Anvil! The Story of Anvil

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Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Released Apr 10, 2009

1h 25m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

135 Reviews

90%

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5,000+ Ratings

Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil delivered a highly influential 1982 album that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica, and then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity. Director and former roadie Sacha Gervasi follows guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour and reflect on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.

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Critics Consensus

A touching, uplifting and inspirational rockumentary about an aging metal band, both hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B+

Feb 14, 2012

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 5/5

Nov 18, 2011

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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 21, 2010

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Joel Fisher

Battle Royale With Cheese

Anvil is a documentary that not only speaks to music aficionados, but to people who have ever followed a dream and failed or given up

Sep 25, 2022

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

Indeed, the movie turns out to be as much about teenage dreams and middle-aged male friendship as it is about music, which means, fortunately, that you don't have to be a metalhead to enjoy it.

Nov 20, 2020

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Anvil! The Story of Anvil is funny, poignant, tender and remarkably affirming of spending one's life chasing a dream.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 2, 2020

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Andrei D

It's weird how much emotion a band from Canada can create

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

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Ken C

I really wanted to like this movie, especially as it came so highly recommended to me. I was aware of Anvil around the time when the movie was released and read some of the press reviews, although I'd not heard of them up till that point. Fast forward 14 year, and I've finally gotten a chance to watch it. Afterwards, mu initial thoughts were mostly to do with questioning just how genuine everything was. Some of the scenes (the fight with the owner of the bar in Prague, when he told them they weren't getting paid and the bust-up between Steve and Robb at the recording studio) came across as a bit too contrived. Even the decision by Chris Tsangarides to produce a new album, after being out of contact for how long? I'm not suggesting that the two guys weren't struggling to get the show back on the road, but towards the end, everything seemed to fall into place a little too quickly for my liking, especially walking on stage to find themselves being greeted by thousands of screaming fans at the show in Tokyo. I dunno, maybe it's just the cynic in me but I definitely came away disappointed.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

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Kyle M

Hard rock fanatics would enjoy, as well intentionally discover, this ordinary rockumentary for a lesser-known band that wittily rocks relatability and independence. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

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Leaburn O

Felt painful to watch at times which really detracted from the enjoyment. Tough viewing. Watched on DVD.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/24

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Steve C

A tedious pastiche of cameos and a "This Is Spinal Tap" easter eggs. The first ten minutes was moderately funny, but after that there was nothing redeeming about this film. Crosses that fine line between clever and stupid.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/04/23

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Films On Blast F

caught this in the theater years ago and it was great then... just rewatched on cod for the first time since, and it is still great. check out this wonderful doc!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/09/23

Full Review

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Sacha Gervasi

Director

Steve "Lips" Kudlow

Steve Kudlow

Robb Reiner

Robb Reiner

Slash

Slash

Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich

Lemmy

Lemmy

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Synopsis

Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil delivered a highly influential 1982 album that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica, and then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity. Director and former roadie Sacha Gervasi follows guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour and reflect on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.

Director: Sacha Gervasi
Producer: Rebecca Yeldham
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Sacha Gervasi
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 10, 2009, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 2022
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 26, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $666.7K
Runtime: 1h 25m

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