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The Buddy Holly Story

1978 · Movie · PG · 114 min

★ 7.2(129)unSUB Rating

DramaMusic

A young rock ’n’ roll singer pushes to play music his own way, even as industry gatekeepers try to shape his sound. As his band gains attention through recording sessions and high-profile shows, success brings new pressures, shifting relationships, and tough choices about the future.

IMDb

Where to watch

Streaming on Sony Pictures Core and The Criterion Channel.

2 hours to watch.

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Details
Years
1978
Release date
1978-05-18
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
114 min
TMDB rating (input)
7.2/10 (129 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a music-first biopic with lots of onstage moments and a fast rise-to-fame arc; Not for you if you need strict accuracy or subtle drama like Ray or Coal Miner's Daughter.

Pros: energetic live performances; catchy classic songs; strong lead portrayal | Cons: loose with real history; thin supporting characters; uneven singing for some

Themes

  • rock 'n' roll
  • disc jockey
  • biography
  • rags to riches
  • affection
  • singer
  • airplane crash
  • price of fame
  • blizzard
  • 1950s

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Original Song Score · 1979
  • Academy Award — Best Original Song Score · 1979 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Actor · 1979 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Sound · 1979 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Steve Rash