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Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

Play trailer Poster for Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars PG Released Jan 1, 1983 1h 31m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker focuses his lens on a 1973 concert by David Bowie, who performs under the moniker Ziggy Stardust with his glam-rock backing band, the Spiders From Mars. While some backstage footage of the theatrical singer-songwriter is featured, the majority of the film is devoted to the music played onstage, which includes hits, album cuts and covers of Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground songs. Bowie also shocks fans by announcing his intention to drop the Stardust persona.

Critics Reviews

View All (41) Critics Reviews
Derek Malcolm Guardian The concert's the thing, and there we see this amazing phenomenon in full glory, prancing like some vaguely benign princeling at his hypnotised fellowers' behest. Aug 20, 2021 Full Review Gwilym Mumford Guardian The moment where Bowie announces that this is "the last show that we'll ever do", to the screams and groans of the audience (most of whom assumed it was he, not Ziggy, who was retiring) remains utterly bracing. Rated: 4/5 Mar 2, 2017 Full Review J. R. Jones Chicago Reader It's not clear whether Pennebaker understands what it's about-he can only grope for a visual equivalent with cliched shots of overwhelmed fans. Apr 14, 2016 Full Review Alejandro Alemán El Universal This document is a testament of the past, when things were done differently: The funny clothes, technical mishaps, AV effects and the fortunate non-existence of smartphones blocking the experience. [Full Review in Spanish] Apr 8, 2016 Full Review Alonso Díaz de la Vega El Universal This film is a piece of cultural memorabilia that, more so than capturing a significant concert, recreates what being David Bowie was at that time, and above all, looking at him. [Full Review in Spanish] Apr 6, 2016 Full Review Jennie Kermode Eye for Film Indisputably one of the greatest concert films ever made, DA Pennebaker's striking work captures those last moments onstage in all their glory. Rated: 5/5 Feb 22, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (100) audience reviews
OHK P Wonderful film dispite its age. Captures the moment in David Bowie history wonderfully. Also love the before concert and in between music parts Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Saw this at the infamous Queen Theater back in the day. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely I love this film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A landmark documentary about a landmark show. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Decent capture of David Bowie at his creative, flamboyant best. Good concert, and it's not all about Bowie. Mick Ronson's guitaring almost steals the show. Interesting behind-the-scenes footage adds a new, more personal, aspect to the live concert genre. Could have done with more of that though, as the behind-the-scenes stuff is fleeting, and sometimes seems token. Maybe some footage of practices and sound checks, or interviews with Bowie, would have been in order. Not perfect though. Production quality is quite raw and rough. Sound quality is variable. A must-see for all David Bowie fans. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member I wish so hard i could have been there Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

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Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

D.A. Pennebaker

Director

David Bowie

Ziggy Stardust

Mick Ronson

Self

Trevor Bolder

Self

Mick Woodmansy

Self

Angela Bowie

Self

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Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

DAVID BOWIE as ZIGGY STARDUST. DAVID BOWIE as ZIGGY STARDUST. DAVID BOWIE as ZIGGY STARDUST. DAVID BOWIE as ZIGGY STARDUST. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1973) Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1973) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker focuses his lens on a 1973 concert by David Bowie, who performs under the moniker Ziggy Stardust with his glam-rock backing band, the Spiders From Mars. While some backstage footage of the theatrical singer-songwriter is featured, the majority of the film is devoted to the music played onstage, which includes hits, album cuts and covers of Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground songs. Bowie also shocks fans by announcing his intention to drop the Stardust persona.
Director
D.A. Pennebaker
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Miramax Films, Pennebaker Productions, Mainman
Rating
PG
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 1983, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Jul 9, 2023
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 24, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$162.5K
Runtime
1h 31m