20 Best Biography TV Shows to Stream Right Now
Stream standout biographical and true-story series, from Mrs. America to Black Bird, with 20 expertly chosen titles across drama, history, action, and adventure.
If you’re hunting for the best biography TV shows to stream, this list brings together character-driven drama, history, and true-story tension in one place. You’ll find award-worthy picks like Mrs. America, Temple Grandin, and The Offer, plus gripping series such as Black Bird and The Crowded Room that turn real events into bingeable television. There’s also room for bigger, more cinematic storytelling in Spartacus, The Great, and Death by Lightning, each offering a different take on power, ambition, and legacy. With 20 titles on the page, you can move from prestige dramas to faster-paced historical adventures without running out of strong options. Whether you want inspiration, true-crime edge, or a sharp look at famous lives, this roundup has a smart place to start.
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01
The Dropout
biography · drama
The story of Elizabeth Holmes, the enigmatic Stanford dropout who founded medical testing start-up Theranos. Lauded as a Steve Jobs for the next tech generation and once worth billions of dollars, the myth crumbled when it was revealed that none of the tech actually worked, putting thousands of people's health in grave danger.
Directed by Michael Showalter, Francesca Gregorini, Erica WatsonCast Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Michel Gill, William H. Macy, Elizabeth MarvelHulu -
02
The Crowded Room
biography · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
In 1979 Manhattan, a young man is arrested for a shocking crime — and an unlikely investigator must solve the mystery behind it.
Directed by Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, Kornél Mundruczó, Alan TaylorCast Tom Holland, Amanda Seyfried, Sasha Lane, Will Chase, Lior RazApple TV Plus -
03
The Lowdown
biography · drama · history
A determined bookstore owner in Tulsa moonlights as an investigative journalist, digging into local corruption. When his reporting uncovers sinister connections, he must protect both his family and the truth.
Directed by Sterlin Harjo, Macon Blair, Danis GouletCast Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyle MacLachlanHulu -
04
Black Bird
biography · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
As Jimmy Keene begins a 10-year prison sentence, he gets an incredible offer: If he can elicit a confession from suspected killer Larry Hall, Jimmy will be freed. Completing this mission becomes the challenge of a lifetime.
Directed by Michaël R. Roskam, Joe Chappelle, Jim McKayCast Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi, Greg Kinnear, Ray LiottaApple TV Plus -
05
Death by Lightning
biography · drama · history
The story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America's 20th President — and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him.
Directed by Matt RossCast Matthew Macfadyen, Michael Shannon, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley WhitfordNetflix -
06
Escape at Dannemora
biography · crime · drama · thriller
The stranger-than-fiction account of a prison break in upstate New York in the summer of 2015, which spawned a massive manhunt for two convicted murderers who were aided in their escape by a married female prison employee with whom they both became sexually entangled.
Directed by Ben StillerCast Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, Eric LangeParamount Plus -
07
The Law According to Lidia Poët
biography · crime · drama · history · mystery
In late 19th-century Turin, the young Lidia Poët, fights against everything and everyone to get what is rightfully hers: to be enrolled in the official register of lawyers. A profession, at the time, reserved exclusively for men. Nevertheless, nothing could stop her dream of becoming the first female lawyer in Italy.
Directed by Letizia Lamartire, Pippo Mezzapesa, Matteo Rovere, Jacopo BonviciniCast Matilda De Angelis, Eduardo Scarpetta, Pier Luigi Pasino, Sara Lazzaro, Alessia SpinelliNetflix -
08
The Dark Wizard
documentary · action · biography
An unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, the world's most influential and controversial climber, base jumper and highline walker, who achieves jaw-dropping feats while battling his inner demons.
Directed by Peter Mortimer, Nick RosenCast Dean Potter, Dean Fidelman, Timmy O'Neill, Jim Hurst, Eric PerlmanMax -
09
Spartacus
action · adventure · biography · drama · romance
The life of Spartacus, the gladiator who led a rebellion against the Romans.
Directed by Jesse Warn, Michael Hurst, Rick Jacobson, Mark Beesley, T.J. ScottCast Manu Bennett, Daniel Feuerriegel, Peter Mensah, Lucy Lawless, Nick E. TarabayNetflixStarz -
10
Love Story
biography · drama · romance
An anthology of sweeping true love stories that captured the world’s attention.
Directed by Jesse Peretz, Crystle Roberson Dorsey, Gillian Robespierre, Anthony Hemingway, Max WinklerCast Sarah Pidgeon, Paul Anthony Kelly, Grace Gummer, Ben Shenkman, Alessandro NivolaHulu -
11
Temple Grandin
biography · drama
A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic American who has become one of the leading scientists in humane livestock handling.
Directed by Mick JacksonCast Claire Danes, Julia Ormond, David Strathairn, Catherine O'Hara, Stephanie FaracyMax -
12
The Crown
biography · drama · history
The gripping, decades-spanning inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Prime Ministers who shaped Britain's post-war destiny.
The Crown tells the inside story of two of the most famous addresses in the world – Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street – and the intrigues, love lives and machinations behind the great events that shaped the second half of the 20th century. Two houses, two courts, one Crown.
Directed by Benjamin Caron, Philip Martin, Christian Schwochow, Jessica Hobbs, Stephen DaldryCast Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Tobias MenziesNetflix -
13
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
documentary · biography · crime · mystery
Robert Durst, scion of NY's billionaire real-estate family, has been accused of three murders but has evaded justice for over 30 years. Durst speaks in this true crime series, revealing secrets of a case that has baffled authorities.
Directed by Andrew JareckiCast Deirdre Roberts, Paul Blumenthal, Gary Napoli, Brad Blumenthal, Michael Simon HallMax -
14
The Offer
biography · crime · drama
Oscar-winning producer Al Ruddy’s never before revealed experiences of making the iconic 1972 film The Godfather that Francis Ford Coppola directed and adapted with Mario Puzo.
Directed by Adam Arkin, Colin Bucksey, Dexter Fletcher, Gwyneth Horder-PaytonCast Miles Teller, Matthew Goode, Dan Fogler, Burn Gorman, Colin HanksParamount Plus -
15
We Own This City
biography · crime · drama
The story of the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force — and the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work.
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus GreenCast Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, Josh Charles, McKinley Belcher IIIMax -
16
WeCrashed
biography · drama
Inspired by actual events—and the love story at the center of it all. WeWork grew from a single coworking space into a global brand worth $47 billion in under a decade. Then, in less than a year, its valuation dropped $40 billion. What happened?
Directed by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, Cory Finley, Tinge, Shari Springer BermanCast Jared Leto, Anne Hathaway, Kyle Marvin, Anthony Edwards, Theo StockmanApple TV Plus -
17
Des
biography · crime · drama · history · thriller
The story of one of the most infamous cases in UK criminal history, that of serial killer Dennis Nilsen. Told through the prism of three men, the series explores the personal and professional consequences of coming into contact with a man like Nilsen.
Directed by Lewis ArnoldCast David Tennant, Daniel Mays, Jason Watkins, Ron Cook, Barry WardAmazon Prime VideoAMC+Freevee -
18
The Great
biography · comedy · drama · history
A genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th century Russia following the rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great and her explosive relationship with husband Peter, the emperor of Russia.
Directed by Colin Bucksey, Matthew Moore, Ben Chessell, Bertie Ellwood, Geeta Vasant PatelCast Elle Fanning, Phoebe Fox, Gwilym Lee, Adam Godley, Douglas HodgeHulu -
19
Mrs. America
biography · drama · history
The true story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, and the unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly, aka “the sweetheart of the silent majority.”
Directed by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Amma Asante, Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, Janicza BravoCast Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Banks, Uzo Aduba, Kayli CarterHulu -
20
Amadeus
biography · drama · history
25-year-old Amadeus arrives in Vienna, unemployed after his father’s death. He allies with singer Constanze Weber, who helps bring him into the orbit of court composer Salieri, igniting a rivalry that defines their legacies.
Directed by Julian Farino, Alice SeabrightCast Paul Bettany, Gabrielle Creevy, Will Sharpe, Jess Alexander, Jonathan ArisStarz
Wrapping Up
These picks make it easy to find a great series when you want real lives, rich settings, and memorable performances. From political drama and period storytelling to crime, adventure, and bold historical retellings, the page covers a wide range of moods and viewing styles. Bookmark it so you can come back whenever you want a fresh watch instead of scrolling aimlessly. The list is updated regularly, so there’s always something new to check out as more standout limited series and biographical dramas arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this list updated?
We refresh this list regularly as titles are added or removed from streaming catalogs, so rankings and availability stay current.
How are these biography shows ranked?
We rank by a combination of audience rating and current popularity, so you're seeing the biography titles people are actually watching right now, not just an old fixed list.
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Last updated: September 11, 2026