20 Feet from Stardom
A vibrant, deeply moving music documentary restores the spotlight to the powerhouse voices who made pop history from just outside it.
Overview
Discover the unsung heroes of music who provide the soul behind the stars.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- energetic
- soulful
- intimate
- music night
- documentary night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an energetic, insightful, and occasionally heartbreaking tribute to the talent and hard work of backup singers.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Backup singers describe supplying the vocal foundation for famous artists while remaining largely outside the public spotlight.
Concert and studio footage emphasizes the singers' voices, harmonies, and stage presence rather than treating music as background.
Veterans and contemporary singers including Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer, Merry Clayton, and Judith Hill narrate overlapping histories and career struggles.
The film focuses especially on predominately African-American women whose labor and ambitions were overshadowed by featured artists.
Films like 20 Feet from Stardom, and why
Muscle Shoals
music documentary centered on overlooked contributors and the hidden labor behind iconic popular recordings
The Wrecking Crew
celebratory music documentary combining archival performance footage, interviews, and the personal costs of artistic ambition
Searching for Sugar Man
intimate documentary portrait of a gifted performer negotiating recognition, identity, and the music industry
Movie Details
- Director
- Morgan Neville
- Release Date
- 2013-06-14
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (267)
Cast
- Darlene Love
- Lisa Fischer
- Merry Clayton
- Judith Hill
- Claudia Lennear
- Táta Vega
- Patti Austin
- Mick Jagger
- Stevvi Alexander
- Bette Midler
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is 20 Feet from Stardom about?
- A vibrant, deeply moving music documentary restores the spotlight to the powerhouse voices who made pop history from just outside it.
- What is 20 Feet from Stardom like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 20 Feet from Stardom as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is 20 Feet from Stardom violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in 20 Feet from Stardom.
- What did critics think of 20 Feet from Stardom?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an energetic, insightful, and occasionally heartbreaking tribute to the talent and hard work of backup singers.
- Which films are like 20 Feet from Stardom?
- Films with a similar feel include Muscle Shoals, The Wrecking Crew, and Searching for Sugar Man.
- How long is 20 Feet from Stardom?
- 20 Feet from Stardom runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch 20 Feet from Stardom?
- In United States, 20 Feet from Stardom streams on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel.
