From Billy Joel to Miley, Tribeca Film Festival goes all in on music movies
A scroll through any streaming service already yields a flood of music-centric films, but prepare for a new surge this year.
From durable veteran to blazing trendsetter, there’s a music documentary for that.
The Tribeca Film Festival in New York will launch dozens of new titles during its June 4-15 takeover of the city, spotlighting warhorses including Billy Joel, Billy Idol and Culture Club, and contemporary hitmakers such as Miley Cyrus and Becky G.
After Tribeca, most will move into the greater viewing universe, so if you can’t make it to the world premieres to see Slick Rick’s visual album or learn about Eddie Vedder’s work to help find a cure for the rare genetic disease epidermolysis bullosa, don’t fret.
Here’s a rundown of the most intriguing music documentaries on the docket. Check out the full list of Tribeca selections here.
'Billy Joel: And So It Goes'
As the opening selection for this year’s festival, the film chronicling the extraordinary career of Billy Joel was already deeply anticipated. Following the recent disclosure that he’s battling normal pressure hydrocephalus, this dive into the life of a New York icon and truly legendary singer-songwriter with odds-defying longevity is even more poignant.
Premieres: June 4
When and where to watch: HBO, 8 p.m. July 18 and 24.
'Boy George & Culture Club'
Director Alison Ellwood has helmed documentaries about The Go-Go’s, The Eagles, Cyndi Lauper and the Laurel Canyon scene. She knows drama. And what better band to embody a combination of theatrics, fashion and glorious New Wave pop meshed with romantic histrionics than Culture Club? Bring on the hats.
Premieres: June 5
When and where to watch: TBD
'Depeche Mode: M'
In 2023, the British electro-rockers played three sold-out Mexico City shows, which led Mexican director Fernando Frías to seek a through line from his country’s “cultural obsession with mortality” to Depeche Mode’s music. Expect to hear about the connection between Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) and the band’s performance of their “Memento Mori” album, written during the pandemic and released a year after co-founder Andy Fletcher’s 2022 death.
Premieres: June 5
When and where to watch: TBD
'Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?'
Catapulting from a San Francisco-based indie band to one of the most ubiquitous acts of the 1990s with a 7 million-selling debut album (“August and Everything After”) and a parade of hits (“Mr. Jones,” “Round Here,” “A Long December”) might be tough on anyone’s psyche. The film digs into the band’s archives to highlight how they tried to balance artistic integrity with suffocating fame.
Premieres: June 5
When and where to watch: Later this year on HBO.
Miley Cyrus, 'Something Beautiful'
Miley Cyrus’ new studio album, also called “Something Beautiful,” is a concept album, yes, but also a palette for bangers and ballads that traverse heartbreak and healing. The 13 songs are packed with vivid lyrics that should serve as the ideal foundation for this visual album, further fueling Cyrus’ latest cauldron of creativity.
Premieres: June 6
When and where to watch: In theaters June 12 for one day only.
'Wizkid: Long Live Lagos'
The Afrobeat singer has not only become globally known, but he’s done so by staying true to his Nigerian roots. Through his music, Wizkid is also trying to change perceptions about how Africa is seen and heard, which is showcased in his live shows.
Premieres: June 6
When and where to watch: Later this year on HBO.
'Billy Idol Should Be Dead'
The sneer and the spiky hair remain, as does, fortunately, a heartbeat. “I’m lucky to be here,” Idol told Paste BN this spring, underscoring how the documentary title is not hyperbole. “If I was doing today what I was doing in the ‘80s, I would be dead.” The film will detail Idol’s battles with addiction as well as his triumphant return with a new album ("Dream Into It") and current tour with Joan Jett.
Premieres: June 10
When and where to watch: Expected this winter.
'Metallica Saved My Life'
No doubt Metallica fans are entrenched loyalists. The hard rockers have spoken to their tribe through rapid-fire double bass drum patterns and blazing guitar riffs for more than 40 years. The documentary expounds on that unbreakable connection between band and fans and how Metallica’s music has been a lifeboat for millions.
Premieres: June 11
When and where to watch: Select movie theater showings coincide with the band’s tour stops. Dates and locations here.
Eddie Vedder, 'Matter of Time'
A powerful benefit concert for epidermolysis bullosa is the backdrop to this film that details Eddie and Jill Vedder’s longtime quest to help cure the rare genetic disease, which causes fragile, blistering skin. “It is testament to the incredible magnetism that these young people and their families possess that has kept us working non-stop for 10 years,” Eddie Vedder tells Paste BN exclusively. “There are now massive amounts of hope that did not exist before.” Vedder's wife Jill, a philanthropist and executive producer on the film, also tells Paste BN that the EB community has “taught us so much about courage, hope and resiliency … ‘Matter of Time’ takes you into the real lives of these children and their families who have been living with EB and highlights their positive outlook on life and their hope for a cure.”
Premieres: June 12
When and where to watch: TBD
Becky G, 'Rebbeca'
There was a long road from Rebbeca Marie Gomez to Latin singing sensation and actress Becky G. The film follows her at a pivotal moment in her career, the release of 2023’s Mexican regional album “Esquinas,” while also capturing a life rife with love, loss and addiction both in her past and present.
Premieres: June 12
When and where to watch: TBD
'Still Free TC'
California rapper and producer Ty Dolla $ign has thrived during a decade-plus career filled with hits and features (“Sucker for Pain,” “Carnival”). His brother, Gabriel, is serving a 67-year prison sentence for murder. The film follows the siblings over two years, exploring how their paths diverged and how they’ve recently converged.
Premieres: June 13
When and where to watch: TBD
Slick Rick, 'Victory'
The British-American MC known for his affiliation with Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew (“La Di Da Di,” anyone?) has crafted a 25-minute visual album named "Victory" as a complement to his album of the same name, also out June 13. With an assist from Idris Elba, Nas and Griggs, Slick Rick’s music film will be set to a ride through the streets of London.
Premieres: June 13
When and where to watch: June 13 on YouTube