Making a good concert film is an art form. The most difficult part about it is convincing viewers they are in the stadium or amongst the backstage chaos. All these films did a great job, at least according to their IMDB scores.
Some of them are straightforward concert films, while others are documentaries interspersing live music with interviews and footage of the band or artist off the stage. To make it on the list, the project had to have a theatrical release as well. Some of these are more recent, while others are timeless classics fans have enjoyed time and time again throughout the decades. For all music lovers here are the best concert films ever, according to IMDb.
The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights (8.0)
This unique documentary relays the band’s tour through Canada, where they played both traditional gigs and surprise shows at various locations. One show only consisted of one note, showcasing the band’s bizarre nature.
Fans get a close look at the two musicians in a way never before seen. It was also one of the last things The White Stripes did before disbanding in 2011, putting a solid bow on an enduring musical legacy.
Monterey Pop (8.0)
Before Woodstock, there was the Monterey Pop Festival. The legendary three-day event went down in music history and is notable for bringing Jimi Hendrix to the public’s attention.
His performance and stage antics are on display in the film, which features his performance of ‘Wild Thing’. Other groups in the movie include Simon and Garfunkel, Otis Redding, and Janis Joplin. Pop music festivals of this magnitude were not common fifty years ago, but Monterey Pop and its accompanying film popularized the idea.
Elvis: That’s The Way It Is (8.1)
Elvis: That’s The Way It Is documents the iconic singer’s return to live performances after a string of film roles. Audiences see the birth of the last era of his career, where he often performed in Las Vegas.
Seeing the King off stage is worth the price of admission alone, and the added concert footage is icing on the cake. Some bemoan this portion of Elvis’s career, but the artist always gave it his all at every show and one can see his passion for music shine through in the rehearsals and concerts.
Sign ‘O’ The Times (8.1)
Prince’s live performances were musical explosions, and Sign ‘o’ the Times showcases the master artist at his peak. His voice, guitar playing, and tight backing band are on full display along with his eclectic dance moves.
His 2016 passing was devastating, but we’re thankful such a pristine and well done documentation of his live shows exists in this film. Pop music will never see another artist like Prince.
Woodstock (8.2)
The three-day concert festival in the summer of 1969 had an unbelievable lineup, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Carlos Santana, and Sly and the Family Stone.
A beefy three hour run time isn’t enough to cover everybody who played, but it does give one a feeling of what it was like to be there as the film crew documents the audience just as much as the bands. It often puts two perspectives side by side to give one a fuller picture of the epic festival.
The Last Waltz (8.2)
The Band was one of the most unique bands in American popular music. One couldn’t specifically call them country, soul, rock, or folk music; they were the perfect blend of all four. Their initial run lasted form the late ’60s until 1976, which culminated in a live performance documented for the film The Last Waltz, directed by none other than Martin Scorsese.
The huge farewell sees the group joined by numerous guests and includes various interviews. The Band always put on an amazing live show, and the energetic renditions of their classics get all the love they deserve in The Last Waltz. One can tell everybody on stage realizes it is the last time they will play these songs, so they give it their all.
U2 3D (8.3)
Before James Cameron’s Avatar popularized 3D in 209, legendary Irish rock group U2 presented fans with a 3D concert film documenting their Vertigo tour. While not filmed with IMAX cameras, the movie saw release on IMAX screens.
People were fascinated by the idea of 3D back then, so the format made for a critically beloved experience said to truly immerse the audience in the show. Any fan would have been more than happy with a simple concert film, so the 3D was an added gift on top of it all.
Stop Making Sense (8.6)
Of all the bands to emerge from New York’s CBGBs scene in the late ’70s, Talking Heads stand out as the most eclectic. Their early records consist of a traditional rock band lineup, but later albums feature a heavier emphasis on the rhythm section. It is during this era in 1984 when Jonathan Demme, director of The Silence of the Lambs, filmed them for Stop Making Sense.
The setlist spans their whole catalog up to that point, featuring classics like “Psycho Killer” along with newer hits like “This Must Be The Place.” The energy present throughout the show makes one want to stand up in the theater and start dancing. One can only imagine what it must have been like to see the band for real at this point in their career.
Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii (8.7)
This interesting concert film sees the band play at the ancient amphitheater in Pompeii to an audience of none, save for the film crew. The original theatrical release featured mostly the performance with beautiful shots of the surrounding environment, but later releases interspersed studio footage as well.
The movie was filmed before the band would record their seminal release Dark Side of the Moon, making it a must-see for fans interested in the band’s appearance and style before worldwide fame.
Celebration Day (8.8)
Nobody ever thought they’d see Led Zeppelin reunite, but 2007 came along and the band played a single show in memory of Ahmet Ertegun, one of the founders of Atlantic Records. John Bonham’s son, Jason, filled in for the late drummer, and the rest of the original lineup came together and rocked through a full set of hits like they never broke up.
Thankfully, someone filmed it professionally and the footage was released as Celebration Day. For fans, it was indeed a day to celebrate.
