As the likes of Cher and Lady Gaga have proven, it's not uncommon to see big names in music cross over to the silver screen. Occasionally inspired by their own lives, several of those artists have seen their worlds collide when they act as singers.

One of the more fan-favorite stage-to-screen performances came from none other than Britney Spears, who starred in the 2002 road-tripping drama Crossroads. Spears’ character isn’t a famous singer, but the superstar's humble portrayal became an instant classic among the loyal Britney Army.

As Crossroads turns 20 on Feb. 15, GRAMMY.com takes a deep dive into films that have starred musicians acting as, well, musicians — from the Beatles' lighthearted portrayals of themselves to Jennifer Lopez's latest rom-com.

The Beatles, A Hard Day's Night (1964)

Alright, alright, the Fabs played themselves in this classic — but it still warrants inclusion. Why? Because it's hard to overstate how influential A Hard Day's Night was and continues to be.

Not only did it coalesce the Beatles' individual personalities into a yeah heard around the world — it fused comedy and music like never before. Its quick-cutting action was immeasurably impactful on both music videos and spy films.

From "He's very clean" to "Sorry we hurt your field, mister," A Hard Day's Night remains a treasure-trove of quotable lines, mop-topped antics and timeless music. 

By all means, dig deeper and check out the wacky Help!, psychedelic Yellow Submarine and even wackier Magical Mystery Tour — and then maybe restream Get Back for a more sober look.  But even with their entire cinematic history in mind, A Hard Day's Night may have resonated furthest. — Morgan Enos

Mick Jagger, Performance (1970)

For a rock star as flamboyant as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, his acting role as a rock star was the complete opposite. In the 1970 British crime drama, Performance, Jagger plays Turner, a former rock star who now lives a reclusive life — well, until he provides refuge to a London gangster.

Jagger is almost unrecognizable in his role, and doesn’t perform other than singing "Memo From Turner" in one of the film's prominent scenes. "This is a film about madness… madness and sanity," the film’s trailer says. Mick Jagger as a rock star who doesn't thrash and wail on stage? That is madness. — TW

Barbra Streisand and Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born (1976 and 2018, respectively)

Reboot culture may get a bad rap, but back in 2018, there was no denying the impact of A Star is Born redux (for a third time). The film’s knockout original "Shallow," a duet between Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, featured explosive chemistry. Their performance together at the 2019 Oscars was so intense that it got fans speculating about an offscreen relationship.

Both renditions of A Star is Born are prime examples of terrific singers inhabiting roles as vocalists — the 1976 version starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson won GRAMMYs for Song Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star is Born)."

Now that the A Star is Born reboot is a few years in the rearview, we can consider both films — and their theme songs — on their own merits. This cinematic phenomenon might have not one, but two songs that will echo through cinematic history. Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore? — ME

Prince, Purple Rain (1984)

In his acting debut, Prince essentially portrays himself (and is even backed by his real-life band The Revolution), but goes by The Kid. Set in his hometown of Minneapolis, Purple Rain sprinkles drama into a musical movie.

Not only did its namesake soundtrack become Prince's biggest album — which features hits like "Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry" — but Purple Rain also earned Prince an Oscar for Best Original Song Score for its iconic title track. — TW

George Strait, Pure Country (1992)

The man who brought country back from the pop precipice has acted in a handful of films, including 1982's The Soldier and 2002's Grand Champion.

But while George Strait played himself in those flicks, in Pure Country, he's Wyatt "Dusty" Chandler, a country singer who grows frustrated with his excessively elaborate stage shows and heads back to his tiny, rural hometown. (Which, all things considered, feels like a metaphor for Strait's career.)

Pure Country was panned upon its release, but has defenders. Plus, it got two sequels — albeit without any storyline connection to the original. 

The 1992 soundtrack, which doubles as a Strait studio album and features memorable singles like "Heartland," "I Cross My Heart" and "When Did You Stop Loving Me." — ME

Whitney Houston, The Bodyguard (1992)

By 1992, there was no denying that Whitney Houston was one of the biggest stars on the planet. That's a big reason why Kevin Costner was adamant that she co-star in The Bodyguard, the story of a former United Secret Service agent (Costner) who is hired to protect Rachel Marron (Houston), a famous actress/singer who is being stalked. Costner even fought to postpone the film until Houston said yes.

His efforts paid off: The Bodyguard grossed more than $400 million worldwide, and its soundtrack won Album Of The Year at the 1994 GRAMMY Awards. The album is even one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling 18 million copies in the U.S. alone, and spawning one of Houston's definitive hits, "I Will Always Love You." — TW

Huey Lewis, Duets (2000)

What's your relationship with karaoke? Is it something you indulge in once a year, or are you fully in the subculture?

After hitting some private rooms and reading Rob Sheffield's karaoke memoir Turn Around Bright Eyes cover-to-cover, revisit Duets, featuring Huey Lewis. The '80s star plays Ricky Dean, a hustler on the karaoke circuit, to a kicking soundtrack featuring tunes by himself and other cast members.

Lewis had previously enjoyed cameos and bit roles in a few films, including Back to the Future and Short Cuts. In Duets — as with Short Cuts — he was part of an ensemble cast with Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti and others. 

If you haven't had a Lewis nor karaoke immersion in a while, what's stopping you? — ME

Mariah Carey, Glitter (2001)

At this point, it's almost hard to imagine Mariah Carey as an aspiring singer. But her 2001 flick Glitter gives a glimpse into what Carey's rise may have been like.

Carey plays Billie Frank, who works as a dancer at a club but hopes to become a singer. The movie is as much about her rise to fame as it is a love story, as she falls for her producer — a slippery slope, as teased in the trailer: "Music brought them together, fame could tear them apart." 

Despite lackluster reviews (and a disappointing performance at the box office, perhaps in part because of its release just two weeks after the 9/11 attacks), Glitter is considered a cult classic among Carey's "Lambs." — TW

Britney Spears, Crossroads (2002)

While Spears' character, Lucy, is more of a small-town girl than a singing sensation, Crossroads sees the star hop up on stage more than once — to rousing applause, of course. First, she covers the Joan Jett-popularized "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" at a karaoke competition, and for the film's finale, she auditions for a record company with Spears' real-life single "I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman."

There are several memorable scenes where Spears sings, including a semi-meta scene where she does a Britney rendition of NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye." — TW

Eminem, 8 Mile (2002)

Similar to Prince's Purple Rain, 8 Mile sees Eminem starring in a role that mirrors his real life, but with a different name. Eminem portrays Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr., an aspiring rapper who lives near 8 Mile Road in Warren, Mich. — the same town where Eminem spent a majority of his upbringing.

Though Eminem has several performances throughout the film, 8 Mile's seminal track, "Lose Yourself," isn't one of them. That didn't stop it from becoming a runaway smash — "Lose Yourself" went on to win an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2003, as well as GRAMMYs for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Solo Performance in 2004. — TW

Read: Is Eminem's “Stan” Based On A True Story? 10 Facts You Didn't Know About The GRAMMY-Winning Rapper

Ludacris, Hustle & Flow (2005)

One of the great hip-hop movies, Hustle & Flow took the real-life story of Memphis rappers Kingpin Skinny Pimp and Tommy Wright III to the silver screen. The Craig Brewer-directed film won an Oscar for Best Original Song, for "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp."

In the film, Ludacris — who by then had scored hits like "What's Your Fantasy," "Rollout (My Business)" and "Move B****" — appears in a supporting role as Skinny Black, a successful Memphis rapper. After drunkenly destroying a tape by rapper DJay (Terrence Howard), who's vying for the big time, Skinny Black gets savagely beaten for his trouble.

Despite its violence, Hustle & Flow was received well upon its release, especially for its depiction of the magic of the creative process. Opined Entertainment Tonight, "Brewer gives us the pleasure of watching characters create music from the ground up." — ME

Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls (2006)

Long before Jennifer Hudson flawlessly portrayed Aretha Franklin on screen, she gave an Oscar-winning performance in Dreamgirls alongside Beyoncé. Though their roles in a group called The Dreamettes weren't direct portrayals of The Supremes, the 2006 film — an adaptation of the 1981 Broadway musical — draws inspiration from the legendary trio and its label, Motown Records.

There are countless mind-blowing vocal numbers in Dreamgirls, and both Beyoncé and Hudson get their own time to shine, too. Their respective "Listen" and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" serve as two of the film's standout moments. — TW

Cher and Christina Aguilera, Burlesque (2010)

Cher established herself as an actress the same year she debuted as a singer (well, sort of — Sonny & Cher appeared in the 1965 film Wild On The Beach), and has continued to simultaneously do both throughout her career. Of all her roles, though, arguably none have captured Cher's essence more than Burlesque.

The singer plays Tess, a burlesque club owner who can put all of her performers to shame, as evidenced in the film's opening number, "Welcome to Burlesque." After reluctantly hiring a quiet, yet headstrong waitress named Ali — Christina Aguilera, in her acting debut — Tess quickly shapes Ali into the driving force for keeping the club alive. Both Cher and Aguilera deliver unforgettable performances (both acting and singing), making the film one of Cher's greats. — TW

Adam Levine, Begin Again (2013)

Adam Levine has done several collaborations as a solo artist outside of Maroon 5, but his acting debut was the manifestation of him becoming a pop star in his own right. Levine plays Dave Kohl, a singer-songwriter who becomes big-headed after seeing success.

While Levine is not the main character, his role of the jerky ex-boyfriend is crucial in inspiring the music of the film's lead, Keira Knightley's Gretta. The Maroon 5 star also sang Begin Again's biggest hit, the wistful "Lost Stars," which was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2015 Oscars. — TW

Jennifer Lopez and Maluma, Marry Me (2022)

Like Cher, Jennifer Lopez has a filmography as large as her discography — in fact, to date, Lopez has made more films than albums. Yet, her latest release, the romantic comedy Marry Me, is her first time playing a pop star since she portrayed Selena in 1997.

Marry Me follows Lopez's character, a superstar named Kat Valdez, as she finds love with a stranger, who she agrees to marry on stage after finding out her partner Bastian (played by Maluma in his first major movie role) had an affair. While Lopez is certainly no stranger to rom-coms, this may be the one that hits closest to home for her. — TW

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