Shine a Light
Martin Scorsese turns a Rolling Stones concert into an electric, intimate celebration of enduring rock performance.
Overview
Experience the electrifying energy of rock legends captured on stage in an intimate setting.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- electric
- celebratory
- reverent
- concert movie night
- music fans gathering
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's electric concert energy and its focus on capturing the Rolling Stones' live essence over conventional documentary biography.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film concentrates on the Rolling Stones performing across two days at New York City's Beacon Theater, with performance footage as its primary narrative substance.
Scorsese and the cinematographers emphasize the band's raw stage energy through energetic coverage of the Beacon Theater performances.
The Rolling Stones are treated as legendary figures in rock music, with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood presented through their enduring performance identities.
The central performances take place at the relatively intimate Beacon Theater in New York City rather than a large stadium.
Films like Shine a Light, and why
The Last Waltz
concert documentary focused on capturing the electrifying live performance and mythology of a legendary rock band
Stop Making Sense
music documentary blending intimate backstage access, celebrated performers, and vigorous concert cinematography
Gimme Shelter
rockumentary presenting iconic musicians through an energetic live-performance portrait
Movie Details
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Release Date
- 2008-04-04
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Rating
- 6.8 / 10 (187)
Cast
- Mick Jagger
- Keith Richards
- Charlie Watts
- Ronnie Wood
- Tim Ries
- Blondie Chaplin
- Christina Aguilera
- Jack White
- Buddy Guy
- Michael Davis
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM Plus, Night Flight Plus
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shine a Light about?
- Martin Scorsese turns a Rolling Stones concert into an electric, intimate celebration of enduring rock performance.
- What is Shine a Light like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shine a Light as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Shine a Light violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shine a Light.
- What did critics think of Shine a Light?
- Critics broadly praised the film's electric concert energy and its focus on capturing the Rolling Stones' live essence over conventional documentary biography.
- Which films are like Shine a Light?
- Films with a similar feel include The Last Waltz, Stop Making Sense, and Gimme Shelter.
- How long is Shine a Light?
- Shine a Light runs 122 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shine a Light?
- In United States, Shine a Light streams on fuboTV, MGM Plus, Night Flight Plus.
