Over the last 15 years, the biographical music documentary has become ubiquitous, with a plethora of multi-episode docuseries and feature-length films. Last year brought “Billy Joel: And So It Goes” and “Becoming Led Zeppelin.” With “Man on the Run,” a look at the leader of Wings as he traversed the 1970s (a guy by the name of Paul McCartney) coming in February, it’s a good time to discover the legends you can learn about from the comfort of your living room.
The multipart television docuseries that tells the story of a band, like the Beatles classics, “Anthology” and “Get Back,” is a category unto itself, and documentaries about a concert or tour warrant their own story for another day. The list below instead focuses on artists who left their mark on music and society, and the documentaries that rise to the occasion of telling the viewer something meaningful about their lives and impact within the constraints of a movie.
“A Film About Jimi Hendrix,” 1973
Shot just three years after the guitar wizard died in 1970, this film sought to capture Hendrix’s personality — Hendrix was so self-conscious about his singing, he never let people watch him record his vocals — and what made him so distinctive. His memory and the stories still feel fresh in interviews with family, friends, and musicians including Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, and Little Richard, and they’re supported by 11 songs, including his epic performances at Monterrey Pop and Woodstock. Available for rental for $2.99 on YouTube, Amazon, Google Play, Prime Video, and other platforms
“The Kids are Alright,” 1979
The Who wreaked mayhem on stage, in interviews, and in hotel rooms and this movie uses an array of clips to capture their glorious madness, from Keith Moon’s exploding drums on “The Smothers Brothers” to John Entwistle skeet shooting his gold records to Moon and Pete Townshend tearing each other’s clothes in the middle of a TV interview. Showstoppers like “A Quick One,” “Baba O’Reilly,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” rock, while the “Happy Jack” video reveals their silly side. “Kids” is also a sobering reminder about the perils of rock’s excesses: Moon died at 32, before the film was released. Available for free on YouTube
“Tupac: Resurrection,” 2003
Using Tupac Shakur’s interviews to narrate the story of his life from beyond the grave is a tricky conceit, but it largely works. Talking over b-roll footage and photos, the rapper discusses his family history (his mother’s days in the Black Panthers) and childhood (from theater performances to the impact of not having a father), while news reports help catalog his controversies, from shootings to police beatings to his sexual abuse conviction. There’s not a ton of performance footage but, as in his lifetime, his voice is what stands out. Available for free on YouTube
“Some Kind of Monster,” 2004
I’m no Metallica fan, but this film is fascinating. The band was on the verge of imploding when they hired a life coach. The film includes live performances and recording sessions, but I was just getting past those for their group therapy sessions, with their egos and insecurities fully on display. It feels like something out of “Spinal Tap,” but the emotions here are real. Available for free on YouTube
“Queen: Days of Our Lives,” 2011
This documentary skips the backstory and most introspection for a straightforward telling of a rock band’s journey; Freddie Mercury’s charisma shines brightly throughout. The detailed segment on the composition and complicated recording of “Bohemian Rhapsody” alone makes this worth watching. There’s also footage of their famous “Live Aid” and Wembley concerts and vintage ’80s music videos. Available for free on YouTube
“Crossfire Hurricane,” 2012
The film captures what Keith Richards calls The Rolling Stones’ “perverted anarchy” and how the band reflected a different, darker side of the ’60s maelstrom than the Beatles. There’s plenty of concert footage — including the infamous Altamont concert where the Hells Angels murdered a fan — but this film is less about Mick Jagger strutting around the stage or even their creative process, and more about the lifestyle of the band: Jagger expresses regret over not doing more to help cofounder Brian Jones during his drug-fueled descent, and he and Richards frankly discuss the hedonism and heroin in their “pirate nation.” Available to rent or buy on Google Play
Beautifully shot, this film takes us to rural Jamaica and then urban Kingston as family and bandmates help tell the origin story of Bob Marley and of reggae. Young Bob grew up fatherless and was rejected by his peers for being half-white. Then he discovered music and Rastafarianism, changing his life and the world. There’s tension with bandmates over how to pursue the dream, and scenes of him playing soccer with his friends and performing live, but the film excels most at putting his music in the context of his political rebellion against oppression. Available for free on Tubi
“Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” 2015
The film is a tough watch — Cobain’s family strife, struggles with depression, and addiction give insight into his music, but the misery permeates almost every scene. But since the Nirvana frontman was a voice of his generation, bringing grunge to mainstream America, it’s a car crash that’s hard to turn away from. Available on HBO Max
“Miles Davis: The Birth of the Cool,” 2019
This PBS film is a bit conventional in telling the life story of this rebellious innovator, but the live performances and interviews bring to life the complexities of the man who helped birth modern jazz several times over. The film celebrates his fight for dignity and respect as a Black man in the public eye, but doesn’t shy away from his drug use and propensity for abusing the women he loved. Herbie Hancock, describing his memories of Davis, recalls his ability to play notes that “sound like he’s skipping stones across a pond.” Available for $3.99 on YouTube and GooglePlay.
This film shows both sides of Tina Turner: a legendary figure of Black female sexuality and power, but one who was also an abused wife, beaten with coat hangers, scalded with coffee, and then raped by her husband, Ike. Featuring fresh interviews with Turner, it also examines how her life was shaped by an unloving mother, her mid-life embrace of Buddhism and then her discovery of true love with Erwin Bach late in life. Turner was known for her voice, her wigs, and her legs, but her story is ultimately one of resilience and reinvention. Available on HBO Max
“Moonage Daydream,” 2022
This surreal documentary captures the shapeshifting David Bowie by stripping away the basic foundations of biographical documentaries in favor of an immersive odyssey that masterfully blends a kaleidoscopic collage of concert footage, Bowie interviews, material from Bowie’s personal archives, and snippets of films and art that inspired him. Available on Netflix
“Little Richard: I Am Everything,” 2023
The title gets it right: This is the fantastical but true saga of the rock ’n’ roll pioneer, a Black musician who broke racial barriers to attract white fans and a gay man who later used religion to demean homosexuality. Little Richard’s story is layered and complex while his talent and flamboyant exuberance (adorned here with images of flowers blooming and peacocks strutting) give this documentary the flash and bang this superstar craved and deserved. Available on HBO Max.
What other musicians are crying out for the full documentary treatment? Sound off in the comments below and let us know.