Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- energetic
- nostalgic
- irreverent
- music history night
- punk film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a shallow, caricatured treatment of compelling punk history that fails to capture the energy of its subject.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story dramatizes Hilly Kristal's role in building CBGB and supporting emerging punk musicians.
Kristal opens his club to original bands after failing to book country acts, creating a platform for non-mainstream performers.
The club's Bowery location is presented as the birthplace of an influential New York punk and underground rock scene.
The film foregrounds CBGB's venue culture and dramatizes performers including Blondie, Television, the Ramones, Talking Heads, and the Dead Boys.
Films like CBGB, and why
The Runaways
music-focused biographical drama centered on a formative underground scene and its influential performers
24 Hour Party People
rock music biographical drama combining scene history, artist personalities, and performance culture
Velvet Goldmine
ensemble music drama about the rise of a defining countercultural musical movement
Movie Details
- Director
- Randall Miller
- Release Date
- 2013-10-11
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (211)
Cast
- Alan Rickman
- Rupert Grint
- Malin Akerman
- Johnny Galecki
- Stana Katic
- Ashley Greene
- Justin Bartha
- Ryan Hurst
- Kyle Gallner
- Taylor Hawkins
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- 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 CBGB about?
- A dramatized portrait of Hilly Kristal and the unruly Bowery club that helped turn New York's underground performers into punk icons.
- What is CBGB like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of CBGB as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is CBGB violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in CBGB as mild.
- What did critics think of CBGB?
- Critics broadly found the film a shallow, caricatured treatment of compelling punk history that fails to capture the energy of its subject.
- Which films are like CBGB?
- Films with a similar feel include The Runaways, 24 Hour Party People, and Velvet Goldmine.
- How long is CBGB?
- CBGB runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch CBGB?
- In United States, CBGB streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
