Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
An unvarnished portrait of Metallica wrestling with creative paralysis, personal upheaval, and the demands of finishing St. Anger.
Overview
Witness the raw and unfiltered journey of a legendary rock band as they confront their inner demons and creative struggles.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- candid
- tense
- intimate
- music documentary night
- heavy metal fan viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s unusually candid access and compelling portrait of a famous band under creative and personal strain.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky draw on more than 1200 hours of footage gathered while following Metallica day and night for over a year.
The making of St. Anger is shaped by disputes among James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and the wider band.
A psychologist is brought into the recording process to help Metallica address conflict and communication problems.
The documentary presents famous heavy-metal musicians in candid moments of pressure, uncertainty, and personal strain.
Films like Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, and why
The Beatles: Get Back
music documentary centered on creative pressure, artist relationships, and recording conflict
Gimme Shelter
intimate music documentary about a band’s internal tensions and artistic process
Pearl Jam Twenty
observational rock documentary combining studio work, personal conflict, and candid access
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream
behind-the-scenes music documentary focused on collaboration, ego, and creative identity
Movie Details
- Directors
- Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
- Release Date
- 2004-06-10
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (250)
Cast
- James Hetfield
- Lars Ulrich
- Kirk Hammett
- Robert Trujillo
- Jason Newsted
- Dave Mustaine
- Bob Rock
- Phil Towle
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Metallica: Some Kind of Monster about?
- An unvarnished portrait of Metallica wrestling with creative paralysis, personal upheaval, and the demands of finishing St. Anger.
- What is Metallica: Some Kind of Monster like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Metallica: Some Kind of Monster as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Metallica: Some Kind of Monster violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Metallica: Some Kind of Monster.
- What did critics think of Metallica: Some Kind of Monster?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s unusually candid access and compelling portrait of a famous band under creative and personal strain.
- Which films are like Metallica: Some Kind of Monster?
- Films with a similar feel include The Beatles: Get Back, Gimme Shelter, Pearl Jam Twenty, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin' Down a Dream.
- How long is Metallica: Some Kind of Monster?
- Metallica: Some Kind of Monster runs 140 minutes.
- Where can I watch Metallica: Some Kind of Monster?
- In United States, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store.
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