We’ve already gotta whole lotta love for “Becoming Led Zeppelin” — the rock documentary and concert film about one of the greatest bands ever — and that’s just based on its trailer, released Thursday.
The film itself doesn’t come out until February 7, 2025, but it could be worth the wait: Sony Pictures Classics is releasing “Becoming Led Zeppelin” exclusively into nearly 200 U.S. IMAX theaters. It will play in preview screenings across 18 markets for one night on February 5. The film, directed by Bernard MacMahon, is billed as the first “authorized” documentary on the foursome of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and the late John Bonham. It features a never-before-heard interview with Bonham about the band’s trajectory and legacy.
In the first trailer for the film, Bonham describes the first time the band played together as “stunning” and like a “gift from heaven.”
Or like on a stairway to heaven?
The film includes an unseen Led Zeppelin performance and other behind the scenes footage. The movie actually screened as a work-in-progress film at Venice way back in 2021 (at the time IndieWire described it as a fairly conventional look at the psychedelic rock gods), but we imagine MacMahon has had a lot more time to sit with the material since then. In fact, the filmmakers had to play detective to track down the very little footage that exists of the band in their very early days.
“We spent five years flying back and forth across the Atlantic scouring attics and basements in pursuit of rare and unseen film footage, photographs and music recordings,” writer/producer Allison McGourty said in a statement. “Then we transferred each piece of media with custom techniques, so that in IMAX, these 55-year-old clips and music would look and sound like they came out of the lab yesterday.”
“The cinematic power of IMAX paired with the film’s authentic sound creates an immersive and transportive viewing experience letting audiences feel like they are there, in the venues with the band,” MacMahon said.
Tom Bernard, co-president and co-founder of Sony Pictures Classics, said, “I had a mind-blowing experience seeing Led Zeppelin for the first time in August 1969 at the Texas International Pop Festival in Grapevine, Texas and it has stayed with me ever since. This legendary group merits a spectacular North American theatrical release of this incredible film! I cannot think of a single movie that more brilliantly draws you into an artist’s story, shows you how their music was made, and makes you experience it as if it was brand new. I know it will be inspirational to young people and legacy defining for generations to come.”
MacMahon is an Emmy and BAFTA-nominated filmmaker (“American Epic”). “Becoming Led Zeppelin” is written by MacMahon and McGourty, and produced by McGourty and Paradise Pictures in association with Big Beach. Executive producers are Michael B Clark, Alex Turtletaub, Cynthia Heusing, David Kistenbroker, Duke Erikson, Simon Moran, and Ged Doherty. Editing is by Dan Gitlin; sound supervision is by Nick Bergh. Sound restoration is by Grammy Award winner Peter Henderson, and the film’s archival research comes from Kate Griffiths and Rich Remsberg.
Tickets for “Becoming Led Zeppelin” are available now via IMAX. Watch the trailer below.
