The 10 Best Music Documentaries

By Rachel West. 2 Nov 2018 11:19 AM

With U2’s “Rattle & Hum” music documentary celebrating 30 years on November 4, we’re looking back at some of the best musical docs to hit screens.

Paramount Pictures

Focus Features

United Artists

Oscilloscope

‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco’

Cowboy Pictures

Polygram Pictures

Palm Pictures

Mongrel Media

IFC Films

Radius-TWC

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‘Rattle & Hum’
Paramount Pictures
Hot off their smash album 'The Joshua Tree', 'Rattle & Hum' follows the Irish rockers as they explore America’s musical roots, from Elvis Presley and B.B. King to gospel music while on their 1988 world tour. Though not terribly innovative in terms of presentation, the film gave audiences a look behind the music at one of the world’s biggest rock bands.
‘Dave Chappelle’s Block Party’
Focus Features
Michel Gondry, known as the director of “Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind”, also happens to be a prolific music video director, helming videos for everyone from Radiohead and Bjork to Kylie Minogue and Lenny Kravitz. In “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party”, he looks at the comedian’s efforts to throw a one-time-only free musical bash featuring Lauryn Hill, Mos Def, Common, Kanye West, and more. Featuring a political undercurrent throughout, the movie moves between music and comedy for a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes look at a spectacular event.
‘The Last Waltz’
United Artists
Hailed as one of the greatest concert docs of all time, the Martin Scorsese-directed “The Last Waltz” captures one of the most iconic nights in rock and roll history as the Band bids farewell. Featuring a who’s who of 1970s music superstars, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Neil Young, and more, the concert doc is a musical time capsule.
‘Shut Up And Play The Hits’
Oscilloscope
It was supposed to be the swan song for LCD Soundsystem. “Shut Up And Play The Hits” is a fun, loud, and sometimes touching look at the New York band as they prep to play their final four-hour performance in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden. Though the band eventually reunited to tour again in 2017, their music doc gives an unprecedented look at an influential band’s decision to step out of the spotlight.
‘I Am Trying To Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco’
Cowboy Pictures
Being a band isn’t always easy. Just look at the black-and-white “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”, which captures the turmoil within Chicago-based Wilco. With the cameras rolling, the band lost two of its members, got dropped by their record label, and pulled off one of their greatest albums, 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'.
‘Gimme Shelter’
Polygram Pictures
The Rolling Stones' nightmare at Altamont is chronicled in Charlotte Zerin and Albert and David Maysles' “Gimme Shelter”, which takes a look at the British rockers on their 1969 tour leading up to the notorious free concert where a concert-goer was stabbed and killed by a member of the Hell’s Angels – all caught on film.
‘Dig!’
Palm Pictures
The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre are on two different career paths in “Dig!”, which takes a look at the rivalry between the two bands as one of them finds success while the other battles obscurity.
‘Don’t Look Back’
Mongrel Media
Bob Dylan’s radical career transformation from folk singer to electric guitar hero is fortuitously documented in “Don’t Look Back”. What was supposed to be a straightforward doc about the singer-songwriter’s 1968 British tour ends up capturing a man in the throes of change.
‘Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster’
IFC Films
Heavy metal rockers Metallica attempt to cut their first album in six years in front of the cameras that document the ups and downs of the band’s 20-year personal and professional relationship and bitter in-fighting as they submit to two years’ worth of group therapy in “Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster”.
’20 Feet From Stardom’
Radius-TWC
You know their voices but not their names in this music documentary about life just outside the spotlight. “20 Feet From Stardom” dives deep into the unknown background singers who have provided vocals on some of the biggest hits of the 21st century from musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger, and plenty more.

The 10 Best Music Documentaries

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