Seeing as how this week marks the 29th anniversary of the death of
Elvis Presley, as well as
Madonna's 48th birthday (!), we thought we would spotlight the Top Ten Rock Movies. The movies selected for this list are not concert films or documentaries but rather narrative films about rock and roll. Some of them are about fictitious rock artists, while others feature real-life rock stars playing themselves or versions of themselves. Some of the films are biopics of rock stars. All of the films, though, capture the rock music of their respective eras and show how Hollywood treated the art form and those who made it.
Obviously, a slew of films didn't make the cut for various reasons. Some biopics are not included because their subjects belonged more to other musical genres than rock. For example, Walk the Line almost made the cut because of its depiction of the Sun Records days of Johnny Cash, Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis but, ultimately, the film skewed more country than rock. Likewise, What's Love Got to Do With It? wasn't included because it focuses on Tina Turner's R&B and soul music days rather than her later foray into rock music.
The Jump10. Purple Rain
9. Hedwig and The Angry Inch
8. The Doors
7. Tommy
6. Sid and Nancy
5. The Buddy Holly Story
4. Jailhouse Rock
3. A Hard Day's Night
2. This Is Spinal Tap
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1.
Almost Famous