The Velvet Underground | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      The Velvet Underground

      R Released Oct 15, 2021 1 hr. 50 min. Documentary Music TRAILER for The Velvet Underground: Trailer 1 List
      98% 133 Reviews Tomatometer 80% 100+ Ratings Audience Score The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock 'n' roll's most revered bands. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes, "The Velvet Underground" shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literary yet realistic; rooted in high art and street culture. The film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with a treasure trove of never-before-seen performances and a rich collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band's creative ethos: "how to be elegant and how to be brutal." Read More Read Less

      Where to Watch

      The Velvet Underground

      Apple TV+

      Watch The Velvet Underground with a subscription on Apple TV+.

      The Velvet Underground

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      The Velvet Underground takes a fittingly idiosyncratic approach to delivering a rock documentary that captures the band as well as its era.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (15) audience reviews
      faith I love box office man Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/04/21 Full Review Torin F VELVET UNDERGROUND effectively invokes the experimental nature of the band in relating their story and enduring legacy, creating an interesting portrait of both the band and the era that informs and entertains, whether you're a fan or not. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/24 Full Review Gareth v A confession first, I'm a huge fan of The Velvet Underground. This movie really focuses closely on the influences, relationships, and musical processes, The Velvet Underground developed in their short and influencial reign. Some great archival footage, and most of the talking heads are amazing, and give us a real feel of the 1960's - 70's NYC art scene. One of 2021's best movies. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/17/23 Full Review marc a Todd Haynes deft directorial touch, great raw footage, storytelling and the sublime talent of the Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol make for a crowning achievement. The meteoric rise and fall of this pioneering underground band is very interesting and speaks to the torturous genius of Lou Reed. The great candid interviews with stakeholders rounds out film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Shioka O Well-made VU appreciation documentary. I'm not a big fan of them, but could see til the end because editing is good. Music is great of course, and visually inspiring. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/23 Full Review brian c Very good archival digging but borders on being a hagiography. There was a lot of resistance to the the VU during their career from critics thinking of them as "Warhol's pet band" to labelmate Zappa's dig at them on some issues of "We're Only In It for the Money". You wouldn't know any of that from this doc that presents them as a progressive rock band too hip for the public. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Discover

      Best Movies to Stream at Home

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      % % Fern Brady: Autistic Bikini Queen % % Tiger % % Hip-Hop and The White House % % Tigers on the Rise 88% 84% Monkey Man TRAILER for Monkey Man 93% % Something You Said Last Night % % Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part Two % 92% La Cha Cha % % The Moon and Back % % Max Beyond Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Movie News & Guides

      View All Movie News & Guides

      This movie is featured in the following articles.

      Awards Leaderboard: Top Movies of 2021 The Six Best Films We Saw at the Cannes Film Festival

      Videos

      View All videos

      The Velvet Underground

      The Velvet Underground: Trailer 1 The Velvet Underground: Trailer 1 2:15 View more videos

      Photos

      View All The Velvet Underground photos

      The Velvet Underground

      The Velvet Underground (2021) The Velvet Underground (2021) The Velvet Underground (2021) The Velvet Underground (2021) The Velvet Underground (2021) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (133) Critics Reviews
      J. Hoberman Tablet Without belaboring the point, The Velvet Underground also makes the case for Warhol’s enduring significance. Mar 25, 2022 Full Review Peter Howell Toronto Star This bracing collage is pure rock bliss and a poke in the eye to old-style storytelling. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 22, 2021 Full Review Chris Waywell Time Out If you already love the Velvet Underground, this is two hours of visual and aural bliss. If you don't, same. Rated: 5/5 Dec 3, 2021 Full Review Christopher Connor FILMHOUNDS Magazine The Velvet Underground is a solid and well-made showcase of the group and will surely please diehards and may offer an opportunity for beginners to dive into the group's back catalogue. Rated: 4/5 Jul 19, 2023 Full Review Chris Robe PopMatters In The Velvet Underground documentary, Todd Haynes shows the music catapulting across time and space to Andy Warhol’s Factory, where the alchemy worked its magic. Jan 14, 2023 Full Review Daniel Howat Next Best Picture Haynes' use of the documentary medium is as remarkable as one might expect from the acclaimed director. The use of sound and image revolts against the traditions of the music documentaries genre, opting instead for an appropriately creative journey. Rated: 7/10 May 20, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock 'n' roll's most revered bands. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes, "The Velvet Underground" shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literary yet realistic; rooted in high art and street culture. The film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with a treasure trove of never-before-seen performances and a rich collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band's creative ethos: "how to be elegant and how to be brutal."
      Director
      Todd Haynes
      Executive Producer
      Michele Anthony, Danny Bennett, Pamela Koffler, John Sloss
      Screenwriter
      Todd Haynes
      Distributor
      Apple TV+
      Production Co
      Motto Pictures, Killer Films, Killer Content
      Rating
      R (Sexual Content|Nudity|Language|Some Drug Material)
      Genre
      Documentary, Music
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Oct 15, 2021, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Oct 15, 2021
      Watch Now on