Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
88%RT Audience Score: 83%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 4 nominations
Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how Metallica survives one of their more turbulent periods
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” is a documentary that will make you feel like you’re in the band, without actually having to play an instrument or deal with their egos. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from fragility and fear to cursing and auditions. You’ll get to witness the band at their lowest point, but also see the beauty in their understanding of the music business and fan base. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or know nothing about Metallica, this film will rock you to your core.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Giants Stadium, Meadowlands Sports Complex – 50 State Highway 120, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2004
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
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Runtime:2h 20m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2004 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2005
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Metallica, Some Kind of Monster, documentary, 2h 20m, directed by Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky, produced by Bruce Sinofsky, Joe Berlinger, starring Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Bob Rock, Phil Towle, genre, heavy metal, band, therapy, personal demons, replacement bass player, new album, behind-the-scenes, turbulent period, repressed anger, aggression, box office performance, budget, $1.2M, MPAA rating, R, reviewed by J.R Jones, Liese Spencer, Marrit Ingman, Jeannette Catsoulis, Jamie Russell, Chris Riemenschneider, Brian Costello, Nick Rogers, Jay Antani, Joe Lozito, Bill Clark, Ethan Alter, audience score, 83%, critic score, 88%, distributor, IFC Films, sound mix, surround
Worldwide gross: $1,980,444
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,124,124
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,306
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 340,690
US/Canada gross: $1,222,708
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,928,805
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,044
US/Canada opening weekend: $46,359
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $73,131
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,059
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
James Hetfield – Self
Dave Mustaine – Self
Jason Newsted – Self
Bob Rock – Self
Phil Towle – Self
Director(s)
Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Bruce Sinofsky, Joe Berlinger
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (123) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (15)
Snippets of the band’s brutally percussive music punctuate the endless encounter sessions, which expose the musicians’ boundless self-absorption…
June 29, 2022
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
March 7, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Liese Spencer
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
September 19, 2004 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The real beauty of “Metallica” is its understanding of a business, and a fan base, that provide no way to age gracefully while retaining musical credibility.
September 9, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Jeannette Catsoulis
Las Vegas Mercury
TOP CRITIC
Whether you know everything or nothing about Metallica, it will rock you.
September 4, 2004 | Rating: 5/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Fans of the band will love the revealing footage, especially landmark moments such as bassist auditions (more famous names showed up than the one they picked) and encounters with the ex-Metallica members (Newsted and Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine).
August 19, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Chris Riemenschneider
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Raw docu shows band at a low point; frequent cursing.
April 25, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Brian Costello
Common Sense Media
A mostly terrific documentary about a mostly terrible album. Despite derisory poor-me whining, it captures fragility and fear in Metallica’s questioned relevancy, considered disbandment and the closest things to tears they can muster for each other.
September 19, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Nick Rogers
The Film Yap
An entertaining and penetrating look at the creative process
August 20, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Jay Antani
Cinema Writer
December 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster is a masterpiece of rock ‘n roll documentary filmmaking, and has set the bar high for those who attempt it in the future.
June 21, 2005 | Rating: A
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony
March 5, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic…
Plot
Some Kind of Monster is a music documentary about Metallica’s making of their album St. Anger and the difficulties they had to go through in the process. The directors shot over 1200 hours and followed the band around night and day for over a year to create this documentary.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features Metallica band members Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Bob Rock, and Phil Towle.
Joe-Berlinger.jpg
