30 Essential Music and Performance Films You Need to See

You Instead

2011 • 80 min • Box office $6K

Music, Romance, Comedy

Rival rock stars find themselves unexpectedly handcuffed together for a full day at a music festival. Both are scheduled to headline, creating a chaotic situation as they're forced to navigate the event as a pair.

6.5

17+

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Beat the World

2011 • 91 min • Budget $10M

Music, Drama

Three dance teams – representing Latin America, Europe, and Canada – train for the International Beat the World competition in Detroit. They face challenges with gambling debts, relationship problems, and personal pride. In the final competition for the world title,…

5.3

4.3

13+

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Violeta Went to Heaven

2011 • 110 min • Box office $21K

Drama, Music

This film explores the life and work of Violeta Parra, the celebrated Chilean singer-songwriter and folklorist, through her music, personal reflections, relationships, and ambitions. It portrays both her successes and challenges, revealing Parra's artistic journey as she worked to protect…

6.7

7.1

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Suck Seed

2011 • 130 min

Comedy, Music, Romance

When Ped's childhood crush, Ern, comes back into town, he and his friend start a band to win her over. But things get complicated when the gifted Ern joins the band, sparking romantic competition.

7.0

7.4

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Pink Floyd: Behind the Wall

2011 • 80 min

Documentary, Music

This documentary examines the creation, planning, and live performances of Pink Floyd's *The Wall* in 1980 and 1981. It includes detailed interviews from the 1980s with Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason, alongside footage of *The Wall*…

8.1

6.4

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The Other F Word

2011 • 98 min • Box office $53K

Music, Documentary, Drama

The Other F Word explores the unexpected transition when a generation of anti-establishment punk rockers become fathers. Featuring appearances from Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Tim McIlrath of Rise Against, the film follows…

6.4

7.2

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Scenes from the Suburbs

2011 • 29 min

Drama, Music

In a bleak, suburban future, a man struggles to piece together his past. He attempts to reconstruct his memories from his teenage years.

6.9

7.2

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Nirvana: Live at the Paramount

2011 • 71 min

Music

*Live at the Paramount* documents a key moment in rock history: Nirvana's Halloween 1991 concert in Seattle. This concert film is unique because it's the only known recording of the band captured on 16mm film. The documentary footage takes viewers…

8.1

8.5

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Hit Man Returns - David Foster & Friends

2011 • 120 min

Music

Hitman Returns was filmed before a sold-out audience at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last year. The event featured a lineup of performers led by Foster as host, including Seal, Donna Summer, Martina McBride, Earth, Wind & Fire, Natalie…

6.6

7.5

Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

2011 • 97 min

Music, Documentary

For twenty years, A Tribe Called Quest, a highly influential hip hop group from Queens, New York, has captivated fans with their innovative music. Even after their widely reported breakup in 1998, a new generation eagerly awaits their return. Michael…

7.2

7.6

17+

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God Bless Ozzy Osbourne

2011 • 94 min

Documentary, Music

Using newly discovered archival footage and interviews with Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee, and others, *God Bless Ozzy Osbourne* is the first documentary to offer an intimate look at the multifaceted personality of a legendary rock figure.

7.9

7.4

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Beloved

2011 • 139 min • Budget $8M • Box office $77K

Drama, Romance, Music

In 1960s Paris and early 21st-century London, Madeleine and her daughter Véra chase romance, embracing life's possibilities. However, their relationships bring unexpected challenges and heartbreak. As years pass, love proves increasingly complex.

6.1

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White: Melody of Death

2011 • 106 min

Horror, Music, Mystery

When each member of the popular girl group Pink Dolls suffers a series of terrible accidents, Eun-ju suspects their hit song "White" is cursed and tries to uncover the truth behind it.

6.2

5.9

13+

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Body Language

2011 • 97 min

Music, Drama, Romance

An hour before five of the Netherlands' top dance crews are scheduled to depart for a competition in New York, their government-funded trip is unexpectedly canceled. Determined not to lose their free plane tickets, the five dancers decide to proceed…

5.0

4.1

Bloodbrotherz

2011 • 87 min

Drama, Comedy, Music

Otis and Eddie have been inseparable best friends growing up, living life day by day in Berlin, fueled by a shared ambition: music. Their world changes when a record label takes notice, offering them the chance to finally pursue their…

5.9

6.1

Thriller Night

2011 • 6 min

Animation, Music, Horror

This is a comedic take on Michael Jackson's "Thriller," reimagined as a Shrek story. Donkey provides the vocals for the song.

6.7

6.2

Fight for Your Right Revisited

2011 • 30 min

Music, Comedy

*Fight for Your Right Revisited* features Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, and Elijah Wood as the younger Beastie Boys, alongside Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and Will Ferrell as their older selves from the future. The film picks up immediately after…

6.5

8.0

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

2012 • 4 min

Animation, Comedy, Horror

This unsettling short film explores the nature of creativity through the use of puppets.

7.6

8.2

14+

Pearl Jam Twenty

2011 • 119 min • Box office $471K

Documentary, Music

Pearl Jam: Twenty is a comprehensive look at the band, assembled from more than 1,200 hours of footage throughout their history. The film combines concert footage with personal moments and reflections, offering a powerful testament to the impact of their…

7.8

8.2

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Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall

2011 • 100 min

Music

In September 2011, Adele performed at The Royal Albert Hall in London, a significant event during her record-breaking year with the album '21'. It was a highly anticipated and memorable performance for the singer.

8.0

8.6

Queen: Days of Our Lives

2011 • 120 min

Music, Documentary

In 1971, four college students formed a rock band that would become Queen. Over the next four decades, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon released 26 albums and sold over 300 million records worldwide, and their popularity…

8.1

8.4

14+

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Lady Gaga Presents: The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden

2011 • 117 min

Music, Documentary

"Lady Gaga Presents The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden" is a 2011 concert special capturing Lady Gaga's February 21st and 22nd, 2011 performances of her Monster Ball Tour. The special includes concert footage alongside behind-the-scenes glimpses of the…

8.6

8.4

17+

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Ray Charles - Live in France 1961

2011 • 111 min

Music, Documentary

Fifty years hidden, these newly found concert films capture Ray Charles at the height of his career during the 1961 Antibes Jazz Festival in France. Featuring Charles with the original Raeletts and his legendary band – including David "Fathead" Newman…

7.2

7.3

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K-On! The Movie

2011 • 110 min • Box office $21M

Animation, Family, Adventure

As graduation approaches, the Light Music Club is on the verge of disbanding, with everyone except Azusa moving on. Determined to make the most of their time together, the remaining members embark on a final vacation to London. This trip…

7.9

7.7

14+

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Honey 2

2011 • 110 min

Music, Comedy, Drama

Following a run-in with the law, Maria returns to her neighborhood in the Bronx to start over. She relies on her street dance skills and a strong desire to succeed as she works to build a new life for herself.

6.3

5.2

13+

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Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure

2011 • 90 min

Family, Music

Following a talent scout's discovery of her performance with her dog Boi at a charity event, Sharpay Evans travels to New York City, confident that immediate fame and wealth await. However, the competitive world of theater proves challenging. Fortunately, Sharpay…

6.0

4.8

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The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

2011 • 160 min

Music, Drama, Romance

A disfigured musical genius lives in hiding within the Paris Opera House, manipulating the company for the benefit of a young woman he mentors and loves. The 25th anniversary of the first public performance of *The Phantom of the Opera*…

8.4

8.8

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La Vie en Rose

2007 • 140 min • Budget $25M • Box office $86M

Music, Drama

Edith Piaf's life was a relentless struggle for survival, encompassing both her passion for singing and her experiences with love, moving from the tough streets of Paris' Belleville neighborhood to the bright lights of New York's biggest concert venues. Raised…

7.4

7.5

13+

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The Muppets

2011 • 103 min • Budget $45M • Box office $165M

Family, Comedy, Music

When Kermit the Frog and the Muppets discover their theater is going to be demolished, a kind man named Gary and his puppet brother, Walter, offer assistance. Together, they organize a performance to raise the $10 million needed to save…

6.7

7.1

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Footloose

2011 • 113 min • Budget $24M • Box office $63M

Drama, Music, Romance

Ren MacCormack moves from Boston to Bomont, a quiet southern town with a strict rule against loud music and dancing. Ren defies this rule, bringing energy back to the town and developing a relationship with Ariel, the minister's complicated daughter.

6.6

5.9

13+

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