Following the release of the highly successful Moonage Daydream, movie fans on Reddit have been spurred to discuss other music documentaries that stand out within the genre. Pop icon David Bowie's latest documentary tells a kaleidoscopic tale of his rise to fame, bursting with style and color just like Bowie's work.
When it comes to subjects of documentaries, it's often musicians that find themselves under the microscope. As Bowie's latest film proves, the lives and careers of musicians are often filled with incredible stories and shocking surprises that make for great movies of this kind.
Britney: For The Record (2008)
Britney Spears has found herself in the public eye more and more frequently of late, as the story of her father's conservatorship has brought some shocking truths to light about the singer's personal and professional lives. Although For The Record explores an earlier period of Spears' life, the same themes of struggle and oppression can be seen.
One Reddit explains that For The Record describes Spears' career "the year after her personal troubles and [explains] how she adapts back to the pop world." The film doesn't shy away from the dark aspects of Spears' journey, which is why it's such an interesting viewing experience.
Quincy (2018)
As the title suggests, Quincy recounts the incredible career of Quincy Jones, a legend of the music industry and one of the most critically-acclaimed record producers of all time. The documentary is both informative and entertaining, with plenty of catchy music to keep the audience invested.
Redditor best music documentaries streaming today on Netflix and a must-see for anybody interested in the inner workings of the music industry.
Madonna: Truth Or Dare (1991)
When it comes to documentaries that truly aim to shock and disturb the audience, Truth or Dare definitely deserves a spot on that list. The intimate details about Madonna's life that are revealed in this film will surprise even the singer's most devoted fans, offering completely new insight into her music.
Reddit inspection-eastern claims that Truth or Dare is one of the most "shocking" documentaries ever, noting that it was also "the highest-grossing documentary" at the time of its release. There are few pop stars that have ever shown as much transparency and honestly as Madonna does in this film.
Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster (2004)
Metallica's music has been used in many TV shows and movies over the years, but many audiences may be unfamiliar with the tension and conflict that took place during many of the band's recording sessions. Some Kind of Monster attempts to bring these issues to light, whilst remaining incredibly true to the band's music and ethos.
"You can see how ego and long-term unresolved issues almost led to the breakup of one of the biggest bands of all time," claims Reddit fxdriver. The documentary earned praise for its unflinchingly honest approach to examining the subjects and their personal lives.
Sound City (2013)
Directed by music legend Dave Grohl, the exhilarating Sound City focuses not on a specific artist but rather on a location. Sound City studios was the birthplace of some of the greatest music albums ever recorded, and Grohl's documentary goes deep into the history of this iconic building.
Redditor writerdave praises Sound City for being "extremely rewatchable," likely due to its exciting use of music and snappy editing choices. The documentary doesn't waste a single second, bringing plenty of rock icons into the film to give their expert opinions and experiences.
The Wrecking Crew (2008)
The Wrecking Crew was directed by Denny Tedesco, the son of legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco, so it's no surprise that the film offers an incredibly rich insight into the music industry throughout the '60s and '70s. It's a must-see for anybody interested in this period of music, with very few documentaries even coming close to The Wrecking Crew's level of authenticity.
Redditor best music documentaries that can be recommended to almost anybody.
Hitsville: The Making Of Motown (2019)
Instead of focusing on a single musician or group, The Making of Motown decides to chronicle the incredible birth of an entire genre through several interviews and pieces of archival footage featuring the biggest names Motown has to offer.
Redditor hauteburrrito calls The Making of Motown "so underrated. It features interviews with so many iconic pop/soul artists," claiming that everybody with even the slightest bit of musical interest should "check it out." Not only is the film a useful history lesson, but it also knows exactly how to use music to its advantage.
No Direction Home (2005)
Most audiences will know Goodfellas, but the acclaimed director is actually responsible for many more projects that often fly under the radar. No Direction Home is one of these projects, a thrilling of Bob Dylan's struggle with fame in the early 1960s.
Reddit kitchen-witching believes that No Direction Home is one of the best music documentaries because of how diverse and accessible it is. Not only does it closely follow Dylan's career, but it also "covers a lot of other artists and music history too."
Oasis: Supersonic (2016)
There's no denying the success that Oasis achieved throughout the 1990s, quickly cementing themselves as one of the all-time greats. Supersonic chronicles the personal lives of Noel and Liam Gallagher, exploring their commercial success and offering plenty of interesting insight into the sibling rivalry that tore the pair apart.
Redditor chickydipper agrees that Supersonic is a "good watch" for anybody interested in modern rock, or even music in general. The influence that Oasis had over pop culture in the '90s was irrefutable, and Supersonic aims to explain why.
The Beatles: Eight Days A Week (2016)
For many music fans, Ron Howard's Eight Days A Week is pretty much the definitive chronicle of The Beatles' early career - beginning with their early days in suburban Liverpool and concluding with their penultimate concert in San Francisco.
Reddit lev22_ believes that Eight Days A Week is a perfect encapsulation of "the beginning of The Beatles," a group that many music fans believe to be the greatest band of all time. Their music lives on through Howard's documentary, which shows incredible care and respect to all four of its main subjects.
