The Last Waltz
Martin Scorsese transforms The Band’s final concert into an exuberant, intimate farewell to touring life and the communal mythology of rock music.
Overview
A poignant farewell concert captures the essence of a legendary band and their journey through music.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- exuberant
- wistful
- intimate
- music night
- concert film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an electrifying, revealing landmark of concert cinema and one of the greatest rock films ever made.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Band's final 1976 Winterland concert provides the film's central dramatic and musical framework.
Offstage interviews focus on sixteen years of touring, friendship, camaraderie, and exhaustion.
Scorsese's camera actively explores onstage interactions and the making of music rather than merely recording a fixed event.
The final concert and reflections on life on the road frame the group's departure as a generational and career turning point.
Films like The Last Waltz, and why
Stop Making Sense
landmark concert documentary combining electrifying live performance with backstage intimacy and artist interviews
Gimme Shelter
music documentary shaped by dynamic concert staging, influential performers, and a strong directorial visual presence
Woodstock
celebratory rock concert film blending archival performance energy with a portrait of a major musical community
Buena Vista Social Club
intimate music documentary about musicians, collaboration, performance, and the pressures of a professional musical life
Movie Details
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Release Date
- 1978-04-26
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (323)
Cast
- Robbie Robertson
- Rick Danko
- Levon Helm
- Richard Manuel
- Garth Hudson
- Eric Clapton
- Neil Diamond
- Bob Dylan
- Neil Young
- Joni Mitchell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Last Waltz about?
- Martin Scorsese transforms The Band’s final concert into an exuberant, intimate farewell to touring life and the communal mythology of rock music.
- What is The Last Waltz like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Last Waltz as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Last Waltz violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Last Waltz.
- What did critics think of The Last Waltz?
- Critics broadly regard it as an electrifying, revealing landmark of concert cinema and one of the greatest rock films ever made.
- Which films are like The Last Waltz?
- Films with a similar feel include Stop Making Sense, Gimme Shelter, Woodstock, and Buena Vista Social Club.
- How long is The Last Waltz?
- The Last Waltz runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Last Waltz?
- In United States, The Last Waltz streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus.
