Best Heavy Metal Music Documentaries
Contents
If you’re a fan of heavy metal music, then you’ll want to check out these best heavy metal music documentaries. From the history of metal to modern day bands, these docs have it all.
Best Heavy Metal Music Documentaries
“Iron Maiden: Flight 666”
One of the best heavy metal music documentaries is “Iron Maiden: Flight 666”. The film documents the band’s 2008 world tour, during which they flew their own plane, dubbed “Ed Force One”, around the world to play shows in various countries.
The movie captures the energy and excitement of a Maiden concert, as well as the behind-the-scenes work that goes into putting on a show of that magnitude. It’s a must-watch for any fan of heavy metal music.
“Metallica: Some Kind of Monster”
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is a 2004 American documentary film featuring the American heavy metal band Metallica. The film shares its name with the song “Some Kind of Monster” from Metallica’s 2003 album St. Anger. It was directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, and edited by Joe Berlinger.
The film focuses on the internal strife within the band during the recording of St. Anger, their eighth studio album. The members of Metallica hired therapist Phil Towle to help resolve lingering issues within the group, which are detailed in the film.
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil”
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil” is a 2008 rockumentary about the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. The film is directed by the band’s former roadie, Sacha Gervasi, and features interviews with other musicians who have been influenced by the band, including Metallica, Slash, and Lemmy.
Honorable Mentions
Before we get into the list of the best heavy metal music documentaries, we wanted to give honorable mentions to a few that didn’t quite make the cut. While all of the documentaries on this list are great, these honorable mentions are just a little bit less great.
“Gimme Danger”
“Gimme Danger” is a 2016 American documentary film directed by Jim Jarmusch about the career of The Stooges. The film features interviews with band members Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, and Danny Fields, among others.
The film made its world premiere at the 2016 New York Film Festival. It was released in the United States on October 28, 2016, by Amazon Studios and Magnolia Pictures.
“LoudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies”
LoudQUIETloud: A Film About the Pixies is a 2006 documentary film directed by Steven Cantor about the rock band the Pixies. The film chronicles the reunion of the Pixies in 2004 and 2005, after they had broken up in 1993.
The title of the film is derived from the loud-quiet-loud song structure that is prevalent in many Pixies songs, as well as from the dynamic between the band’s reserved frontman Black Francis and their more outgoing bassist Kim Deal. The film includes live footage of the band’s 2005 tour, as well as interviews with all four members of the band (Black Francis, Kim Deal, Joey Santiago, and David Lovering) about their history together and apart.
The film was released in 2006 to critical acclaim, and was nominated for Best Music Film at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
“Dig!”
Directed by Andrew Wilson and featuring interviews and performances from The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, “Dig!” is a must-see for any fan of music documentaries. The film chronicles the intense rivalry between the two bands, as well as their creative processes and the ups and downs of life on the road.
