The best music documentaries on Hulu feature a wide range of artists and genres. Music is a language that everyone speaks, and some can't get enough of. Whether it's because viewers are music artist fanatics and want to know all about a band's background or they just enjoy the music process in general, music documentaries are a great source of information. Oftentimes the best music documentaries explore not only the life of the artist in question but what impact that artist has made on their genre of choice. These documentaries also let viewers into who or what inspires said artist and how they get their creative juices flowing.
Hulu has housed many great musical documentaries over the years, with some coming and others going. However, right now, the streaming platform has quite a few informational movies and series about musical artists that audiences should definitely give a watch while they can. The best music documentaries on Hulu cover a wide range of artists, including industry giants like Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, and Tupac Shakur. However, there are also music documentaries about the Harlem Cultural Festival, the skateboarding and hip-hop industry, and other cultural pieces that cover more than just one artist.
McCartney 3, 2, 1 (2021)
For those who enjoy rock there is definitely no shortage of documentaries or films on The Beatles. McCartney 3, 2, 1 is one of the best music documentaries on Hulu and is a six-part documentary series featuring Paul McCartney and music producer, Rick Rubin, going over The Beatles discography, as well as Paul's solo work. Each episode offers a plethora of facts about the music production, as well as some background on what the singers were going through at the time. Hulu should check out this info-packed documentary if they love behind-the-scenes looks at music production and band glory days.
Charli XCX: Alone Together (2021)
Through her docufilm Alone Together, pop star Charli XCX documents her musical production during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's one of the best music documentaries on Hulu. While being trapped inside, she explores different avenues in her creative process, including enlisting some of her own fans to help her produce her new album, "How I'm Feeling Now." While all music artists have different ways they go about making music, Charli is an underrated pop artist that puts her fans first and directly involves them in her creative ventures. With the movie highlighting an inspiring take on downtime during quarantine, this documentary is sure to encourage fans.
Summer Of Soul (2021)
Directed by world-renowned musician Questlove, Summer of Soul is part music, part historical film that takes place at the Harlem Cultural Festival and it's easily one of the best music documentaries on Hulu. The film touches on the cultural influence of the Black community, including fashion and music. While there are many great essential documentaries that touch on racial justice, the Academy Award-winning Summer of Soul is a great documentary film highlighting, celebrating, and uplifting Black history. If fans are looking for a positive movie to indulge in during Black History Month, or any time, this documentary is a great place to start.
Billie (2019)
Featuring interviews from various musical influences and remastered performances, the documentary film Billie highlights Billie Holiday's undeniable talent and star quality, and it's one of the best music documentaries on Hulu. She is among one of the most famous jazz singers of all time, largely due to her uniquely comforting and cozy voice. Not only does the documentary cover the legendary artist's life in the spotlight, but it details what life was like at the time culturally and politically. Those who love Billie Holiday should give this documentary a view, as it provides a healthy mix of performances and the history of the jazz singer herself.
Madonna And The Breakfast Club (2019)
For those disappointed by Madonna's canceled biopic, this is a great option. Madonna and the Breakfast Club tells the story of the pop icon's first music venture with her boyfriend at the time when they formed a band during her early years of struggle in New York, and it turned out to be one of the best music documentaries on Hulu. The documentary includes interviews with ex-boyfriend and former bandmate Dan Gilroy himself and serves as a retelling and reenactment of the trying era in her life. Madonna lovers are sure to love this docudrama for the inside look it provides.
Jelly Roll: Save Me (2023)
Named after his platinum-hit 2020 single "Save Me," Nashville-based artist Jelly Roll gets heartbreakingly raw in one of the best music documentaries on Hulu, Jelly Roll: Save Me. The hit in question marked both Jelly Roll's big break during the pandemic and his transition from rap artist into a country music star. However, Jelly Roll hasn't always had it easy. The ex-con who struggled with drug addiction gets surprisingly real about his past mistakes and hardships along with what inspired him to keep going and eventually make it big. A mixture of live performance footage and personal interviews is woven together for the final product, and it's a documentary that's sure to inspire.
Bono & The Edge: A Sort Of Homecoming With David Letterman (2023)
Bono may be one of the most prolific musical artists of all time and one of the best Hulu music documentaries sees former talk show host David Letterman accompany him and the Edge on a trip to their hometown of Dublin. Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with David Letterman features a mixture of music, band and personal history, and slice-of-life experiences as Letterman follows Bono around his old stomping grounds and prepares for a concert of epic proportions. Showcasing exactly why Bono is so successful, Bono & The Edge is essential viewing for fans of U2 and was made by Academy Award-winning director Morgan Neville.
Aaron Carter: The Little Prince Of Pop (2023)
Just about every millennial knows who Aaron Carter was and has followed his fall from grace exhaustively until his tragic ing in 2022, and there's finally a documentary that tells his side of the story in one of the best music documentaries on Hulu, Aaron Carter: The Little Prince of Pop. Carter became exorbitantly famous at the age of nine years old and began touring the globe. However, mental illness, family struggles, and addiction saw the star struggling in a way that no one should have to. The documentary chronicles the adverse effects of achieving fame at such an early age and examines Aaron Carter's life and untimely death.
Dear Mama (2023)
Tupac Shakur changed the hip-hop industry forever, but what about the woman behind the legend? One of the best documentaries about musicians on Hulu sought to explore just that as Dear Mama focuses on the impact that noted Black Panther Afeni Shakur had on her son. The documentary sees a young Tupac struggling in school and living in poverty as he attempts to use music to spread his mother's message of change and equality. While Tupac is a highly storied figure, his mother finally gets her due in one of the best music documentaries on Hulu as it displays just how big of an impact she had on her son.
Power, Influence And Hip-Hop: The Remarkable Rise Of So So Def (2019)
The record label So So Def is responsible for launching countless careers in the hip-hop genre and one of the best Hulu music documentaries explores its reach and influence over the years. Power, Influence and Hip-Hop: The Remarkable Rise of So So Def follows the life and career of prolific record producer Jermaine Dupri and how he built his industry-changing company from the ground up. The documentary features interviews from famous artists such as Snoop Dogg, Usher, Mariah Carey, and more as it chronicles the hip-hop and R&B revolution that So So Def brought.
