Marley (2012)
94%RT Audience Score: 90%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
1 win & 8 nominations total
Kevin Macdonald’s exhaustive, evenhanded portrait of Bob Marley offers electrifying concert footage and fascinating insights into reggae’s greatest star.
If you’re a fan of Bob Marley, you’ll definitely want to check out “Marley.” It’s a documentary that gives you a glimpse into the life of the man behind the music. You’ll get to see footage of his concerts, hear stories from his family and friends, and learn about the impact he had on the world. Plus, you’ll get to hear some of his greatest hits, which is always a good thing. Overall, it’s a great way to spend a couple of hours and get to know one of the most iconic musicians of all time.
Production Company(ies)
Shangri-La Entertainment, Tuff Gong Pictures, Cowboy Films,
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for drug content, thematic elements and some violent images
Year of Release
2012
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 24m
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Language(s):English, French, German
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Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 20, 2012 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2012
Genre(s)
Documentary/Music
Keyword(s)
Bob Marley, documentary, music, Kevin Macdonald, Steve Bing, Charles Steel, PG-13, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1), $1.4M, reviewed by Radheyan Simonpillai, Brad Wheeler, Peter Howell, Dwight Brown, Scott Bowles, Peter Margasak, Nicolás Delgadillo, Jordan M Smith, Michael Calleri, Grace Williams, Kyle Bain, PJ Nabarro, Patrick Nabarro, starring Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Cedella Marley, Rita Marley, Chris Blackwell, directed by Kevin Macdonald, written by Kevin Macdonald, produced by Steve Bing, Charles Steel, Magnolia Pictures
Worldwide gross: $3,842,919
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,954,385
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,180
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 540,282
US/Canada gross: $1,413,480
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,822,293
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,057
US/Canada opening weekend: $262,004
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $337,782
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,506
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Ziggy Marley – Self
Jimmy Cliff – Self
Cedella Marley – Self
Rita Marley – Self
Chris Blackwell – Self
Director(s)
Kevin Macdonald
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Steve Bing, Charles Steel
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
1 win & 8 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (114) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (6)
Marley aficionados will be astonished by the depth and breadth of the documentary, which portrays the musician known as Tuff Gong as both a fallible man and an untouchable legend.
May 18, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Radheyan Simonpillai
NOW Toronto
TOP CRITIC
Marley is highly watchable, finely crafted legacy preservation – and it’s either a white-washed sham or awesomely shaded.
May 18, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Brad Wheeler
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
It wants to show us the man behind the famous dreads, beatific smile and durable songs of love, hope and longing. In this task it succeeds admirably.
May 17, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
You’ll walk away from this ambitious documentary longing to hear Marley’s voice again (thank heaven for iTunes) and with a deep respect for a man.
April 24, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
Sprinkled with riffs, concert footage and home videos, the family-authorized documentary does what the artist usually did: When in doubt, return to the beat.
April 20, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
Scott Bowles
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
Macdonald supplies some interesting and novel details about the musician’s life and art, though the movie’s narrative arc and documentary methods are totally predictable.
April 20, 2012
Peter Margasak
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A wonderful, in-depth look at one of music’s most important figures.
June 25, 2021 | Rating: 3.5 / 5
Nicolás Delgadillo
Discussing Film
While not the most inventive or efficient bio-doc, Macdonald’s feature serves as the most complete visual record of Marley’s legacy, and for that alone it deserves a view or two.
November 19, 2020
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
When “Marley” was originally released, the rare concert footage and previously unheard music tracks were an exuberantly received revelation.
August 9, 2020
Michael Calleri
Niagara Gazette
A must-see documentary for Bob Marley fans, but also for fans of politics and making positive change.
August 4, 2020
Grace Williams
Battle Royale With Cheese
Marley is a one-of-a-kind documentary with impeccable pacing, beautiful visuals, and honest storytellers willing to deliver even the most unwelcome information.
July 30, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Kyle Bain
Film Threat
Macdonald makes the easy – but understandable – decision to chart a layman’s whistlestop tour through the major events and turning points of Marley’s life.
April 28, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
PJ Nabarro
Patrick Nabarro…
Plot
The documentary “Marley” tells the life story of musician and revolutionary Bob Marley, from his early days to international superstardom, featuring rare footage, performances, and interviews.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary Marley features interviews with Bob Marley’s family, friends, and colleagues, as well as rare concert footage and previously unheard music tracks.
Kevin-Macdonald.jpg
