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Sound City

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Sound City

Released Feb 1, 2013

1h 48m

Documentary

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

44 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Artists and producers highlight the history of the recording studio in Van Nuys, Calif., and discuss the impact of music in the age of technology.

Critics Consensus

Smart, affectionate, and unabashedly sincere, Sound City pairs a great soundtrack with a well-argued ode to one of rock 'n' roll's most fondly remembered bygone eras.

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

In Sound City, a raucous yet sweetly romantic documentary, dinosaurs do indeed rock the Earth again.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 1, 2014

Full Review

A.A. Dowd

Time Out Chicago

When getting into the nitty-gritty of tapes and tracks, Grohl makes a strong case for music docs directed by musicians.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 16, 2013

Full Review

Melissa Maerz

Entertainment Weekly

Dave Grohl's terrific new doc, Sound City, profiles the studio where some of the greatest music of the past four decades was born.

Rated: B+

Dec 16, 2013

Full Review

Kelly Jane Torrance

Washington Examiner

Sound City ends up being an exciting look at the making of music.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 15, 2018

Full Review

Benjamin H. Smith

Decider

Sound City is filled with the kind of stories that make music nerds weak in the knees.

Jan 24, 2018

Full Review

Britt Hayes

ScreenCrush

While there's an abundance of information and stories to be told, Sound City at times becomes almost as idle as its aging idols.

Rated: 6/10

Mar 16, 2017

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Pete B

Dave Grohl is just the best. This documentary is pure love letter to music and the magic that happens when real musicians play together. The old-school recording stories are gold, and the soundtrack they put together at the end is unreal.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

Full Review

Frank S

If you are from the generation that lived through the 60's - 90's music scene - this doc is a beautiful trip through a significant time in musical history. If you are a new kid and you like music or if you want to be a musician ---- see this and learn about the way real music is created.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/24

Full Review

Gareth v

A passionate doco and an ode to one of the most famed and influential music studios of it's time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

Diego M

Buena la historia del estudio de grabación, pero al final se ponen muy viejos chotos con el audio digital. Dejen de ver el pasado. Viejos chotos.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Such an amazing music documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A really great doc, kind of hard to follow in the beginning but overall amazing. So heartfelt and honest and tells a great history.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Dave Grohl

Director

Frank Black

Actor

Lindsey Buckingham

Actor

Tim Commerford

Actor

Kevin Cronin

Actor

Rivers Cuomo

Actor

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Synopsis

Artists and producers highlight the history of the recording studio in Van Nuys, Calif., and discuss the impact of music in the age of technology.

Director: Dave Grohl
Producer: Dave Grohl, John Ramsay, James A. Rota
Screenwriter: Mark Monroe
Production Co: Therapy Content, Roswell Films
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 1, 2013, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 27, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $422.4K
Runtime: 1h 48m