While racing my brain today for a topic to blog about, I found my mind wandering to the music-centered movies that I wanted to watch this weekend. After some listing in my head, that seemed like a cool topic in and of itself, since I find that so many of my favorite music movies go under the radar. As it’s been a while since I last posted a list at all, I figured that today seemed an ideal time to put up a new one. So here are some of the best music movies in my opinion—docu-/rockumentaries, mockumentaries, and just plain good flicks. These are just some of my favorites based on my taste—there are a ton of other amazing music-centered movies out there (in no particular order). Check ’em out:

Mockumentaries

1. This Is Spinal Tap – 1984

Rockumentaries

1. About a Son – 2006
2. 1991: The Year Punk Broke – 1992
3. Hype! – 1996
4. PJ20 -2011
5. LoudQuietLoud: A Film About The Pixies – 2006
6. The Decline of Western Civilization – 1981
7. The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years – 1988
8. The Decline of Western Civilization III – 1998
9. The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights – 2009
10. Some Kind of Monster – 2004
11. Anvil: The Story of Anvil -2008
12. A Band Called Death – 2012
13. Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage – 2010
14. It Might Get Loud – 2008
15. Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey – 2005

Biopics

1. 8 Mile – 2002
2. Walk the Line – 2005
3. Ray – 2004
4. The Runaways – 2010
5. Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story – 2001
6. What We Do Is Secret – 2008

Fictional

1. School of Rock – 2003
2. Rock Star – 2001
3. Empire Records – 1995
4. That Thing You Do! – 1996
5. The Blues Brothers – 1980
6. High Fidelity – 2000
7. Almost Famous – 2000
8. Tommy – 1975