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Trailer

Stop Making Sense

1984Movie1 h 28 minPG

DocumentaryMusic
92
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.7Metacritic948.7Rotten Tomatoes100%97%

A spectacular, wondrous documentary movie about show business and pop culture, with standout score and visual style.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for brutality, scares or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

Why stop making sense? Why a movie? Why a big suit? Where do the odd movements come from? What will the band do next?

A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.

Feels like

  • Concert Film
  • New Wave Music
  • Energetic Performance
  • Visually Creative
  • Iconic Band
  • Music-Driven
  • Artistic Cinematography
  • Upbeat & Joyful
  • Eighties Style

Cast

7 of 7

Crew

Directed by
Jonathan Demme
Written by
Jonathan Demme
Produced by
Gary Goetzman
Music by
Chris Frantz, David Byrne, Jerry Harrison

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 19, 1984 · 1 h 28 min · PG

Released
October 19, 1984
Runtime
1 h 28 min
Age rating
PG
Genres
Documentary, Music
Original language
English
Also spoken
French
Made in
United States
Budget
$1 million
Box office
$12 million
Available in
27 countries

Tropes

Bilingual Bonus, Epileptic Flashing Lights, Gone Horribly Right +9

  • Bilingual Bonus
  • Epileptic Flashing Lights
  • Gone Horribly Right
  • Everything Has Rhythm
  • David Byrne
  • Rearrange the Song
  • Talking Heads
  • Lampshade Hanging
  • Chiaroscuro
  • The Oner
  • Shout-Out
  • Diegetic Switch

12 of 41 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Stop Making Sense?"

Questions about Stop Making Sense

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Stop Making Sense?

JustWatch TV FreeHBO MaxJustWatch TV+

In the United States, Stop Making Sense streams on HBO Max and JustWatch TV+, and it is free with ads on JustWatch TV Free. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store. It also streams in 16 other countries.

Is Stop Making Sense worth watching?

92
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 92 (IMDb 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 94).

Is Stop Making Sense okay for kids?

PG

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Can I half-watch Stop Making Sense?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 4 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Will I feel good after watching Stop Making Sense?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for hopefulness and 6 for wholesome.

Was Stop Making Sense a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$12 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $1 million to make and earned $12 million worldwide, 10.4 times its budget.

What tropes does Stop Making Sense use?

Bilingual BonusEpileptic Flashing LightsGone Horribly RightEverything Has RhythmDavid ByrneRearrange the SongTalking HeadsLampshade HangingChiaroscuroThe OnerShout-OutDiegetic Switchand 29 more

TV Tropes lists 41 tropes for it, including Bilingual Bonus, Epileptic Flashing Lights, and Gone Horribly Right.