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865 voters

The Best Rock Music Movies

Updated December 9, 2020 7.3k votes 865 voters 28.6k views126 items

List RulesOnly movies that prominently feature rock music.

A list of all the best rock music movies ever made, ranked by movie fans. This rock music movie list can be sorted by cast, year, director and more, but is currently ordered by popularity. Upvote your favorite items on this list to see them get to the top, just like you always hoped they would. This list of rock music films also contains rock music movie titles that can be clicked on for more information about the film. Re-rank this list to fit your own opinion! These are the top films about rock music. Each and every one on this list either focuses on or deals with the concept of rock music, most often as a central theme. Downvote the items you hate (Pink Floyd The Wall, Tommy, etc.) or show them some love by voting them up if you like them. If there are any movies about rock music you believe we missed, please feel free to add them to the list yourself. The films on this list cover the most famous rock music movies of all time.

Items include everything from That Thing You Do to This Is Spinal Tap.

Whether you're watching these rock music movies on DVD, Blu-ray or streaming, this is a list of good rock music movies for a wide variety of occasions. So many occasions! So from the latest to simply the greatest rock music movies, here is the full rock music movies list, ordered from best to worst.

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A Hard Day's Night
Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Released: 1964
Directed by: Richard Lester
A Hard Day's Night is a 1964 British black-and-white comedy film directed by Richard Lester... more
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#355 of 3,867 The Best Songs Of All Time, Ranked#354 of 913 The All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
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Almost Famous
Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson
Released: 2000
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring... more
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#409 of 1,189 Every Oscar Winning Film Ever#487 of 1,540 The Most Rewatchable Movies
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Pink Floyd – The Wall
Bob Hoskins, Bob Geldof
Released: 1982
Directed by: Alan Parker
Pink Floyd - The Wall is a fulldome production about Pink Floyd’s album The Wall. It was... more
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Behind The Scenes Details From Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’ Movie#546 of 3,110 The Greatest Albums of All-Time
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This Is Spinal Tap
Billy Crystal, Fran Drescher
Released: 1984
Directed by: Rob Reiner
This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock music mockumentary written, scored by, and... more
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Behind The Scenes Of 'This Is Spinal Tap,' The Fake Documentary That Was Actually All Too Real#212 of 512 The Greatest Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
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American Graffiti
Harrison Ford, Ron Howard
Released: 1973
Directed by: George Lucas
American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming of age comedy-drama film directed and co-written... more
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#52 of 99 The Most Patriotic Movies of All Time#79 of 675 The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
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Woodstock
Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin
Released: 1970
Directed by: Michael Wadleigh
Woodstock is a 1970 American documentary of the watershed counterculture Woodstock Festival... more
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Inside Jimi Hendrix’s Legendary And Controversial National Anthem Performance At Woodstock '69#51 of 204 The Best Drug Movies of All Time
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The Doors
Meg Ryan, Val Kilmer
Released: 1991
Directed by: Oliver Stone
The Doors is a 1991 American biopic about the 1960-70s rock band of the same name which... more
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#242 of 372 'Old' Movies Every Young Person Needs To Watch In Their Lifetime#17 of 46 30+ Great Period Films with a 1960s Aesthetic
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Tommy
Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson
Released: 1975
Directed by: Ken Russell
Tommy is a 1975 British musical fantasy film based upon The Who's 1969 rock opera album Tommy.... more
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#132 of 553 The Best '70s Movies#32 of 206 Musical Movies With the Best Songs
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School of Rock
Sarah Silverman, Jack Black
Released: 2003
Directed by: Richard Linklater
School of Rock is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike... more
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What Happened To All The Kids From School Of Rock#25 of 541 The Greatest Guilty Pleasure Movies
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La Bamba
Lou Diamond Phillips, Joe Pantoliano
Released: 1987
Directed by: Luis Valdez
La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez that follows... more
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#172 of 264 Movies That Should Be Made Into Broadway Musicals#5 of 15 The Best Movies That Capture The Mexican-American Experience
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Walk the Line
Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix
Released: 2005
Directed by: James Mangold
Walk the Line is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold and based... more
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#380 of 549 The Greatest Epic Movies Ever Made#6 of 275 The Best Movies Based On True Stories
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Help!
Paul McCartney, John Lennon
Released: 1965
Directed by: Richard Lester
Help! is a 1965 film directed by Richard Lester, starring the Beatles–John Lennon, Paul... more
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#234 of 356 The Best Musical Movies Of All Time#33 of 192 The Best Movies About Music
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The Buddy Holly Story
Gary Busey, Buddy Miles
Released: 1978
Directed by: Steve Rash
The Buddy Holly Story is a 1978 biographical film which tells the life story of rock musician... more
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#77 of 127 The Best Oscar-Winning Scores#9 of 14 Films About Historical Figures That Got Blasted By Their Family & Friends

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Jailhouse Rock
Elvis Presley, Dean Jones
Released: 1957
Directed by: Richard Thorpe
Jailhouse Rock is a 1957 American musical drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring... more
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Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Keanu Reeves, George Carlin
Released: 1989
Directed by: Stephen Herek
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction comedy buddy film and the... more
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Small But Accurate Details In 'Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure'#26 of 305 The Funniest '80s Movies
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Detroit Rock City
Emmanuelle Chriqui, Edward Furlong
Released: 1999
Directed by: Adam Rifkin
Detroit Rock City is a 1999 American comedy film directed by Adam Rifkin and written by Carl... more
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#161 of 252 The Funniest '90s Movies#566 of 1,137 The Absolute Funniest Movies Of All Time
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Rock Star
Jennifer Aniston, Mark Wahlberg
Released: 2001
Directed by: Stephen Herek
Rock Star is a 2001 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring... more
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#21 of 90 The Best Movies About Bands#22 of 39 The Very Best Jennifer Aniston Movies
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Grease
John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John
Released: 1978
Directed by: Randal Kleiser
Grease is a 1978 American musical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Randal Kleiser and... more
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This Disturbing Fan Theory Will Completely Change How You See 'Grease'#36 of 781 The Greatest Chick Flicks Ever Made
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Great Balls of Fire!
Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder
Released: 1989
Directed by: Jim McBride
Great Balls of Fire! is a 1989 American biographical film directed by Jim McBride and starring... more
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#12 of 33 The Best Historical Movies Released in the 1980s#16 of 52 The Best Movies About Real Bands & Musicians
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Eddie and the Cruisers
Tom Berenger, Ellen Barkin
Released: 1983
Directed by: Martin Davidson
Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 American film directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay... more
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The Last Waltz
Robbie Robertson, Muddy Waters
Released: 1978
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
The Last Waltz was a concert by the Canadian rock group the Band, held on American... more
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#5 of 92 The Best Rockumentaries of All Time#20 of 37 The Best Martin Scorsese Movies
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Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Jack Black, Kyle Gass
Released: 2006
Directed by: Liam Lynch
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny is a 2006 American musical comedy film about comedy rock... more
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The Runaways
Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning
Released: 2010
Directed by: Floria Sigismondi
The Runaways is a 2010 American drama film about the 1970s all-girl rock band of the same name... more
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#38 of 82 The Best Movies Based on Non-Fiction Books#58 of 315 Movies with the Best Soundtracks

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Crossroads
Steve Vai, Jami Gertz
Released: 1986
Directed by: Walter Hill
Crossroads is a 1986 musical dramatic feature film inspired by the legend of blues musician... more
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#77 of 172 The Greatest Teen Movies of the 1980s#16 of 45 The Best Movies Set In The Great State Of Mississippi
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Rock 'n' Roll High School
Clint Howard, Dick Miller
Released: 1979
Directed by: Allan Arkush, Joe Dante
Rock 'n' Roll High School is a 1979 musical comedy film produced by Roger Corman, directed by... more
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#62 of 175 The Best Comedy Movies Of The 1970s#74 of 76 The Greatest Musical Comedies, Ranked

Great Balls of Fire!