Romantic dramedy High Fidelity has all the makings of a great rock and roll film. A strong cast and a feel-good – if predictable – plot make this an entertaining tour of the rock world some 40 years ago. Patrick Fugit's teenage journalist character, a thin fictionalization of Cameron Crowe in his youth, finds himself on the road with a fledgling rock band and gets entangled in its personalities and relationships. 4.Almost Famous (2000)Ĭameron Crowe's winding, sentimental directorial style succeeds in this love letter to the early 1970s rock scene. Great music, deadpan humor, two bang-up car chases and a hilariously homicidal Carrie Fisher are just some of the reasons to keep coming back to this one-of-a-kind film. Just try not to dance when Aretha Franklin belts “Respect” in a diner or James Brown makes an entire church jump and jive. While the film isn't called Rock Brothers, it pays tribute to the vocal and musical titans of black music who paved the way for rock music to even exist. 5.Blues Brothers (1980)īromance is here in spades between literal brothers Jake and Elwood Blues. Plus, the bromance between Wayne and Garth is one of the finest on film. The Bohemian Rhapsody scene has left an indelible mark on film, and Wayne's narration to the viewer is the most entertaining since Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Wayne's adoration of hair metal informs every aspect of the plot, from the theme song of his basement broadcast to his love interest – a badass frontwoman of a rock band – to meeting with a surprisingly well-read Alice Cooper. Wayne's World isn't included on most lists of top rock and roll movies, and that's bogus. The clash (no pun intended) of teenage rebellion and school authority makes for an explosive ending, and the soundtrack boasts original songs from The Ramones as well as material from Devo, Brian Eno and Alice Cooper. The Ramones are real characters in this teenage musical comedy about a band of high school friends determined to win tickets to one of their favorite concerts. Rock 'n' Roll High School is one of the closest to its musical inspirations. Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979)Īs the oldest film on this list. Jonah Hill's character, a too-earnest believer in the power of rock, is too fun to watch as he freaks out at Brand's misbehavior. Russell Brand was at least 10 years too young for the role, but he's the perfect cast as the disaffected and burnt-out rock star who still enjoys enveloping those around him in debauchery. The head-scratching personality of manic, formerly drug-addicted Russell Brand finds its home in this tribute to the end of the golden age for rock gods. Lou Reed and Iggy Pop are additional influences on the fictional glam rockers portrayed by Ewan McGregor and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, whose surreal stage performances, wild costumes and atypical sexuality make for necessary viewing for rock-loving followers everywhere.
The pretty-boys-in-panned-films theme continues with Velvet Goldmine, which revels in the glam era of 70s rock epitomized in David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust phase. Check out this Rock and roll queen video and get your head bangin!! 9.Velvet Goldmine (1998) Having Lestat head up a quasi-Satanic band and adding Korn frontman's Jonathan Davis' head-thrashing vocals made for a truly mesmerizing character - albeit it in a lukewarm plot. But there's no arguing that Stuart Townsend's seductive, deep-voiced Lestat is a much more enjoyable watch than Tom Cruise's comical, mincing version.
To be fair, Queen of The Damned was panned by critics, and its prequel Interview With the Vampire will always be better remembered. No matter the genre, you'll find yourself nodding – or banging – your head to the music. These films cover the gamut of rock and roll from early rock influences to hair metal and heavy metal. At RebelsMarket, we've done the grunt work for you in selecting and ranking the best rock and roll movies of the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. For example, I thought Rock of Ages was entertaining, but apparently, I'm singing the movies praises alone. Rock and roll movies are few and the few with wide release are often divisive among critics and viewers.