Biopics, as a genre of cinema, are very different from all the other categories, mostly because of their unique ability to entertain the masses along with serving an educational purpose, and might sometimes even be used as a means of cultural preservation. Think about it, a biographical drama transforms historical figures into accessible, emotional, and relatable characters for contemporary understanding. 

The fly-on-the-wall perspective on the lives of legends is particularly the reason why theaters get packed with audiences willing to give their money and time just to get a glimpse of the human struggle behind their extraordinary achievements. And if made right, biopics can even achieve some box-office milestones while educating viewers on the history.

Here are the top seven such biopics that went the extra mile in terms of box office numbers and shattered every expectation.

A biopic that really felt like a comedy-drama, having the most amazing cat-and-mouse chase story at the center. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an amazing performance as Frank Abagnale Jr., a proficient forger who has passed for a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, but is currently on the run from FBI agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), who has developed an obsession with finding the scam artist. Catch Me If You Can is a thoroughly entertaining ride from Steven Spielberg on a real-life scam artist, which went on to mint $352 million at the box office.

Interestingly, there is another Leonardo DiCaprio movie where he plays another famous scam artist. 

Another Leonardo DiCaprio movie, but with a different but equally legendary director. Martin Scorsese presents DiCaprio as the most repulsive yet irresistibly charming sociopath, whose ambition and indulgences drove him to his destruction. The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the life story of Jordan Belfort, a Wall Street stockbroker who falls victim to his greed and dwindling ethical values. The movie was a huge hit and posted $406.9M on the box office.

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Taking a break from modern-day scam artists, the list moves on to a great personality from the 19th century.

Even while The Greatest Showman is far from being a perfect biographical tale, it is undoubtedly enjoyable, mostly for its musical performances. It is set in the 19th and chronicles the amazing story of young P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman), who goes on to become one of the most well-known circus directors in the world by founding the Barnum & Bailey circus. Given that it is suitable for practically all ages, Michael Gracey's high-grossing musical, which collected $428.5M on the box office, is a family-friendly perfect for a weekend watch. 

From the fun and entertaining musical, the mood now shifts to a more serious tone, with the next being a true story of a King. 

The King's Speech, the Academy Award-winning film, tells the tale of King George VI, including his unexpected ascent to the British throne in 1936 and the speech therapist who helped the monarch overcome his greatest fear - his stammer. Tom Hooper's well-written, high-grossing ($414M), and award-winning biopic is elevated to higher levels by Colin Firth's efforts at its center, for which he took home the Best Actor award.

Kings and war go hand in hand, and there is just a biopic about a war veteran that went on to become one of the best war movies of all time. 

American Sniper, which is based on the life of U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), is a biopic that dives deep into the psychological toll the war leaves a soldier with. Kyle, a Texan who has been a proficient shot since childhood, chooses to enlist in the S.E.A.L. with the goal of becoming a sniper. His struggle with the horrific realities of war and its lasting ramifications is the main crux of the film. The Clint Eastwood directorial soared to $547.6M on the box office.

The war biopic drama is an understandable favorite for a theater experience, but a musical biopic filling in theaters day in, day out is a bit rare. 

It only made sense that the biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody, which centers on the life of lead singer Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) of the magnanimously famous rock band Queen, became the highest-grossing musical biopic ever with $911M on the box office. It encompasses the key events from his life - the band's formation in 1970, their increasing popularity, and their historic Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium.

Now, it is time for the highest–grossing biopic of all time, and since its announcement, there was absolutely no doubt this film could achieve that. 

Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer was not just a biopic - it was a visual treat for the audience that was carefully concocted by the genius filmmaker to have a lasting impact on the viewers. The amazing sound and eerie visuals just altered the way biopics were seen before. The highest-grossing biography ($975M) tells the life story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist notorious for developing the first atomic bomb during World War II and is based on the 2005 book 'American Prometheus' by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

In a time where biopics are a regular affair, these are the ones that have cut through the noise and got audiences to the theatres for a revisit of some of the most influential historical events. While there are more biopics in the works and some are wreaking havoc right now on the box office, it will be interesting to see which one of them replaces these titles from the list.

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Which of the biopics from the list is your favorite? Do let us know.