DVD Corner

Top 10 Concert Films

With “Billie Eilish- Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live In 3D)” due out tomorrow, it’s only fitting that today’s list be dedicated to concert films. Below I have listed my 10 personal favorite concert films. Let’s rock.

1. Gimme Shelter- Much more than a Rolling Stones concert film. It also doubles as a tragic and stomach churning chronicle of a disastrous event and the end of the counterculture era.

2. Woodstock- You can’t have a concert film list without including the film that documents the most significant music festival in history. Highlights include Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, CSN and The Who.

3. Elvis: That’s The Way It Is- “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” is a fine concert film in its own right, but this one shows Elvis at his best on stage (and in rehearsals).

4. Springsteen On Broadway- Intimate, moving, and a great showcase of Bruce Springsteen’s timeless songwriting and storytelling abilities.

5. The Last Waltz- Martin Scorsese’s film document of The Band’s last concert is a star-studded rock music affair.

6.  Metallica: Through The Never- A unique blend of a Metallica concert film mixed with a trippy, scripted, and intense story of a roadie.

7. Grateful Dead: Sunshine Daydream- If you really want to know what a Grateful Dead concert was like, this show from 8/27/72 in Veneta, Oregon is a good representation. It’s psychedelic, filled with jams, and features unforgettable crowd scenes including the infamous naked hippie guy.

8. Jazz On A Summer’s Day- This concert film of the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival featuring Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington, Anita O’Day and Thelonius Monk is a must see for any jazz aficionado. 

9. Monterey Pop- What is it about music festivals that make for such great films? Much like “Woodstock,” this one features similarly great performances from Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Who alongside Otis Redding and Ravi Shankar. 

10. Stop Making Sense- Talking Heads in peak form. David Byrne’s “American Utopia” makes a great companion piece too.

May 7, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | List | Billie Eilish- Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour (Live In 3D), Elvis: That's The Way It Is, Gimme Shelter, Grateful Dead: Sunshine Daydream, Jazz On A Summer's Day, Metallica: Through The Never, Monterey Pop, Springsteen On Broadway, Stop Making Sense, The Last Waltz, Top 10 Concert Films, Woodstock