rough, early-rock honesty to this film that still feels fresh. Gary Busey learned to play guitar and sing every song himself, channeling Holly’s mix of innocence and innovation. We see the birth of a sound, the first studio experiments, and the relentless touring that defined the 1950s.

When the screen fades after that fateful flight, it’s impossible not to feel the silence where a riff should be. It’s like seeing the bare creation of Rock’ n’ Roll.