Stop Making Sense

Play trailer

1:50

Stop Making Sense

PG

Released Oct 18, 1984

1h 28m

Documentary

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

97%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Filmmaker Jonathan Demme captures Talking Heads and an ecstatic ensemble of musicians at their exhilarating best in this iconic live performance.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Jonathan Demme's Stop Making Sense captures the energetic, unpredictable live act of peak Talking Heads with color and visual wit.

Read Critics Reviews

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Bring the lights down, and it's just like a [live] performance. I promise you.

Oct 4, 2023

Full Review

Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Everyone plays out of their skin but Byrne is the inspired star, hitting himself in the face, doing laps of the stage and reappearing for Girlfriend Is Better in his famous giant suit.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 25, 2023

Full Review

Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

The movie is the finest imaginable version of the Talking Heads’ Speaking in Tongues tour. The concert’s physical staging elements, introduced in pieces and segments, with elegant and wryly suggestive words, create an aura of pristine unease.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Calum Baker

Radio Times

Above all, the film is downright fun: a showcase for nine talented musicians enjoying themselves on stage, and itself an immersive expression of creative joy.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 6, 2024

Full Review

Johnny Loftus

Decider

Stop Making Sense is all killer, no filler.

May 3, 2024

Full Review

Yago García

Cinemanía (Spain)

One of the best concert films in history in the cinema. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/5

Mar 7, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Phish P

Just a joyful musical experience. I can't stop watching this. So fun. I put it at the top. I'm a TH fan so may be a little biased but I danced in my living room the whole time. My son got into it too.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/25

Full Review

Rami A

This is the type of film that you can just enjoy for the music, but with a cinema sound system.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

Ben W

I stayed for five tunes. One was sublime. Boppenheimer, ok.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

Full Review

Craig W.

Probably the best video of a concert around

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

Full Review

Gareth v

While Taylor Swift & Beyonce maybe pull out all the bells & whistles to dazzle their viewers, they are a souless mess when compared to this masterpiece. To this day it still remains the greatest concert movie made and the benchmark to which all others are judged. Captivating, brilliant and intoxicating.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/19/25

Full Review

Lucas F

The best of the best when it comes to live recordings, and it doesn’t fail as an album either. Simply Peak.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jonathan Demme

Director

David Byrne

Self

Chris Frantz

Self

Jerry Harrison

Self

Tina Weymouth

Self

Ednah Holt

Self

The Last Waltz

98%

94%

The Last Waltz

Watchlist

Neil Young: Heart of Gold

90%

78%

Neil Young: Heart of Gold

Watchlist

It Might Get Loud

79%

85%

It Might Get Loud

Watchlist

Naqoyqatsi

48%

70%

Naqoyqatsi

Watchlist

Wild Man Blues

86%

66%

Wild Man Blues

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Edgar Wright Shares 10 Of His Favorite Music Documentaries

What I’m Watching: With Tim Gunn

What I’m Watching: With Alex Gibney

Stop Making Sense: 40th Anniversary Re-Release Trailer

1:50

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Filmmaker Jonathan Demme captures Talking Heads and an ecstatic ensemble of musicians at their exhilarating best in this iconic live performance.

Director: Jonathan Demme
Producer: Gary Goetzman
Screenwriter: Jonathan Demme, Talking Heads
Production Co: Arnold Stiefel Company, Talking Heads
Rating: PG (Brief Suggestive Material)
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1984, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 29, 2023
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.0M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now