The 16 best music movies of all time to watch now

Released in 2000, High Fidelity is high on the list of the best John Cusack movies of all time. It’s a film with scenes that burrow deep into your psyche and likely inspired millions of thoughtful mix tapes assembled for love interests across the globe. Apparently, settling on a soundtrack was one of the hardest parts of production, which is unsurprising given that the film focuses on a music snob as its main character. But the sonic backdrop does the film proud, featuring the likes of Bill Callahan, Roky Erickson, the Beta Band, Bob Dylan, and more. If you didn’t have a vinyl collection before watching this movie, you’ll surely start one after.

There are countless films that deal with the plight of folk singer-songwriters, but this happens to be one of the best. Tempting as it was to include Crazy Heart, it was 2013’s Inside Llewyn Davis that ultimately earned this particular slot. Maybe it’s the Coen brothers’ mystical effect, or maybe it’s the understated soundtrack. It’s a gorgeous take on the art scene of Greenwich Village circa 1961, led by up-and-coming Oscar Isaac (who performed many of the songs himself). With T. Bone Burnett as the executive music producer, the film also has a folk-infused soundtrack that feels both contemporary and of its time. Llewyn Davis is not always sympathetic, but that doesn’t make Inside Llewyn Davis any less compelling.

In a masterful biopic of the great Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, John Cusack and Paul Dano team up to embody the early and late stages of his life, full of turmoil and mental imbalance. Switching between different times in Wilson’s life, we witness an adaptation of a younger Wilson (Dano also magnificently performs the songs himself) as he quits touring to produce the timeless album Pet Sounds, slipping slowly and steadily into psychosis. Cutting to the future, Cusack plays an older and broken Wilson, psychologically limited and trapped under controversial 24-hour therapy tactics from the infamous Dr. Eugene Landy. Beautiful and tragic, we witness the many shattered pieces of Wilson’s psyche as he single-handedly competes with the world-famous Beatles to create some of the best music ever written. This movie should not be missed by any music lovers.

A Hard Day’s Night is a mockumentary musical comedy film starring The Beatles in their feature film debut. It follows a fictionalized version of a “typical” two days in the lives of the band members John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The film portrays the chaos and excitement surrounding The Beatles’ meteoric rise to fame. It uses a mockumentary approach, blending scripted scenes with candid moments and glimpses into the behind-the-scenes world of the band. While there’s not a complex plot, the film hilariously depicts the challenges they face dealing with a demanding manager, escaping screaming fans, trying to write new songs amid the frenzy, and Paul’s mischievous grandfather adding to the mayhem. The lighthearted and fun film captures the energy and cultural phenomenon of The Beatles in the early 1960s.

Bird chronicles the incredible life of Charlie Parker, arguably the greatest sax player of all time. It’s a Clint Eastwood joint, released in 1988 with Forest Whitaker playing the lead. Even if you’re not a jazz nut, you’ll adore the atmosphere of it all, with a backdrop of smoky lounges and Parker wowing the audience with his unmatched chops and improvisational wizardry.