Movies and rock music are a match made in heaven, and the silver screen has been packed with rockin’ films about the genre and its many denizens. Rock fans have a plethora of specific tastes, and some movies perfectly capture the righteous aura of rock ‘n’ roll better than others.
Whether its semi-biographical films like Almost Famous, or twisted horror comedies like The Phantom of the Paradise, there are plenty of rock movies to tide fans over. Though there are many classic rock films, users on Reddit took to the site to specifically mention the ones that they though suited rock fans best.
What’s Love Got To Do With It? (1993)
While the definition of rock ‘n’ roll is broad, some figures cross over from different genres and find success as rockers. A deleted user mentioned their favorite rock movie when writing “I’ll throw in What’s Love Got To Do With It?… Angela Basset becomes Tina Turner. And the music is volcanic”.
Though legendary singer Tina Turner isn’t the first name that comes to mind when rock is mentioned, her legacy is certainly tied to the genre (and Ike Turner’s “Rocket 88” is often cited as the very first rock ‘n’ roll record). Attempting to capture the complicated life of one of the most important women in rock history, What’s Love Got To Do With It? brings the singer to life in a raw portrait.
Blinded By The Light (2019)
Some rock movies are about the rockers themselves, while others focus in on specific fan experiences, and their connection to the music. User nutellabloat admitted a movie guilty pleasure when writing “Blinded By The Light. A bit cheesy at times but it’s full of heart and I can’t help being a little biased because I’m a huge Springsteen fan”.
Blinded By The Light is the story of a British Pakistani teen who finds solace and community within the music of American rocker Bruce Springsteen. While the movie isn’t about The Boss, it does capture the typical rock fan experience, and explores how the audience’s emotional connection to the tunes can change their lives.
Control (2007)
While rock ‘n’ roll can take people to the heights, it can also take people to much darker places as well. User zueslovesme mentioned a more dour rock movie when commenting “I think Control, the story of Joy Division is a cracking movie. Really get a sense of what it must have been like to suddenly hit the big time”.
Post punk band Joy Division were set to take the world by storm in the early 1980s, but frontman Ian Curtis’ suicide changed the music landscape forever. Capturing the desperation of Joy Division era England, the tone of the film matches the band’s pseudo gothic sound.
Rock ‘N’ Roll High School (1979)
While stadium rock dominated the airwaves in the 1970s, a smaller, and far more rougher genre was bubbling up the the surface. User walkertexasharanguer vehemently defended their favorite rock movie when saying “There is only one rock-n-roll movie: it is called ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll High School’ and it features the Ramones”.
Telling the story of a bunch of rebellious high schoolers, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is light on plot but heavy on rock. With musical performances by the Ramones, the movie is a silly and raucous good time that is like a time capsule of the 1970s.
School Of Rock (2003)
Though rock’s heyday seemed long gone by the early 2000s, a few films came along to remind viewers that rock always had power. A deleted user wrote of their favorite rock film “I actually really enjoyed School of Rock. It was a cool story with decent acting and a great soundtrack. Plus, those kids actually played those instruments”.
Telling the story of a failed musician who cons his way into a teaching job at a prestigious school, School of Rock is a rockin’ comedy all about how music can help form communities. One of the things that makes the film soar, is its great soundtrack which is filled with amazing songs from rock’s legendary past.
Pirate Radio (2009)
Music biopics are all the rage, but occasionally a film comes along and tells a less known story from rock’s hallowed history. User Handro3 offered their opinion on a rock movie when they said “Pirate Radio was really fun to watch. A great soundtrack and a great story, with great actors”.
Set in 1960s England, Pirate Radio tells the story of a rogue radio station that broadcasted rock music from the deck of a ship off-shore. Recounting the days when rock was a scandalous enterprise, the film is a silly take on a real historical event. Like the best rock movies, it is anchored by its soundtrack of classic 1960s rock.
Phantom Of The Paradise (1974)
Rock movies aren’t always about telling a piece of rock history, and some movies go in entirely different direction with their approach to storytelling. A deleted user went to an unorthodox place when mentioning a rock movie, writing “Phantom of the Paradise deserves to be mentioned here”.
Generally recognized as one of the best rock operas of all time, Phantom of the Paradise is the story of a gifted composer who sells his soul to the devil so that his music can be performed by a woman he loves. Making subtle commentary about the music business, Phantom is a hilarious and horrifying film without equal.
A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
In the days before music videos, the only way for many fans to see their favorite bands was if they appeared on the big screen. User paelf8 bluntly stated their favorite when commenting “A Hard Day’s Night, because The Beatles”.
It is hard to overstate the importance of the Beatles, and their feature film debut saw them playing silly approximations of themselves. Light on plot and heavy on music, the film is a treat for anybody who loves the Beatles or classic rock music in general. Also, the film showed that the Fab Four were fairly adept at their own brand of goofy comedy.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Most rock films help to glorify the rock ‘n’ roll image, and add to the over-the-top reputation of the genre, while others aim to poke fun at the whole deal. User _grant_ went for a more comedic film when writing “‘This Is Spinal Tap’ Why? It’s freaking hilarious, but it also makes some good points about the absurdity of the stereotypical rock and roll lifestyle”.
Told in a faux documentary style, the movie chronicles the fictional band Spinal Tap as they bumble from one failure to another. Never pulling any punches, the hilarious comedy is the perfect satire of the industry, as well as the inflated egos of rockers. Filled with a plethora of iconic moments, the film better captures rock than any of its more serious contemporaries could.
Almost Famous (2000)
Movies and music share a common thread, they are both about escaping from the problems of the real world, even if for only a moment. User erock7488 touted their favorite rock movie when writing “Almost Famous, while not about a real rock band, it’s based on Cameron Crowe’s experiences working at Rolling Stone and traveling with a band”.
The film follows an aspiring music journalist who gets invited on the road with an up-and-coming band. While there, he grows more mature by seeing both the good and bad sides of the rock industry. Peppered with excellent music from the 1970s, Almost Famous is as much about the experience as it is the story. Like many of the best rock albums from music history, the movie only gets better with each subsequent revisiting.
