The World According to Allee Willis

Play trailer

The World According to Allee Willis

Released Nov 15

1h 37m

Documentary

Biography

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Take one look at award-winning songwriter / artist Allee Willis and you see someone unafraid to be themselves. Dressed in a cacophony of prints and colors, her signature asymmetrical haircut and famed parties at her real-life Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Allee didn't waste any opportunity to tell you what she was about. But privately, Allee struggled with not fitting established gender and sexual norms. She buried herself in her work, until true love manifested her ultimate masterpiece -- self-acceptance. Allee began filming her life in 1950s Detroit and never stopped. This film is the realization of her wish that her "final art piece be someone putting together the trail I have left behind."

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Marya E. Gates

RogerEbert.com

This is one of the few celebrity docs I’ve seen in the last few years that is just as interesting as the subject itself, and made me wish we did live in Willis’ maximalist, art-forward world.

Nov 23, 2024

Full Review

Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

But this is not really a documentary about revealing secrets — and thank goodness for that.

Nov 20, 2024

Full Review

Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

The zesty, illuminating “The World According to Allee Willis” feels like what the showbiz biodoc was meant for, to give voice to someone who was so much more than a ubiquitous album-sleeve credit.

Nov 18, 2024

Full Review

Manuel Betancourt

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It's a lovely documentary to dive into.

Dec 5, 2024

Full Review

Lael Loewenstein

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Wow, this is a fascinating and weird person to make a movie about... You do get a sense that she's a really unique, amazing person.

Dec 5, 2024

Full Review

Linda and Al Lerner

Movies and Shakers

Director Alexis Spraic structures a fascinating documentary out of 10,000 hours of video material to consolidate Allee’s bold, unvarnished tribute to herself as an imaginative, driven and talented art, music and tech genius, way ahead of her time.

Dec 3, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Elizabeth

She was a force of nature and it's too bad. no one knew about her before her death

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

DAVID

Went to see this show as my spouse is a cousin, albeit a distant one, of Allee. It was an eye opener for the both of us. What an amazing talent she was, and how forward thinking about the possible uses of the internet and the then to be born www long before the internet allowed folks to display their creativity and become "influencers" ....and the music she wrote and produced and her accomplishments were amazing and not as appreciated as they deserved in her short life. The entire movie was riveting to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

Full Review

Lee B

This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It is so well done. I loved getting to know Allee and see her life. She is so inspiring. I cried because it was so moving. Its fun, touching, honest and a great history lesson. Watch this!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/24/24

Full Review

Robert C

Fabulous, inspiring, utterly charming documentary about an incredible artistic genius. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, engrossed in every scene. Don't miss this one!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/22/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Alexis Spraic

Director

Allee Willis

Self

Pamela Adlon

Self

Bruce Vilanch

Self

Mark Mothersbaugh

Self

Brenda Russell

Self

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Synopsis

Take one look at award-winning songwriter / artist Allee Willis and you see someone unafraid to be themselves. Dressed in a cacophony of prints and colors, her signature asymmetrical haircut and famed parties at her real-life Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Allee didn't waste any opportunity to tell you what she was about. But privately, Allee struggled with not fitting established gender and sexual norms. She buried herself in her work, until true love manifested her ultimate masterpiece -- self-acceptance. Allee began filming her life in 1950s Detroit and never stopped. This film is the realization of her wish that her "final art piece be someone putting together the trail I have left behind."

Director: Alexis Spraic
Producer: Alexis Spraic, Nicholas Coles
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 22, 2024
Runtime: 1h 37m

Most Popular at Home Now