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Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party

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Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party

Released Oct 17, 2024

1h 43m

Documentary

Music

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6 Reviews

99%

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250+ Verified Ratings

In 2024, the long-thought lost 16mm reels of Tom Petty in Cameron Crowe's first film, "Heartbreakers Beach Party", were finally found. The classic '80s documentary captures Tom Petty and the band in 1982-1983 as they finish, promote, and tour around the "Long After Dark" album (their final with legendary producer Jimmy Iovine). After its initial airing on MTV in 1983, the film was deemed too experimental and abruptly pulled from the air. In more than 40 years since, it has become folklore to fans, musicians and within the entertainment industry -- even credited with inspiring scenes in Spinal Tap. The highly anticipated and fully remastered "Heartbreakers Beach Party" is a fun, candid, fast paced, and musically rich ride with America's greatest rock & roll band, a time capsule of the dawn of the MTV era, and a rare and shining glimpse into Tom Petty's lasting creative genius.

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Audience Says

A candid glimpse at the Tom Petty’s Long After Dark tour in the ‘80s, Heartbreakers Beach Party is a time-traveling experience and a proper tribute to the rock-defying legend.

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Liz Shannon Miller

Consequence

Crowe has learned how to seem like the band’s friend, which makes the film’s most honest and revealing moments possible. But there’s still enough fan in him for the film to ultimately feel like a celebration of their work.

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Of course, the music is the main attraction and that’s served well, with long chunks of performance footage that aren’t sliced and diced as much as they would be in a contemporary rock doc.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

Johnny Loftus

Decider

Beach Party is for the most part a very good time, since you can tell throughout that Petty and the Heartbreakers themselves were having a very good.

Mar 12, 2025

Full Review

Terry Staunton

Radio Times

It's an insightful portrait into both the building blocks of a great rock band and the music-business hurdles they faced along the way.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 25, 2024

Full Review

Peter Sobczynski

Auteurist Class (Substack)

For fans of Petty and Crowe alike, it is a must that shows both at key moments in the evolutions of their respective artistic journeys

Oct 18, 2024

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Erin Free

FILMINK (Australia)

It’s a terrific time capsule capturing an essential American band at a key point in their long and winding career.

Rated: 18.5/20

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

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silent b

so great basically watching a music video in all the right ways

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/25

Full Review

Carrie

I thought the documentary was very informative. I throughly enjoyed it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/24

Full Review

ELIZABETH G

Captivating, real, so much background. Loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/24

Full Review

Hamilton H

A must-see for fans. Go back in time to an amazing era for the band, full of TPs great sense of humor.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/28/24

Full Review

Gregory

A nice glimpse into that period for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/24

Full Review

Karen Cheek

As a huge Tom Petty fan, I enjoyed every moment of this documentary, from private moments to public performances, it was absolutely wonderful! Thank you, Cameron Crowe! Tom Petty forever ❤️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/23/24

Full Review

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Cameron Crowe

Director

Doug Dowdle

Director

Phil Savenick

Director

Tom Petty

Self

Cameron Crowe

Self

Mike Campbell

Self

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Synopsis

In 2024, the long-thought lost 16mm reels of Tom Petty in Cameron Crowe's first film, "Heartbreakers Beach Party", were finally found. The classic '80s documentary captures Tom Petty and the band in 1982-1983 as they finish, promote, and tour around the "Long After Dark" album (their final with legendary producer Jimmy Iovine). After its initial airing on MTV in 1983, the film was deemed too experimental and abruptly pulled from the air. In more than 40 years since, it has become folklore to fans, musicians and within the entertainment industry -- even credited with inspiring scenes in Spinal Tap. The highly anticipated and fully remastered "Heartbreakers Beach Party" is a fun, candid, fast paced, and musically rich ride with America's greatest rock & roll band, a time capsule of the dawn of the MTV era, and a rare and shining glimpse into Tom Petty's lasting creative genius.

Director: Cameron Crowe, Doug Dowdle, Phil Savenick
Producer: Phil Savenick, Cameron Crowe, Adria Petty, Greg Mariotti, Sarah Haber
Distributor: Trafalgar Releasing
Production Co: Levels Audio Post
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 11, 2025
Runtime: 1h 43m

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