Popular Music Movies on Kanopy

Unlovable

2018

Unlovable

2018
5.6
A sex and love addicted woman learns what real intimacy is when she starts making music with a reclusive man.
Dreamgirls

2006

Dreamgirls

2006
6.7
A trio of female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960s, facing their own personal struggles along the way.
Zappa

2020

Zappa

2020
7.3
With the help of more than 10,000 dedicated Zappa fans, this is the long-awaited definitive documentary project of Alex Winter documenting the life and career of enigmatic groundbreaking rock star Frank Zappa. Alex also utilizes in this picture thousands of hours of painstakingly digitized videos, photos, audio, writing, and everything in between from Zappa's private archives. These chronicles have never been brought to a public audience before, until now.
Almost Famous

2000

Almost Famous

2000
7.5
In 1973, 15-year-old William Miller's unabashed love of music and aspiration to become a rock journalist lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to interview and tour with the up-and-coming band, Stillwater.
Saturday Church

2018

Saturday Church

2018
6.3
Ulysses is a shy and effeminate boy who finds himself coping with new responsibilities as man of the house after the death of his father. Living alongside his mother, younger brother, and conservative aunt, Ulysses is also struggling with questions about his gender identity. He finds an escape by creating a world of fantasy filled with dance and music. Ulysses' journey takes a turn for the better when he finds a vibrant transgender community.
Her Smell

2019

Her Smell

2019
5.8
A self-destructive punk rocker struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success.
Blaze

2018

Blaze

2018
6.3
Inspired by the life of Blaze Foley, the unsung songwriting legend of the Texas outlaw country movement that spawned the likes of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. The film weaves together three periods in Blaze's life, exploring his love affair with Sybil Rosen; his last, dark night on Earth; and the impact his songs and his death had on his fans, friends, and foes.
One Chance

2013

One Chance

2013
6.6
This film follows the remarkable and inspirational true story of Paul Potts, a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night.
Tokyo Idols

2017

Tokyo Idols

2017
6.7
This exploration of Japan's fascination with girl bands and their music follows an aspiring pop singer and her fans, delving into the cultural obsession with young female sexuality and the growing disconnect between men and women in hypermodern societies.
Danny Collins

2015

Danny Collins

2015
6.7
An ageing hard-living 1970s rock star decides to change his life when he discovers a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon.
Greatest Days

2023

Greatest Days

2023
6.1
Based on the Take That musical, five best friends have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later, their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them.
Time Piece

1965

Time Piece

1965
7.1
Dislocation in time, time signatures, time as a philosophical concept, and slavery to time are some of the themes touched upon in this 9-minute experimental film, which was written, directed, and produced by Jim Henson. Screened for the first time at the Museum of Modern Art in May of 1965, "Time Piece" enjoyed an eighteen-month run at one Manhattan movie theater and was nominated for an Academy Award for Outstanding Short Subject.
Dandelion

2024

Dandelion

2024
3.9
It follows a singer-songwriter in a downward spiral as she takes a last effort gig at a motorcycle rally in South Dakota where she meets Casey, a guitarist who walked away from his dream long ago.
Music

2021

Music

2021
5.2
Zu, a free spirit estranged from her family, suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, Music, a teenager on the autism spectrum whose whole world order has been beautifully crafted by her late grandmother. The film soon challenges whether it is Zu or Music who has a better view of the world, and that love, trust, and being able to be there for each other is everything.
Aline

2021

Aline

2021
6.6
A fictionalized biopic of Aline Dieu, a multitalented singer from a musically inclined family.
Sound of Metal

2020

Sound of Metal

2020
7.7
Metal drummer Ruben begins to lose his hearing. When a doctor tells him his condition will worsen, he thinks his career and life is over. His girlfriend Lou checks the former addict into a rehab for the deaf hoping it will prevent a relapse and help him adapt to his new life. After being welcomed and accepted just as he is, Ruben must choose between his new normal and the life he once knew.
Camelot

1982

Camelot

1982
8
Shot live from the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, this presentation of the 1980 Broadway revival of the beloved Lerner & Loewe classic follows King Arthur, who founds the kingdom of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. Their goal: fight for justice and right, but Arthur only sees his ideal crumble when his wife Guenevere falls in love with his favorite knight, Sir Lancelot.
Mogul Mowgli

2020

Mogul Mowgli

2020
6.4
Zed, a young British rapper, is about to start his first world tour, when a crippling illness strikes him down, forcing him to move back in with his family. He tries to find himself between an international music career and Pakistani family traditions.
Pop Gear

1965

Pop Gear

1965
7.5
A compilation of proto-music videos featuring leading British rock bands of the 60s, including The Animals, The Spencer Davis Group, and Herman's Hermits.
Limelight

1952

Limelight

1952
7.9
A fading music hall comedian tries to help a despondent ballet dancer learn to walk and to again feel confident about life.

Popular Music Movies on Kanopy

2018

2018

2006

2006

2020

2020

2000

2000

2018

2018

2019

2019

2018

2018

2013

2013

2017

2017

2015

2015

2023

2023

1965

1965

2024

2024

2021

2021

2021

2021

2020

2020

1982

1982

2020

2020

1965

1965

1952

1952