The 14 best music documentaries and films for music fans 2023

(Image credit: Getty/revenaif/Grassetto)

Before the invention of social media, the only way to find out what happened backstage was to somehow get back there yourself – a tall order when trailing the world’s biggest bands, walled off by a legion of security and roadies. The other way was to gorge on the best music documentaries (if there was one) about your favourite bands.

Some of the older rock docs definitely have more of a home-spun feel to them compared to newer, super-slick productions, but that’s part of their vintage charm. They represented a moment in musical history and deserve to be counted. The lucky ones have been given a fresh lick of paint with clever 4K remastering and sumptuous Dolby Atmos sound.

However, not every music doc is made equal. In other words, some are pure barrel-scraping drivel, made to cash in on a well-worn theme. You will not find one of those in our guide to the best music documentaries and films.

We’ve curated a broad church of offerings here, with metal, classic rock, punk and hardcore each playing a set. We’ve thrown in a curveball (can you spot it?), an Oscar winner and we've muddied the waters between video album and music documentary (cheers, Slipknot). Before we get to the main event, let’s take a look at the different formats available to buy, and which one is worth spending your hard-earned on…

The best music documentaries and music films: the format to buy

It goes without saying that the highest quality format you can buy now is 4K UHD, but not many music documentaries get this primo treatment. Blu-ray delivers enhanced audio and visual quality over DVDs, so if you have a Blu-ray player, don’t hesitate to buy this format if it’s available for your chosen title.

There are a small majority in our best music documentaries and music films guide that are currently only available in DVD format. They’re still worth buying – we wouldn’t have included them if they weren’t.

Don’t forget, you can also buy the official soundtracks for some of the films and documentaries featured below, treating your record player to some new vinyl if you prefer wax to CDs. As for us, we’re saving up the eye-watering sum to buy This Is Spinal Tap on vinyl...

The best music documentaries and music films

Metallica – Some Kind of Monster
This award-winning rockumentary was originally pegged as a promo vid for Metallica’s 2003 album St Anger, yet morphed into something much more painful and funny in equal measure.

It captures Metallica in full bore crisis, wrestling demons and addictions, and enduring band therapy sessions led by snazzy sweater wearing shrink Phil Towle. Hands-down the best music documentary about Metallica to date.

Buy Some Kind Of Monster on Blu-ray
Buy Some Kind Of Monster on DVD

The Decline of Western Civilisation Collection
What good would a best music documentaries guide be without the mother of all punk and metal docs? Wayne’s World director Penelope Spheeris deftly captured the high-voltage energy of LA’s hardcore punk scene in part 1, wrangling hours of footage into this breakneck trilogy.

Interviews and performances from Black Flag, Circle Jerks and others are present. Nab the deluxe Blu-ray boxset for audio commentary by Dave Grohl.

Buy The Decline of Western Civilisation Collection on Blu-ray
Buy The Decline of Western Civilisation Collection on DVD

Beware of Mr. Baker
Late Cream drummer Ginger Baker is the subject of Jay Bulger’s multiple award-winning music documentary. The title references a sign outside Ginger’s South African compound, and is a nod to the drummer’s, er, combative personality.

Of the documentary Ginger said, ‘some of it is very good and some of it is very annoying’, which tells you just how close to the cantankerous bone it gets. Clapton makes an appearance too.

Buy Beware of Mr. Baker on Blu-ray
Buy Beware of Mr. Baker on DVD

This Is Spinal Tap
Binge on a big helping of satirical irreverence courtesy of one of the best music films ever.

Yes it’s a mockumentary, but anyone who has spent a reasonable amount of time in the music business of old will tell you that, actually, it’s pretty damn true to life at times. Especially the pomposity of some of the lead characters. Goes up to 11, indeed.

Buy This Is Spinal Tap 30th anniversary Steelbook edition Blu-ray
Buy This Is Spinal Tap Marshall Amp Box Set
Buy This Is Spinal Tap 25th anniversary edition DVD

Bohemian Rhapsody
An Oscar winning music film that already feels as iconic as Queen themselves. Yes the writers took liberties with the truth in places, but Rami Malek playing Freddie Mercury is astounding.

The soundtrack is brimming with Queen jewels, from We Will Rock You to Hammer To Fall. Never seen Queen’s legendary Live Aid set? It’s here as a spine-tingling bonus feature. You can buy the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack on vinyl and CD, too.

Buy the Bohemian Rhapsody Blu-Ray
Buy the Bohemian Rhapsody 4K UHD Blu-ray
Buy the Bohemian Rhapsody DVD

Lords of Chaos
A semi-fictionalised account of a story that’ll never die, Lords of Chaos is gruesome. The film follows Mayhem, one of the founding bands of the Norweigan black metal scene, from inception, and doesn’t flinch away from original singer Death’s suicide, guitarist Euronymous’s stabbing, nor all those church burnings.

Not for the faint of heart, and not based on 100 per cent truth, but one for those curious about what happened.

Buy Lords Of Chaos on Blu-ray
Buy Lords of Chaos on DVD

The Rolling Stones – Crossfire Hurricane
Over a year in the making, Crossfire Hurricane, the official documentary of the band’s 50th anniversary, follows the Stones from their days as music-obsessed teens spinning scratched-up blues records, to becoming bonafide rock royalty… But not without a shit-ton of trouble along the way.

It focuses heavily on their 60s-70s period, and includes cuts from the Maysles brothers’ Gimme Shelter, making it a particular treat for more nostalgic fans.

Buy The Rolling Stones Crossfire Hurricane on Blu-ray
Buy The Rolling Stones Crossfire Hurricane on DVD

The Last Waltz
Directed by Martin Scorcese and lionized as one of the best music documentaries of all time, The Last Waltz captures The Band’s farewell concert on Thanksgiving Day 1976. A galaxy of rock, blues and folk greats make an appearance, including Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters and Joni Mitchell.

The jaw-dropping live show is interspersed with interviews, and is raptly fascinating as a snapshot of a truly grand moment in music history. Some tasty extras with the Blu-ray edition, folks.

Buy The Last Waltz on Blu-ray
Buy The Last Waltz on DVD

Led Zeppelin – The Song Remains The Same
Witness the majesty of Led Zeppelin at the height of their supernatural power. The Song Remains The Same is a potent blend of live footage from Zep’s 1976 Madison Square Garden concerts, mixed with trippy dream sequences and ‘at-home glimpses’ of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham.

A classic cut for every rock ’n’ roll fan’s collection.

Buy Led Zeppelin The Song Remains The Same on Blu-ray
Buy Led Zeppelin The Song Remains The Same on DVD

The best music docs and films on Netflix

...and on Amazon Prime Video

About the author
Claire Davies is a music, lifestyle and tech journalist, and has written for Total Guitar, MusicRadar and T3 among other brands. She’s interviewed many of music’s most prodigious and notorious, from Tony Iommi and Slash to Robb Flynn and Nikki Sixx.

Latest

“The most psychedelic trip you’ll ever have sober”: Baroness, Graveyard and Pallbearer conquer adversity to give London a heavy metal high

See more latest ►

During her tenure as a Total Guitar staffer and later as a freelance music journalist, Claire has attended her fair share of festivals and has camped out at most (there may have been the odd hotel stay). Claire was also the Outdoors Editor for Louder’s sister site T3, where she was in charge of hunting down the best tents for all camping scenarios.