10 Great Concert Movies

1 of 11

Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

Lauren Dukoff

The venue and orchestra accompanying Adele are grand, but Royal Albert Hall has a sense of intimacy that plays to the singer’s far-reaching appeal: Sure, she’s a huge star, but she’s also a regular gal who giggles at bawdy jokes and blows kisses to her friends.

2 of 11

Urgh! A Music War (1982)

Everett Collection

The punk-rock revolution of the late ’70s spawned a sea change on both sides of the Atlantic. This breathless doc features the heroes of that new movement — including the Police, Joan Jett, Devo, and Klaus Nomi (pictured) — in all their eye-popping, ear-gouging glory.

3 of 11

Nirvana Live at The Paramount (2011)

Michael Lavine

Filmed in Seattle on Halloween ’91 only a few weeks after Nevermind came out (but unreleased until 20 years later), this unforgettable performance is stripped down to the essentials: huge songs and Kurt Cobain’s staggering, rage-filled charisma.

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4 of 11

The Last Waltz (1978)

Everett Collection

The Band’s legendary farewell show from Thanksgiving 1976 is so full of massive guest stars (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, and Joni Mitchell) that it’s easy to forget it’s also one of Martin Scorsese’s warmest and most kinetic directorial outings.

5 of 11

Under Great White Northern Lights (2010)

The most compelling figure in this stylish White Stripes tour doc isn’t force of nature Jack White but bandmate Meg. Off stage she’s sad-eyed and stoic, but on, she’s electrifyingly manic, demonstrating the transformative power of rock & roll.

6 of 11

Wattstax (1973)

Everett Collection

Wattstax does a solid job of showcasing the soulful turns by the likes of Isaac Hayes and the Staples Singers at ”the black Woodstock,” but Richard Pryor’s interstitial narration and the day-in-the-life footage of post-riot Watts steal the show.

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Awesome; I F---in' Shot That! (2006)

ThinkFilm/Photofest

Before a Beastie Boys concert at Madison Square Garden, the late Adam ”MCA” Yauch gave camcorders to 50 fans and later cut together their footage. The resulting film is an exciting snapshot of the best rap group of all time.

8 of 11

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

Debi Doss/REDFERNS/Retna Ltd

Master rockumentarian D.A. Pennebaker caught David Bowie at his most theatrical at this show highlighted by a blistering ”Suffragette City” and the poetic retirement of Bowie’s planet-hopping Ziggy Stardust persona.

9 of 11

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Everett Collection

The performances in Jonathan Demme’s quirky flick about art-rock monsters the Talking Heads are all sublime (especially the sparse ”Psycho Killer”), but it’s best remembered for frontman David Byrne’s giant boxy suit.

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10 of 11

Gimme Shelter (1970)

Everett Collection

The fly-on-the-wall style of directors Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin captures Mick Jagger’s raw sexuality — and the violence from the notorious Altamont festival (which ended with the stabbing death of a fan by a Hells Angel) with a disturbing clarity.

Replay gallery

10 Great Concert Movies

1 of 11

Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

1 of 11

2 of 11

Urgh! A Music War (1982)

2 of 11

3 of 11

Nirvana Live at The Paramount (2011)

3 of 11

4 of 11

The Last Waltz (1978)

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5 of 11

Under Great White Northern Lights (2010)

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6 of 11

Wattstax (1973)

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7 of 11

Awesome; I F---in' Shot That! (2006)

7 of 11

8 of 11

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

8 of 11

9 of 11

Stop Making Sense (1984)

9 of 11

10 of 11

Gimme Shelter (1970)

10 of 11

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Everything in This Slideshow

Account

10 Great Concert Movies

1 of 11

Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2011)

1 of 11

2 of 11

Urgh! A Music War (1982)

2 of 11

3 of 11

Nirvana Live at The Paramount (2011)

3 of 11

4 of 11

The Last Waltz (1978)

4 of 11

5 of 11

Under Great White Northern Lights (2010)

5 of 11

6 of 11

Wattstax (1973)

6 of 11

7 of 11

Awesome; I F---in' Shot That! (2006)

7 of 11

8 of 11

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1973)

8 of 11

9 of 11

Stop Making Sense (1984)

9 of 11

10 of 11

Gimme Shelter (1970)

10 of 11

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