Sample This

Play trailer

Sample This

Released Sep 13, 2013

1h 25m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

The creation of one of the most influential albums in popular music.

Watch on Prime Video

Stream Now

Odie Henderson

RogerEbert.com

For a documentary filled with such joyous, danceable beats, there's still a note of sadness playing through Sample This.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 13, 2013

Full Review

Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

This improbably fascinating documentary will be manna from heaven to pop culture devotees.

Sep 13, 2013

Full Review

Mark Jenkins

Washington Post

The movie provides a vivid sense of the period, as well as an intriguing backstage look at the making of improbable pop classics.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 12, 2013

Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

Sample This is a jaw-dropping true story.

Nov 30, 2021

Full Review

Christopher Schobert

The Playlist

...it is hard to walk away too disappointed when the stories are this fascinating-and when the music is this triumphant.

Rated: B

Oct 11, 2013

Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Not nearly as moving, crowd-pleasing or powerful as Searching for Sugar Man or Standing in the Shadows of Motown, but it's nonetheless an insightful, slick and engaging music doc for fans of hip-hop.

Rated: 7.5/10

Sep 15, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

georgan g

Some good riffs but overall not much there.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fascinating documentary about hiphop and the studio music world. All of the music you heard but didn't know who played it. Definitely worth watching..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's an interesting story about the producer, the musicians and the music in general. For me though, I'm a bit disappointed because they don't discuss the actual recording of "Apache". They process of putting the musicians together, what brought it on and the song's impact is discussed. But they don't talk about HOW the song was recorded at all. I was interested in that, and I didn't get it. I recommend this film, but it's not as stong a recommendation as I would have liked it to be.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

ma'ark t

Probably only for those who love learning the story behind music. True Hip Hop fans will love.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A great musical education about what is essentially the origin story of hip hop. Fascinating.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Just had nothing for me. Guess you have to really know/care about the subject to enjoy it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Dan Forrer

Director

Gene Simmons

Narrator

Dan Forrer

Screenwriter

Bob Burris

Producer

Tara Larsen

Producer

Philip Hurn

Cinematographer

As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM

100%

88%

As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM

Watchlist

Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me

92%

83%

Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me

Watchlist

Milius

94%

87%

Milius

Watchlist

Jobriath A.D.

64%

58%

Jobriath A.D.

Watchlist

These Amazing Shadows

75%

85%

These Amazing Shadows

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

The creation of one of the most influential albums in popular music.

Director: Dan Forrer
Producer: Bob Burris, Tara Larsen
Screenwriter: Dan Forrer
Distributor: GoDigital Media Group
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 25m

Most Popular at Home Now