Music can immerse its listeners, evoke powerful emotions, and change the mood of any room. Given music's power for expression, its no wonder the medium is so integral to film. Movies about bands bring music to the forefront of the film. Band movies remind viewers of the importance of music as well as the sacrifices and effort that go into every note. Such films about music and musicians often follow a social outcast on their journey to becoming a loved star. These stories show how music gives a voice to the voiceless, transforms even the most extreme characters, and connects opposing personalities.
The act of starting a band, of disparate characters coming together to create something meaningful, is a powerful coming-of-age trope that's been used in movies like We Are the Best! and sitcoms like We Are Lady Parts. For those looking to immerse themselves in the magic of music and see how it brings people together, here are some of the best movies about starting a band.
7 Metal Lords
This coming of age story follows Hunter and Kevin as they seek to prove themselves by starting a rock band. The two struggle to work together and find other band members, but eventually they come together to compete in battle of the bands. While the basic story of Metal Lords has been told before, the film excellently captures the feelings and anxieties of high school, resulting in a genuinely fun coming-of-age movie. Teenagers and adults alike can relate to the misfit students looking to make a name for themselves and the message about the power of music.
6 The Runaways
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Just as music history would not be complete without The Runaways, this list wouldn't be complete without their biopic. Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning bring to life rock icons Joan Jett and Cherie Currie in this film about one of the biggest female rock bands. The story follows their formation and rise to fame, as well as their subsequent struggles. It primarily focuses on the tumultuous relationship between the two lead singers, huge egos that often clashed. While the film does not deliver on historical details, it successfully immerses audiences in the time and culture. The stellar performances by Stewart, Fanning, and the great Michael Shannon save the film from its other flaws.
5 Sing Street
The sweet romance and uplifting story makes this feel-good comedy stand apart. Sing Street tells the story of a boy who starts a band to impress a girl and escape the pressures of his everyday school and family life. The film, set in the 80s, contains musical performances of beloved 80s hits that will immerse viewers in the time period and have them feeling nostalgic. Sing Street is loved for its Breakfast Club-like friendships and comedy, not to mention its delightful soundtrack of nostalgic favorites (like The Cure, The Jam, and Duran Duran). The film is almost guaranteed to leave audiences with a smile on their face and a spring in their step.
4 O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The timeless nature of classic myths, legends, and fairy tales cannot be beat, but only built upon. O Brother, Where Art Thou? draws on all the story elements that make Homer's The Odyssey a universally recognized story. Set during the great depression, Everett escapes from a chain gain in collaboration with two other convicts. Together, the three set off to find Everett's old buried treasure and return home. Along the way, the desperate heroes record a song at a radio station to earn money.
What was meant to be a side stop becomes one of the main events on the heroes' quest, and eventually their only means of winning back Everett's family. The film's historically significant folk, religious, and a cappella music all take center stage. This unique adaptation brings new soul and meaning to the old myth, and finds the unlikeliest of band members coming together to create something truly special. Oddly enough, it remains one of the sweetest and most accessible movies from the Coen brothers.
3 Walk the Line
One of the biggest music icons comes back to life in this film about the life of Johnny Cash. Walk the Line follows Cash starting with his childhood and details his time in prison, formation of a band, rise to fame, struggles with drug addiction, and love story with June Carter. Walk the Line is more serious than other films on this list, as it takes the audience through both the highs and lows of Cash's career with startling honesty. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon give impressive musical performances and impressions of their respective music stars. Viewers who don't like classic country before the movie starts will be singing a different tune before the credits roll.
2 The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers remains more than one of America's classic comedies for the subtle yet impeccable acting, comedic timing, and action sequences that raise the stakes; it's also a sweet story of two band members coming back together. After Jake finishes his time in prison, he and his brother (The Blues Brothers) are charged with raising money to save their childhood orphanage. The two set out to reunite their band and raise $5,000, but find all kinds of challenges stand in their way. Despite the characters serious dispositions, the plot of the film is as silly as they come. The Blues Brothers also contains captivating music and dance performances that keep audiences coming back for more.
1 The School of Rock
The diverse characters, rocking music, and laugh out loud comedy make School of Rock one of the most quintessential band movies, even if this rock band is a bunch of grade schoolers. The film was so successful that Broadway playwrights adapted School of Rock into a stage musical. Jack Black brings all of his energy and comedic timing to his performance as Dewey Finn in this great mid-period Richard Linklater film. Under increasing pressure to give up his rock and roll lifestyle in exchange for a more stable job, Dewey finds work as a substitute teacher. After discovering that his middle-school students have some musical talent, Dewey turns his uptight classroom into a freewheeling band. A warm message about the bonds between teachers and students, and the power of music offset the pretty farcical plot, and the performances from everyone seal the deal.