David Byrne’s American Utopia (2020)
92%RT Audience Score: 86%
Awards & Nominations: Won 2 Primetime Emmys
4 wins & 18 nominations total
Helmed in elegant and exhilarating style by Spike Lee, David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film that doubles as a joyously cathartic celebration.
David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film that will make you want to dance, sing, and maybe even start a revolution. Spike Lee and Byrne have created a visually stunning and thought-provoking performance that celebrates the power of community and the importance of hope. It’s a show that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired, and maybe even a little bit more optimistic about the future. So put on your dancing shoes and get ready to join the party, because American Utopia is a must-see for anyone who loves music, art, and the human spirit.
Production Company(ies)
Tremolo Productions,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Hudson Theatre – 141 W. 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
TV-14
Year of Release
2020
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Oct 17, 2020
Genre(s)
Musical
Keyword(s)
David Byrne, American Utopia, Spike Lee, musical, concert film, Broadway, international musicians, executive producer, Len Blavatnik, Meredith Bennett, David Bither, MPAA rating, critic reviews, Tim Robey, Simran Hans, Clarisse Loughrey, Beth Webb, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Kevin Maher, Cory Woodroof, Brian Eggert, Christopher Bourne, Jason Shawhan, Dan Stubbs, Witney Seibold, audience reviews, horror movies, Netflix series, MCU movies, TV shows, box office performance, budget, producer names, reviewed by, written by, directed by, starring
Worldwide gross: $275,304
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $314,167
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,843
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 34,260
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
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
Spike Lee – Director
Meredith Bennett – Executive Producer
David Bither – Executive Producer
Len Blavatnik – Executive Producer
David Byrne – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Spike Lee
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 2 Primetime Emmys
4 wins & 18 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (137) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (134) | Rotten (3)
What they’ve managed to do is create a permanent record of this amazing show, which I think will go down as one of the most meticulously crafted and contemplated performances by a major musician in history.
March 13, 2021
Tim Robey
Monocle
TOP CRITIC
Director Spike Lee and musician David Byrne have created a crowd-pleaser with this spry concert film of Byrne’s 2018 tour turned Broadway performance.
December 19, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It would have been a miraculous celebration of neighbourly love even if it hadn’t been released in the middle of a pandemic. But, in these circumstances, that sense of temporary relief feels intoxicating.
December 17, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Clarisse Loughrey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Bolstered by Lee’s trenchant, intimate direction, Byrne reframes a peerless setlist of songs as a testament to hope and humanity that implores himself and his audience to keep going.
December 17, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Beth Webb
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This is Byrne’s show, but it’s also Lee’s tale of the unexpected. Enjoy.
December 11, 2020 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
A little dose of David Byrne, unless you’re a devoted Talking Heads fan, can go a long way.
December 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A sonic beam of joy and relief.
March 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
Williamson Home Page
American Utopia acknowledges that comfort zones sometimes need to be breached to make progress as a whole, that we all need to get better at dealing with our social anxieties, presumptions, and empathizing with others.
February 17, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
One of the most transcendent experiences to be found on any size of screen this year.
September 26, 2021
Christopher Bourne
In Review Online
…Spike Lee and David Byrne work very well together in this mordant, magnificent document of a Broadway performance of American Utopia…
September 9, 2021
Jason Shawhan
Nashville Scene
New York’s finest team up for a greatest hits extravaganza that doubles as one of 2020’s best films…
May 18, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Dan Stubbs
NME
Terse, almost frills-free filmmaking from Lee results in a show about something that has been in short supply: Hope.
April 22, 2021
Witney Seibold
Critically Acclaimed Podcast…
Plot
David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film directed by Spike Lee, featuring singer David Byrne and a group of international musicians performing songs from the hit Broadway musical “American Utopia.”
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film featuring singer David Byrne and a group of international musicians.
Spike-Lee.jpg
