We love movies that can do a lot of things at once — like music documentaries! Sounding as good as they look, music docs are often dramatic, rags-to-riches (and sometimes back again) tales full of spicy stories and fascinating histories. And here’s a little secret about musicians: they don’t know how to be boring.
Netflix’s music documentaries showcase a wide range of genres, from hip-hop to rock to classical. Whether you’re a dedicated Bob Dylan fan or a ride-or-die member of the BeyHive, there’s a movie to suit your taste.
The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)
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January, 1985. Reagan is sworn in for a second term, Beverly Hills Cop is the No. 1 movie at the Cineplex, and 46 legendary artists gather somewhere in Hollywood to record a song. The goal? To raise money for African famine relief. The result? History made. The brainchild of Quincy Jones, “We Are The World” turned out to be much more than just a single, snowballing into a document of time and place. This fly-on-the-wall music documentary covers it all, from Cyndi Lauper‘s wail to Bruce Springsteen‘s growl to the fact that poor Huey Lewis had to follow Michael Jackson.
Rolling Thunder Revue (2019)
America was in turmoil in 1975: post-Vietnam, post-Watergate, pre-bicentennial. And then there was Bob Dylan covered in white clown makeup, offering a soundtrack for the whole affair. Bringing his Rolling Thunder Revue tour to small stages across the nation, Dylan and his band of merry pranksters (Allen Ginsberg, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez) played music… and so much more.
Dylan’s vision was a kind of variety show gone wild, packing the evening with songs, costumes, poetry, and pranks, much of it caught on film. Who better to edit the footage (plus new interviews with many fake/composite people) than Dylan super-fan Martin Scorsese? The result is a film EW’s critic called both “powerful and playful” and “Dylan’s personal magical mystery tour.”
Where to watch Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorcese: Netflix
Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019)
Calling this a “concert film” is like calling haute cuisine a Happy Meal; it just doesn’t do the masterpiece that is Homecoming justice. Directed by Queen B herself, the doc captures two of Beyoncé‘s legendary Coachella performances, offering a glimpse into months of rehearsals, choreography, childcare, and incredible work ethic.
Marching bands, cameos, chill-inducing segues, and an audience that cannot believe their luck only adds to the spectacle. As EW’s writer put it: “What she and her massive team pull off is one of the most rousing tributes to Black music — and the indefatigable Beyoncé — anyone could have imagined.”
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
Peter Rodis/Netflix
You’d be hard-pressed to find a documentary subject more fascinating than Nina Simone. The woman was iconic, whether she was singing songs — like “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and the powerful “Pirate Jenny” — or speaking her mind and standing up for what she believed in.
According to EW’s critic, this doc offers a “clear-eyed primer on the woman whose talent carried her from an impoverished childhood in Tryon, N.C., to the world’s most rarefied stages — and whose political defiance nearly ended her career.” While talking heads (including family members and her musical director) help explain her history, the music tells her real story.
American Symphony (2023)
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This documentary brings us more than Jon Batiste‘s amazing music; it’s also a serious tear-jerker that profiles his wife, acclaimed writer Suleika Jaouad, and her leukemia diagnosis. American Symphony is a beautiful film about the creative process and how it weaves into an artist’s personal life. The camera stays close, capturing painful moments (Jaouad in the hospital), sweetness (exchanging wedding rings made of green twist ties), and most of all, Batiste’s incredible passion.
Quincy (2018)
Netflix
This Grammy-award-winning documentary, co-directed by his daughter (Rashida Jones of Parks and Rec fame) captures the late, legendary Quincy Jones. His life, as presented here, was a never-ending flow of creativity, adventure, and love, including close friendships/working partnerships with Frank Sinatra (who credited Jones with injecting new energy into his music) and his romance with actress Peggy Lipton (Rashida’s mom).
He underwent two brain surgeries, recorded about 3,000 songs and 300 albums, and landed an EGOT. Yet despite all of his achievements, Jones comes off as supremely chill, undeniably cool, and at his essence, a man who loved his family.
Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley (2024)
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Whether you’re an Elvis scholar or a casual fan, one performance probably stands out to you — his 1968 TV special. Baz Luhrmann‘s film gives the production the goosebump-inducing hero’s journey it deserves, and this music doc dives even deeper into a peak moment in his career — when the King made a comeback.
The footage is mesmerizing, presenting a leather-clad, tanned, slightly nervous Elvis playing rock ‘n roll soaked in gospel and blues and lighting it on fire. In a fascinating turn, this show became the truest expression of Elvis’ passion, a love for music that never left him even during his darkest hours.
Where to watch Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley: Netflix
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives (2017)
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Most films have Q&As following their premieres; Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives opted for a star-studded Radio City Music Hall concert featuring the likes of Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, and Earth, Wind & Fire, which tells everything we need to know about who Davis was — a superstar in his own right.
As a man who spent 50 years discovering the biggest names in music, Davis had range, y’all, signing and supporting Janis Joplin, the Kinks, Barry Manilow, Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes, Whitney Houston (whose struggles broke his heart), and the Grateful Dead. Bob Weir said he had a “golden ear,” while Patti Smith said he had a “weakness for artists.” Davis was the ultimate A&R man, and this music documentary brings us along for the ride.
Where to watch Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives: Netflix
The Only Girl in the Orchestra (2024)
Netflix
Yes, we loved Tár, but this documentary about a real woman in the male-dominated world of classical music ain’t it. And that’s a good thing! Detailing the extraordinary journey of double bassist Orin O’Brien, who was the first full-time female member of the New York Philharmonic, this short film captures the glorious world of rehearsals, music classes, tiny apartments, and pure music geekery. In other words, if you want a glimpse into a life devoted to creativity, look no further.
Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know (2018)
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You can’t tell the story of the 1980s without Duran Duran, and vice versa. The video age arrived around the same time these British blokes did, and their first music video, “Girls on Film,” cemented their place in pop culture. Things only got hotter from there (hello, “Hungry Like the Wolf”).
But what’s perhaps gotten lost in the shuffle of history — or drowned out by screaming fans — is the band’s sheer talent, both musically (densely layered, ultra lush pop) and visually, from their New Romantic style to their record covers (Patrick Nagel’s “Rio” artwork defined a generation). This film sets the record straight, reminding us of both their artistry and their era-defining coolness.
Where to watch Duran Duran: There’s Something You Should Know: Netflix
WHAM! (2023)
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Seeing the name Chris Smith (mastermind behind American Movie) makes a documentary a must-watch, and WHAM! is no exception. This film exudes excitement, color, and life with a surprisingly gritty edge. One of the memorable moments comes at the beginning, with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley riding around London circa 1981 on their bicycles, hitting up record companies with their tapes.
Smith’s ‘zine-like approach is riveting, covering WHAM’s first single, a rap song they performed like a party on Top of the Pops, pages from Andrew’s mum’s scrapbook, BBC news clips, a record-signing at a Sam Goody in a U.S. mall, shopping for shorts, and bopping around the world. If you’re already a fan, you’ll swoon. If not, get ready to be converted.
Gaga: Five Foot Two (2017)
Dramatic? Inspirational? Shocking? Would you expect anything less? Lady Gaga‘s mesmerizing documentary, Five Foot Two, is a journey, mother, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. From serious health struggles to intense fan interactions, from recording with Mark Ronson to learning about her late aunt Joanna (who she named an album after), from falling off a horse to shopping at Walmart… the whole thing ends with a bang (her Super Bowl performance). The verdict? Gaga: Five Foot Two is gripping with a capital G.
Miss Americana: Taylor Swift (2020)
Netflix
More than just a film for die-hard superfans, Miss Americana is a finely crafted document of a young woman in a cultural whirlwind of her own making. As EW’s writer put it, this is an “intimate film” that fully enters the World of Swift, “capturing the singer not just in her public-facing moments but also in her personal spaces, poring over old diaries, cooking with friends, and becoming emotional as she fiercely debates a critical image decision with her advisors.” In other words, even without the songs, this movie would be a banger. With it? One of our favorite music documentaries ever.
It’s Only Life After All (2023)
Jeremy Cowart/Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Cardboard boxes labeled “Amy’s Tapes.” Flannel shirts. Front-porch swings. This Indigo Girls documentary is as earnest and humble as their music. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers speak about themselves so modestly that it’s easy to forget their legendary status.
Utilizing Amy’s old video camera footage and current-day interviews, It’s Only Life After All covers a lot of ground — music, politics, the heartbreaking ways that homophobia hurt their career, friendship, insecurity, and survival. There are so many fascinating takes in this film, including their views on religion and SNL (the parodies bothered them because they were never invited on the show). You’ll never watch Barbie’s escape (featuring “Closer to Fine”) quite the same way.
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop (2023)
Courtesy of Netflix
“We don’t wait for others to validate our dopeness. We know we’re dope. They’ll catch up.” YES! This four-part series is uplifting, empowering, and filled with amazing women (from musicians to producers to professors) saying killer things you’ll want to write down, put on a poster, T-shirt, billboard, or all three. So energizing it just might replace your morning coffee, seeing legends from Queen Latifah to Saweetie to MC Lyte to Tierra Whack talk music — and play it — is simply sublime. Watch it now, thank us later.
Where to watch Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop: Netflix
Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl (2022)
Netflix
This documentary sees Shania Twain (sounding like the small-town Canadian gal she is) tell her own story, often directly into the camera, while sitting cross-legged in a variety of cozy living rooms. It begins with her early days, from her mother making her sing in bars, to her gawky pre-teen performance in a country music show, to her Pat Benatar phase complete with headband.
Things took a tragic turn at 22 when she became a caregiver to her young siblings after their parents’ deaths. For a moment, she considered getting a “regular job,” but she thankfully turned toward her true calling: music. Her hardships drove her focus and put her on a path toward country-pop stardom… a story we know has a happy ending.
TLC Forever (2023)
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Tionne Watkins was the “T,” Lisa Lopes was the “L,” and Rozonda (“Chilli”) Thomas was the “C” — three little letters that made up the best-selling girl group America has ever seen. This doc is a fantastic reminder of how they were light years ahead — from their fearless lyrics to their baggy clothes (oh, remember the condom-over-the-eye look?).
With a string of hits, from “Waterfalls” to “No Scrubs,” they defined the early ‘90s. But tragedy intervened, including Watkins’ sickle cell diagnosis, Lopes’ legal troubles, and her eventual death in a car accident at age 30. Still, the remaining two women continued making music, touring, and keeping the memory of TLC alive.
Travelin’ Band: Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall (2022)
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If you thought CCR was actually from the South, we can’t blame you. And we can’t really fault them either — after all, “Born on the Bayou” sounds better than “Born in the Bay Area.” Worth a watch for Jeff Bridges’ narration alone, this documentary shows the legendary band’s entire concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Luckily, the film also covers their origin story, beginning with a chance meet-up at El Cerrito High where their group was called the Blue Velvets. CCR has such great energy, even all these years later, that their now-classic status seems written in the stars. Take it from the Dude.
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