The documentary Amy captivated audiences in theaters this summer with its tragically beautiful retelling of the life and death of Amy Winehouse. Filmmaker Asif Kapadia collected interviews from over 100 people who knew Winehouse and combined them with archival footage, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, music, and other media to create a complete picture of the singer’s life and legacy. Because Amy is such a robust compilation of different materials, you’re definitely going to want to watch it more than once to fully appreciate all the details. So when will Amy be on Netflix? The documentary is still in theaters in a few select U.S. cities, but if yours isn’t one of them (or if you spent your last $14 at last night’s happy hour) then you’ll have to wait to watch the film on your own screen.
Amy is currently available for pre-order on iTunes, but no release date has been announced. That’s not a great sign, since movies don’t come to Netflix until after they’ve been available for a while on paid streaming sites and DVD. But wait! According to the film's Wikipedia, the documentary is set to be released on DVD in the U.K. on Oct. 26, but the official Amy Twitter account has made no note of this, so it's unknown whether that's definite. As for its Netflix date, ondvdreleases.com states that Amy will be streaming on Netflix as of Nov. 15, but again, the Amy officials haven't said this themselves. Keep your fingers crossed, though! In the meantime, you can stream these other music documentaries on Netflix now.
Shut Up And Play The Hits
This doc follows James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem in the two-day period surrounding their last gig at Madison Square Garden. Want to get real meta with it? After watching, go visit James Murphy's wine bar in Williamsburg. Just please resist the urge to wax nostalgic about the band once you have a mojito in your system.
20 Feet From Stardom
The lives of backup singers are the focus of this film, which premiered at Sundance in 2013. It was then acquired by Harvey Weinstein and distributed nationwide, receiving both critical and commercial acclaim, and it won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Marley
The aptly-named Marley explores the life and career of one of the biggest icons in music history. It was released in 2012 and is accompanied by an equally epic soundtrack.
What Happened, Miss Simone?
A relatively new addition to the Netflix collection, this film became available for streaming at the end of June. It is a powerful biography of Nina Simone, who was an ardent civil rights activist in addition to being a multi-talented musician.
The Other One
This film's full title is The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir — and that's exactly what it is. A Netflix original, it chronicles the life and times of the Grateful Dead guitarist.
Good Ol' Freda
This is the "Cinderella story" of Freda Kelly, a young British girl who somehow became the secretary for the Beatles for eleven years. Kelly's story is amazing, and she is also the most charming person imaginable.
The Zen Of Bennett
Amy Winehouse appears in this documentary about Tony Bennett, which covers the recording sessions of his Duets II album. You can see Winehouse and Bennett collaborating on a track, and later on it is revealed that the British singer has died. The film is dedicated to her memory.
Although the Netflix future of Amy may be uncertain, these seven movies will have comparable effects on your heartstrings and eardrums. So settle down in front of your SmartTV and let the music do its work while you learn the stories behind some of the industry's most renowned talents.
