Elton John

Biography

Elton John is a British singer, composer and pianist who was born in Pinner and attended the Royal Academy of Music on a junior scholarship. During the 1960s he started a blues band called Bluesology and began a long songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin, which led to his debut album, Empty Sky, in 1969. He has sold more than 300 million records, and his many albums include Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and Rock of the Westies (1975). He wrote songs for the film The Lion King and for the stage musicals Aida and Billy Elliot the Musical, and he appeared in Tommy (1975) and performed at Live Aid (1985). His Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour ran from 2018 to 2023 and at the time was the highest-grossing tour ever. An EGOT winner, he has received five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, a Tony and an Emmy.

79years old

Turns 80 on March 25in 164 days

Born March 25, 1947Pinner
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Reginald Kenneth Dwight (birth name)Also credited as Lord Choc Ice, Tripe, Elton Hercules John né Reginald Kenneth Dwight, Rockaday Johnnie and Prince Rhino

Movie Career

Films: 31
Career span: 51 years1975 to 2026

Genres

Documentary77%, 24 films
Music68%, 21 films
Comedy16%, 5 films
Biography6%, 2 films
Drama6%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

About the name
John adopted the name Elton John as a tribute to two Bluesology members, saxophonist Elton Dean and vocalist Long John Baldry. On 7 January 1972 he made Elton Hercules John his legal name, taking Hercules from a horse in the sitcom Steptoe and Son.
Big break
In 1967, Elton John replied to a New Musical Express advertisement that Ray Williams, then Liberty Records' A&R manager, had placed. Williams handed John an unopened envelope of Bernie Taupin's lyrics at their first meeting, and John set them to music, starting a decades-long partnership.
A first
In 1975, Elton John released Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, an autobiographical album. It entered the US chart at number one, the first album to do so, and remained there for seven weeks.
A first
In 1979, Elton John toured the Soviet Union and Israel with Ray Cooper, making him one of the first Western artists to do so.

Elton John movies on Netflix

Man on the Run2026IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025IMDb rating 6.4as Himself
Stans2025IMDb rating 6.8as Himself
The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl2025IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
An Evening with Dua Lipa2024IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
Elton John: Never Too Late2024IMDb rating 6.6as Himself
WHAM!2023IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium2022IMDb rating 7.9as Himself
Freddie Mercury: The Final Act2022IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
George Michael Freedom Uncut2022IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
If These Walls Could Sing2022IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road2021IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
George Michael: Freedom2017IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond2017IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
George Best: All by Himself2016IMDb rating 7.1as Himself
All Things Must Pass2015IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
Ed Sheeran: Jumpers for Goalposts2015IMDb rating 8.5as Self - Guest Apperance
Super Duper Alice Cooper2014IMDb rating 7.3as Himself (voice)
The Kate Bush Story: Running Up That Hill2014IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure: Otway the Movie2013IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
The Union2011IMDb rating 7.2as Himself
Brüno2009IMDb rating 5.9as Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
Waking Sleeping Beauty2009IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Tony Bennett: An American Classic2006IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
Naqoyqatsi2002IMDb rating 6.4as Himself
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace2002IMDb rating 7.7as Self - Performer
The Concert for New York City2001IMDb rating 6.5as Himself
Wingspan2001IMDb rating 7.9as Himself
The Road to El Dorado2000IMDb rating 6.9as Narrator (voice)
Live Aid1985IMDb rating 8.5as Himself
Tommy1975IMDb rating 6.6as The Pinball Wizard

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Road to El Dorado2000 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Narratorvoice
IMDb rating 6.9121K votes
Tommy1975 Drama, Musicalas The Pinball Wizard
IMDb rating 6.625K votes
Naqoyqatsi2002as Himself
IMDb rating 6.46.6K votes
All Things Must Pass2015as Himself
IMDb rating 7.33.8K votes
Elton John: Never Too Late2024as Himself
IMDb rating 6.62.4K votes
Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium2022as Himself
IMDb rating 7.9783 votes
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road2021as Himself
IMDb rating 7.31.4K votes
Brüno2009as Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
IMDb rating 5.9160K votes

Most often with

Paul Dugdale directed four of these films, Chris Smith two and David Austin two. Paul McCartney appears in seven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Paul McCartney

Eric Clapton

Ringo Starr

David Bowie

John Lennon

Mick JaggerPaul DugdaleDirector, 4 films Chris SmithDirector, 2 films

David AustinDirector, 2 films

Films together

Paul McCartney7 films together, 1985 to 2026
Paul McCartney's page
- Man on the Run2026IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
- Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025IMDb rating 6.4John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
- WHAM!2023IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
- If These Walls Could Sing2022IMDb rating 7.2John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
- The Concert for New York City2001IMDb rating 6.5John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
- Wingspan2001IMDb rating 7.9John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
- Live Aid1985IMDb rating 8.5John as HimselfMcCartney as Himself
Eric Clapton4 films together, 1975 to 2002
Eric Clapton's page
- Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace2002IMDb rating 7.7John as Self - PerformerClapton as Self - Performer
- The Concert for New York City2001IMDb rating 6.5John as HimselfClapton as Himself
- Live Aid1985IMDb rating 8.5John as HimselfClapton as Himself
- Tommy1975IMDb rating 6.6John as The Pinball WizardClapton as The Preacher
Ringo Starr3 films together, 2001 to 2026
Ringo Starr's page
- Man on the Run2026IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfStarr as Himself
- If These Walls Could Sing2022IMDb rating 7.2John as HimselfStarr as Himself
- Wingspan2001IMDb rating 7.9John as HimselfStarr as Himself
David Bowie3 films together, 1985 to 2023
David Bowie's page
- WHAM!2023IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfBowie as Himself
- The Concert for New York City2001IMDb rating 6.5John as HimselfBowie as Himself
- Live Aid1985IMDb rating 8.5John as HimselfBowie as Himself
John Lennon3 films together, 2001 to 2026
John Lennon's page
- Man on the Run2026IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfLennon as Himself
- Elton John: Never Too Late2024IMDb rating 6.6John as HimselfLennon as Himself
- Wingspan2001IMDb rating 7.9John as HimselfLennon as Himself
Mick Jagger3 films together, 2001 to 2026
Mick Jagger's page
- Man on the Run2026IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfJagger as Himselfvoice
- WHAM!2023IMDb rating 7.5John as HimselfJagger as Himself
- The Concert for New York City2001IMDb rating 6.5John as HimselfJagger as Himself
Paul DugdaleDirector, 4 films, 2015 to 2025
All films by Paul Dugdale
- The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl2025IMDb rating 7.3John as Himself
- An Evening with Dua Lipa2024IMDb rating 8.0John as Himself
- Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium2022IMDb rating 7.9John as Himself
- Ed Sheeran: Jumpers for Goalposts2015IMDb rating 8.5John as Self - Guest Apperance
Chris SmithDirector, 2 films, 2017 to 2023
All films by Chris Smith
- WHAM!2023IMDb rating 7.5John as Himself
- Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond2017IMDb rating 7.6John as Himself
David AustinDirector, 2 films, 2017 to 2022
All films by David Austin
- George Michael Freedom Uncut2022IMDb rating 8.1John as Himself
- George Michael: Freedom2017IMDb rating 7.8John as Himself
Also three films together9 more actors
- Stevie WonderGeorge Michael Freedom Uncut (2022), George Michael: Freedom (2017) and Tony Bennett: An American Classic (2006)
- Tony BennettGeorge Michael Freedom Uncut (2022), Tony Bennett: An American Classic (2006) and Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace (2002)
- Liam GallagherGeorge Michael Freedom Uncut (2022), If These Walls Could Sing (2022) and George Michael: Freedom (2017)
- Nile RodgersGeorge Michael Freedom Uncut (2022), If These Walls Could Sing (2022) and George Michael: Freedom (2017)
- Dua LipaAn Evening with Dua Lipa (2024), Elton John: Never Too Late (2024) and Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium (2022)
- George MichaelWHAM! (2023), George Michael Freedom Uncut (2022) and George Michael: Freedom (2017)
- Bernie TaupinElton John: Never Too Late (2024), Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium (2022) and Super Duper Alice Cooper (2014)
- David FurnishSpinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025), Elton John: Never Too Late (2024) and Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium (2022)
- Mary McCartneyMan on the Run (2026), If These Walls Could Sing (2022) and Wingspan (2001)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Elton John's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$404 million

9 of the 31 films have a worldwide figure.

9Worldwide figure
1US gross only
9Never in cinemas
3Streaming, short cinema run
9Figure not found

Top grosser

Live Aid1985Himself$150 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Live Aid1985as Himself
$150M37.1% of the total
2
Brüno2009as Himself - 'Dove of Peace'
$139M34.3% of the total
3
The Road to El Dorado2000as Narrator (voice)
$76M18.9% of the total
4
Tommy1975as The Pinball Wizard
$34M8.5% of the total
5
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues2025as Himself
$3.3M0.8% of the total
6
George Michael Freedom Uncut2022as Himself
$707K0.2% of the total
7
Stans2025as Himself
$687K0.2% of the total
8
Waking Sleeping Beauty2009as Himself
$85K0.0% of the total

$13,000from the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total

Awards

Twelve awards and honors from 1987 to 2024, six of them major.

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Elton John's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Academy Awards
2020	Best Original Song	(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again	Won
1995	Best Original Song	Can You Feel the Love Tonight	Won
Golden Globes
1995	Best Original Song	Can You Feel the Love Tonight	Won
Tony Awards
2000	Best Original Score	Aida	Won
Grammy Awards
1999	Grammy Legend Award		Won
1987	Grammy Awards		Won
Other honors
2024	Gershwin Prize		Won
2021	National Humanities Medal		Won
2020	Companion of Honour		Won
2018	Crystal Award		Won
2013	Johnny Mercer Award		Won
	Kennedy Center Honors		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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