20 of the best documentaries about musicians you can stream today

Selena Gomez in “My Mind & Me. “Apple TV+ A documentary about Selena Gomez, “My Mind and Me,” was released on November 4 on Apple TV+. Gomez is far from the first musician to get vulnerable on camera.

Here are 20 of the best documentaries about musicians you can stream now. Selena Gomez’s documentary “Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me” premiered on November 4 on Apple TV+. Selena Gomez attends the “Selena Gomez: My Mind And Me” opening night world premiere on November 2, 2022.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images”My Mind and Me,” accompanied by a new song sang by Gomez of the same name, followed the singer over a six year period, from the premature end of her “Revival” tour in 2016 through her kidney transplant, her bipolar diagnosis, and multiple stays in rehab facilities — all the while, showing why Gomez is one of the most compelling and lovable musicians in pop right now. “Gomez comes off as a deeply serious, intentionally minded person — the kind pop music could use a lot more of — but one with enough of a sparing sense of dark humor to hear sirens in the distance and joke, ‘There’s my ride,'” wrote Variety’s Chris Willman. “My Mind and Me” is streaming on Apple TV+.

Watch the trailer here. “Prince: Sign O’ the Times” is streaming with Freevee on Prime Video. Prince performs on stage on the “Sign ‘O’ The Times” tour on May 9, 1987.

Rob Verhorst/Redferns/Getty Images”Sign O’ the Times” is a straightforward filmed performance of Prince’s “Sign O’ the Times” tou — except, like everything to do with Prince, it’s anything but simple. Turn this on to see what a true rock-star Prince was, and his specific talent for putting on a show like no one else could. “‘Sign O’ the Times’ is as much a masterpiece on film as it is on record,” simply stated the Observer’s Michael Duquette.

“Sign O’ the Times” is streaming on Amazon Freevee. Watch the trailer here. “Jennifer Lopez: Halftime,” which follows the superstar as she prepares for the Super Bowl Halftime Show, is on Netflix.

Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of her “Halftime” documentary. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival”Halftime” follows Lopez as she experiences something almost like a mid-life crisis, except she’s not in crisis at all. It’s more like the multi-hyphenate is taking stock of her life at 50: She prepares for a new tour, the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the presidential inauguration, her Oscar-worthy role in “Hustlers,” and deals with the heartbreaking snub from the Academy.

“Lopez has been such a powerful cultural presence that she’s earned this kind of tribute,” wrote the Los Angeles Times’ Noel Murray. “Halftime” is streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

“Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars” captured David Bowie’s last performance as Ziggy Stardust in 1973. It’s streaming on the Roku Channel. David Bowie in 1973 at the final show of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in London.

Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty ImagesBowie’s alter-ego Ziggy Stardust has remained in the cultural consciousness, even if the late Bowie’s final performance as Ziggy was almost 50 years ago. That may have something to do with the electrifying documentary that captured his swan song. “The result miraculously resurrects a seminal moment in rock history, elevating Ziggy Stardust into the landmark cultural event it always should have been,” wrote AV Club’s Nathan Rabin.

“Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars” is streaming on the Roku Channel. Watch the trailer here. “Gaga: Five Foot Two” simultaneously charts the recording of Lady Gaga’s album “Joanne” and her prep for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

It’s on Netflix now. Lady Gaga attends the world premiere of “Gaga: Five Foot Two” on September 8, 2017. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for NetflixLike Lopez, Lady Gaga chose to film a documentary around her preparation for the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Simultaneously, Gaga records her fifth album, “Joanne,” deals with her fibromyalgia diagnosis, and processes her break-up with ex-fiancé Taylor Kinney. “An ironic sort of vanity piece in that it tries to be such an anti-vanity piece — bluntly intimate, rather than a peek behind the curtain — but it feels honest all the way,” wrote Christopher Campbell for Thrillist. “Five Foot Two” is streaming on Netflix.

Watch the trailer here. Director Peter Jackson sorted through hundreds of hours of footage to create “The Beatles: Get Back,” which is streaming on Disney+. The Beatles at the press launch for their new album “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in 1967John Downing/Getty ImagesThe footage Jackson used in “Get Back” was filmed decades ago, and even used in a documentary that Beatles fans almost immediately dismissed.

Instead, they had to wait until Jackson could compile the footage of the lead-up to The Beatles’ final public performance on the roof of their record label in January 1969 into three mega-long episodes. “The footage has been meticulously restored; it looks and sounds like it was filmed yesterday. The result is uncanny.

It feels like a dream, a magic trick, a work of time travel science fiction,” wrote Baltimore Magazine’s Max Weiss. “Get Back” is streaming on Disney+. Watch the trailer here.

“Katy Perry: Part of Me” turned into a window to the end of her marriage to Russell Brand. You can watch it on Paramount+. Katy Perry arrives at the premiere of “Katy Perry: Part Of Me” on June 26, 2012.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images”Part of Me” was released in 3D and mainly follows Perry as she embarks on her “California Dreams” tour, after she broke records as the first female artist to have five No. 1 singles from one album. But while her professional career was reaching astronomical heights, her marriage to Russell Brand was slowly falling apart, which is also documented in the film.

“Ever the professional, the pop star has surrounded herself with people who know how to make a tour work — but none of them seem well-equipped to give a heartbroken 27-year-old girl a much needed hug,” wrote the New York Post’s Sara Stewart. “Part of Me” is streaming on Paramount+. Watch the trailer here.

“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” took fans behind the scenes of Beyoncé’s instantly iconic Coachella performances. Beyoncé performing at Coachella in “Homecoming. “Netflix”Homecoming” is a true window into just how much hard work, sweat, and tears Beyoncé put into her back-to-back Coachella sets, making a comeback after her twins were born the year prior.

And in true Queen Bey fashion, “Homecoming” was also written, produced, and directed by the star. “Are there killer performances, musical mash-ups, and dance routines? Sure. But what really makes this music doc stand-out besides the talent of its star is the intimate look fans are given into Beyoncé’s personal life,” wrote Uproxx’s Brett Michael Dykes.

“Homecoming” is streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer here. Even though she’s still a teenager, “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” on Apple TV+ is still a fascinating look at one of the world’s biggest stars right now.

Billie Eilish at Apple’s “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” live premiere event. Koury Angelo/Getty Images for AppleEilish lets the cameras in to some of her most personal moments in “The World’s a Little Blury,” which tracks her career from its beginnings due to her SoundCloud hit “Ocean Eyes” through her gigantic tour, headlining Coachella set, and her first real break-up — all before turning 20. “‘The World’s a Little Blurry’ hews close to the Eilish mythology, yet still offers a rare glimpse behind the making of a teen pop star,” wrote Alessa Dominguez for Buzzfeed News.

“The World’s a Little Blurry” is streaming on Apple TV+. Watch the trailer here. The Oscar-winning documentary “Summer of Soul (.

. . Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” on Disney+ and Hulu.

It tells the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969. American pop vocal group The 5th Dimension performs on stage at the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe same summer as Woodstock, a festival was taking place every weekend for six weeks in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park), filled with some of the most important Black musicians of the time, like Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight, Sly and the Family Stone, and more.

And while it was recorded, none of that footage was ever released, until Questlove compiled it for “Summer of Soul. “”‘Summer of Soul’ is both a tribute to the artists and, just as importantly, their audience — which is what makes it not just a great concert film but a great documentary, period,” wrote David Fear for Rolling Stone. “Summer of Soul” is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

Watch the trailer here. Martin Scorsese directed the 2005 Bob Dylan documentary “No Direction Home: Bob Dylan” in 2005. It’s streaming on Netflix.

Bob Dylan while recording his album “Bringing It All Back Home” in 1965. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesFrom one American icon to another, Scorsese pored through decades of footage, tapes, and more to unpack Dylan’s impact on American culture. Specifically, though, the documentary focuses on Dylan’s career from 1961 until his first retirement from touring in 1966, including the “Electric Dylan controversy” in 1965, when he began recording music with an electric band, earning derision from his folk fans.

Glenn Abel called the film “as good as it gets in music documentaries” in his review for The Hollywood Reporter. “No Direction Home” is streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

But if you want a more real-time look at Dylan, watch 1967’s “Don’t Look Back” on HBO Max. Bob Dylan smokes a cigarette as D. A.

Pennebaker films for the documentary film “Don’t Look Back” about Dylan’s 1965 tour of England. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesWhile Martin Scorsese had the benefit of hindsight for “No Direction Home,” “Don’t Look Back” director D. A.

Pennebaker was capturing Dylan’s stratospheric rise as it was actually happening. “The movie has limitless appeal for Dylan fans. It’s also an eye-opening bit of filmmaking for the uninitiated,” wrote Sandra Saunders in the Philadelphia Daily News.

“Don’t Look Back” is streaming on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here. Any dedicated Swiftie should watch “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” on Netflix.

Taylor Swift attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival’s “Taylor Swift: Miss Americana” premiere on January 23, 2020. George Pimentel/Getty Images”Miss Americana” sees Swift reflect on what she (and many others) would consider a low point in her career — when many people turned on her after the feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian was reignited. Simultaneously, she is seen wrapping up the “Reputation” tour and wrestling with her decision to reveal her political views for the first time in her career.

“‘Miss Americana’ offers an effective backstage look at Taylor Swift that works best when the megastar opens up about her life and experiences in surprisingly candid ways,” wrote Newsday’s Robert Levin. “Miss Americana” is streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

Spike Lee brought the Broadway version of David Byrne’s beloved show to the screen with “David Byrne’s American Utopia. ” It’s now on HBO Max. David Byrne performs live on stage during the first night of the European leg of his “American Utopia” tour in 2018.

Jim Dyson/Getty ImagesIf you missed Byrne’s Broadway engagement or his “American Utopia” tour, watching the filmed performance is the next best thing. The less you know, the better. “Bolstered by Lee’s trenchant, intimate direction, Byrne reframes a peerless setlist of songs as a testament to hope and humanity that implores himself and his audience to keep going,” wrote Empire Magazine’s Beth Webb.

“American Utopia” is on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here. “Gimme Shelter” documented the tragedy of The Rolling Stones’ Altamont Free Concert, which ended in multiple deaths.

It’s available on HBO Max. The Rolling Stones perform onstage at Assembly Hall in 1969. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images”Gimme Shelter” was originally supposed to chronicle the final weeks of The Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour, culminating with their free show in California.

Instead, it became a tragic look at the end of the “hippie generation,” as their show ended with their security, the biker gang Hells Angels, stabbing one of their fans, Meredith Hunter, right in front of the stage. “Because of the warped chronology, ‘Gimme Shelter’ makes for absorbing viewing. It’s also a chilling lesson in humility,” wrote Dan Lybarger for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

“Gimme Shelter” is streaming on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here. Amy Winehouse’s tragically short life is reflected in the 2015 documentary “Amy,” streaming on HBO Max.

Amy Winehouse performing on stage. Daniel Boczarski/Redferns/Getty Images”Amy” is filled with unseen footage of Winehouse from an early age, following as her career progresses to her iconic five Grammy wins in 2008, and her eventual death. The film has over 100 interviews with Winehouse’s family, friends, and collaborators.

“Amy Winehouse’s rapid rise and tragic fall is exquisitely told by her peers and with rare footage,” wrote Leonie Cooper for NME. “Amy” is streaming on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here.

“Metallica: Some Kind of Monster,” which is available on Netflix, documented one of the most turbulent periods in the band’s history. Guitarist James Hetfield from Metallica performs live on stage in the Netherlands circa 1992. Michel Linssen/Redfern/Getty Images”Some Kind of Monster” showcases Metallica from 2001 to 2003; a time when bassist Jason Newsted quit, frontman James Hetfield entered rehab for his alcohol addiction, and the rest of the band struggled with feeling like they were becoming irrelevant to music.

“Because it’s been made with such a judicious and assured hand, ‘Some Kind of Monster’ transcends its immediate subject to become a surprisingly profound examination of relationships, creativity and the anxieties of encroaching age,” wrote Ann Hornaday for the Washington Post. “Some Kind of Monster” is streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

“Madonna: Truth or Dare” was the highest-grossing documentary for over a decade. It’s streaming on Paramount+. Madonna at Cannes Film Festival circa 1991 in Cannes, France.

Images/Getty ImagesAt the time of its release, there was truly no bigger star than Madonna. So, when “Truth or Dare” gave her millions of fans a behind-the-scenes look of the “Blond Ambition” tour, as well as her relationship with A-lister Warren Beatty, and showed off cameos from other stars like Kevin Costner and Al Pacino, we were all hooked. Plus, the choice to shoot all the behind-the-scenes footage in black and white, and the performances in color, is a choice more documentaries should make.

“‘Truth or Dare,’ which comes on as if it were truth and dare, sets out to give us both the ‘real’ offstage Madonna, shot in grainy black and white, and the performing Madonna during her ‘Blond Ambition’ tour, shot in color,” wrote Jonathan Rosenbaum for the Chicago Reader. “Truth or Dare” is streaming on Paramount+. Watch the trailer here.

“Cobain: Montage of Heck” was released 21 years after Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994. The documentary, which is available on HBO Max, tracks Cobain from his early beginnings in Aberdeen to mega-stardom with Nirvana. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana during the taping of “MTV Unplugged” in New York City in 1993.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images”Montage of Heck” blends home videos with performance footage, interviews with Cobain’s family and friends, journal entries, artwork, demos, and even animation to depict some of the most formative moments in the rock star’s life. Fans of Nirvana should run, not walk, to stream this. “It’s a rare profile that’s about the person instead of the personality, the artist instead of the art,” wrote Flavorwire’s Jason Bailey.

“Montage of Heck” is streaming on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here. Oscar-winner Jonathan Demme directed the Talking Heads documentary “Stop Making Sense,” which is available on Pluto TV and the Roku Channel.

The Talking Heads in 1984. Jacqueline Haynes-Smart/Fairfax Media/Getty Images”Stop Making Sense” is both a concert film of Talking Heads’ shows promoting their 1983 album “Speaking in Tongues” and a retrospective of their career up to date, with the band performing some of their early hits like “Psycho Killer. “”Talking Heads made for great material, with its revolutionary mash-up of punk, funk, art, avant-garde and other sounds.

But what sets ‘Stop’ apart is the intimate look at that brilliant talking head, lead singer David Byrne,” wrote Betsy Sharkey for the Los Angeles Times. “Stop Making Sense” is streaming on Pluto TV and the Roku Channel. Watch the trailer here.

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