20 Feet From Stardom (2013)
91%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
21 wins & 27 nominations total
Rich, insightful, and occasionally heartbreaking, 20 Feet From Stardom is an energetic tribute to the passion, talent, and hard work of backup singers.
If you’re a fan of music and the unsung heroes behind the stars, then 20 Feet From Stardom is the documentary for you. It’s a celebration of the incredible voices that have been the backbone of some of the biggest hits in music history, but also sheds light on the harsh realities of the industry. From failed solo careers to manipulation by record executives, these women have faced it all. But despite the challenges, their love and devotion to music shines through. So sit back, turn up the volume, and prepare to be moved by the heavenly soundtrack and the stories of these incredible singers.
Production Company(ies)
Dreamworks Pictures, Pacific Data Images Dream Works Animation,
Distributor
Radius TWC
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for some strong language and sexual material
Year of Release
2013
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2014
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring, directed by, written by, documentary, PG-13, box office, budget, reviewed by, produced by, Morgan Neville, Gil Friesen, Caitrin Rogers, Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, David Bowie, Ray Charles, Sheryl Crow, Lou Adler, Patti Austin, Chris Botti, music industry, backup singers, talent, hard work, passion, hit-making, tribute, insight, heartbreaking, disconnection, Mick Jagger, soundtrack, pensiveness, point of view, illuminating, entertaining, joyous, uplifting, failed solo careers, manipulation, record executives, appreciation, talent and stardom, music creation, Grammy, animal sounds, Waters family, Skiffle band, background singers, famous artists, inspirational, linear story, feel-good, motivation, Oscars, horror movies, MCU, Netflix series, TV shows, streaming movies, box office performance, audience score, critic consensus, distributor, release date
Worldwide gross: $5,839,368
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,418,030
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,055
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 808,945
US/Canada gross: $4,946,445
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,283,707
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,745
US/Canada opening weekend: $54,596
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $69,356
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,088
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,270,348
Production budget ranking: 2,073
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $684,082
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,463,599
ROI to date (est.): 280%
ROI ranking: 483
Ray Charles – Self
Sheryl Crow – Self
Lou Adler – Self
Patti Austin – Self
Chris Botti – Self
Director(s)
Morgan Neville
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Gil Friesen, Caitrin Rogers, Morgan Neville
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
21 wins & 27 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Documentary Feature Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (128) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (127) | Rotten (1)
The movie pays a long-overdue tribute to their glorious pipes, but also engages with the disconnection between talent and stardom, and while it isn’t exactly an exposé of the music industry, infuriating details emerge.
August 28, 2019
Amy Taubin
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Artists including Mick Jagger talk about their backing singers — and the soundtrack is, of course, heavenly.
January 1, 2018
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
While there are moments in the film awkwardly placed to achieve moments of pensiveness from the talent, what it does well is offers a point of view where there wasn’t before.
September 5, 2017 | Rating: B+
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
As illuminating as it is thoroughly entertaining.
March 7, 2017
Dwight Brown
National Newspaper Publishers Association
TOP CRITIC
Joyous and uplifting …
March 30, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It celebrates these women’s… genuine, selfless love and devotion to the music itself. And to hear that in an era of get-fame-quick shows such as The Voice, where ‘tuning’ stars’ voices is standard practice, gives you a genuine glow.
March 28, 2014 | Rating: 4/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
I’ve found myself wholly involved, enthralled by these incredible singers and moved by their stories of unappreciated talent.
November 12, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jordan M. Smith
IONCINEMA.com
If you’re a fan of any songs from 1950s onwards, you’re going to want to watch this.
November 6, 2020
Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
There is also the reality that many face of failed solo careers, manipulation by record executives and even a lack of appreciation from the same artists whose music they help create.
October 11, 2020
Stephanie Chapman
Pop Culture Leftovers
It is a bit ironic that the film we could have seen is somewhere to the side of this one, probably no more than 20 feet away.
August 27, 2019 | Rating: C+
Ryan Syrek
The Reader (Omaha, NE)
Both a sight for sore eyes, and a clearing of blocked ears.
July 3, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
No murders or revolutions necessary in this well-constructed and moving exploration of great talents who deserve their dues.
June 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Calum Baker
One Room With A View…
Plot
The backup singer exists in a strange place in the pop music world; they are always in the shadow of the feature artists even when they are in front of them in concert while they provide a vital foundation for the music. Through interviews with veterans and concert footage, the history of these predominately African-American singers is explored through the rock era. Furthermore, special focus is given to special stand outs who endeavored to make a living in the art burdened with a low profile and more personal career frustrations, especially those who faced the very different challenge of singing in the spotlight themselves.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features interviews with famous artists such as David Bowie, Ray Charles, and Sheryl Crow.
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