Music documentaries can take several forms. Some are concert films or tour diaries, some focus on the creative process, and some are career retrospectives. Here are the 20 Best music documentaries of all time.
20. The Wrecking Crew (2008)
This documentary looks at some unsung heroes of the music business, a group of in-demand L.A. studio musicians called “The Wrecking Crew” who contributed more than people realize. They revolutionized the sound of 60s pop and rock, creating many legendary hooks. The musicians include Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, Tommy Tedesco, and female bassist Carol Kaye.
20. Scratch (2001)
For anyone still doubting that a turntable can be a musical instrument, this documentary shows how DJs use record players as hook-generating machines and percussion instruments. Filmmaker Doug Pray takes a deep dive into the culture of Turntablism and the innovators and masters of this art, from GrandMixer DXT and Jam Master Jay to DJ Shadow and DJ Qbert.
18. Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)
More than a professional recording of concert homecoming offers a look behind the scenes at the massive effort required in mounting this single performance. Beyoncé initially canceled her inaugural Coachella performance. But she returned a year later to deliver one of the most grandiose and bombastic headlining sets in the festival’s history.
17. 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
This film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary. This slice-of-life look at backup singers asks questions about whether the industry marginalizes talented women, especially using black women for their “soul.” Featured vocalists work with the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, and more. Among the featured vocalists are Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Lisa Fischer.
16. Amy (2015)
This film celebrates the extraordinary talent of singer Amy Winehouse, who made old-school R&B relevant again. Winehouse died in 2011 at age 27. The film shows us a Winehouse the public never got to know. It also takes an intimate look at her drug abuse and the intense demands the music industry and the media make on young stars.
15. Moonage Daydream (2022)
Brett Morgen doesn’t just make music documentaries offering a remedial education on its subjects. Instead, it dives deep inside the experiences of the artists, showing the world through their eyes. This film follows David Bowie’s many metamorphoses as a public figure. If anything, the star was a brilliant actor who hid his real self from public view.
14. Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
Madonna’s self-awareness makes it hard to look away. This documentary shows the line between her private life and her public persona. It’s also edgy. She holds explicit conversations with her gay backup dancers while suggestively pantomiming with an Evian bottle. On stage, she provocatively bumps and grinds. She has awkward encounters with old friends and family who remember her before fame.
13. Anvil! The Story of Anvil (2009)
This film follows a briefly semi-popular heavy-metal band still holding on to the dream. Optimistic frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow appears comically naïve. Anvil tours worldwide, playing for a small group of devoted fans. The band throws their money away on producers and promoters who can’t do much for them. While Anvil’s relentless dedication is poignant, it’s also heartbreakingly pathetic.
12. The Kids Are Alright (1979)
Jeff Stein’s The Kids Are Alright compiles interviews and excellent archival performances by the Who. (These were later parodied in the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap). The director mostly stays out of the way and lets the footage of one of Britain’s most dynamic and visually oriented rock bands speak for itself. It’s how music documentaries should be made.
11. Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
This Oscar-winning documentary explores the mystery of Sixto Rodriguez, a Detroit-based folk-soul singer-songwriter. In the 1970s, Rodriguez couldn’t break through in America but became popular in South Africa. He became a hero to anti-apartheid activists. Two Cape Town fans strive to find out what’s become of him. It’s about the tribulations of the music industry and the endurance of song.
10. The Last Waltz (1978)
Filmmaker extraordinaire Martin Scorsese documented the “farewell” concert of The Band at San Francisco’s legendary Winterland Ballroom. More than a dozen guests join the group, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Ringo Starr, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Ronnie Wood, Neil Young, and more. Robbie Robertson wearily waxes about the difficulty of being a touring musician.
9. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)
This documentary/concert film by D. A. Pennebaker examines David Bowie’s most iconic persona, Ziggy Stardust. Marc Bolan/T. Rex may have invented glam rock, but Bowie’s androgynous, alien rock star character likely inspired more artists to adopt the style, such as Sweet, KISS, Elton John, New York Dolls, and Queen. During the show, Bowie announces he is retiring Ziggy for good.
8. Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
This film examines a side of heavy-metal icons Metallica the public would never imagine. There are group therapy sessions and long, contemptuous arguments. In recent years, Metallica expressed regret over allowing filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky to document the long, torturous process that led to their 2003 album St. Anger. It reveals the enormous internal and external pressures artists endure.
7. Gimme Shelter (1970)
This film is a cinematic essay on the cultural change of the late 1960s. It’s infamous for its exposure of the chaos that occurred at the 1969 Altamont Free Concert, where a murder occurs in front of the stage as the Stones play. The documentary follows the Rolling Stones across America and captures the surreal atmosphere that accompanies them.
6. Dont Look Back (1967)
Bob Dylan emerged as arguably the most stylistically distinctive and culturally plugged-in of the Greenwich Village folk singers. But by the time D.A. Pennebaker followed Dylan around Europe for the documentary, he’d transformed into a mysterious, inscrutable character. The film captures Dylan mocking his peers and sparring with reporters. His change of musical direction also challenged audiences.
5. Stop Making Sense (1984)
Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme’s documentary lacks interviews or attempts to contextualize. Instead, he frames the reality of the Talking Heads’ highly conceptual stage show. Demme uses the set changes to deliver the narrative. What stands out is how innovative bandleader David Byrne’s ideas and designs were. Some argue this is the best concert film ever made.
4. Monterey Pop (1968)
D. A. Pennebaker documents the 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival. This film was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It captures some of the most iconic moments in rock history, including performances by Janis Joplin, The Who, the Jefferson Airplane, and Jimi Hendrix, who famously set his guitar on fire.
3. Summer of Soul (2021)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson made his directorial debut with this film about the largely overlooked 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The documentary garnered an Academy Award and Grammy Award for Questlove’s effort. This summerlong event features music from Sly and the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Nina Simone, the Staple Singers, and the 5th Dimension.
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2. The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)
Penelope Spheeris’s film takes a painfully honest look at Hollywood’s Sunset Strip in the late 1980s, during Metal’s peak. It juxtaposes established superstars like Ozzy Osbourne and KISS against painfully optimistic local wannabe bands with unrealistic expectations. W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes engages in self-loathing and massive alcohol consumption in his pool in full stage gear, embarrassing his mother.
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1. Woodstock (1970)
Some view Woodstock as an enshrinement of 1960s counterculture. However, director Michael Wadleigh created the film as a cinema verité report on an event. Nonetheless, the film tells a complete story, from the activities of the attendees to the local townspeople to the legendary concert performances. It’s a testament to clouds of smoke, casual sex, and ear-splitting rock ‘n’ roll.
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