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Anvil! The Story of Anvil

Released Apr 10, 2009 1h 25m Documentary List
98% Tomatometer 138 Reviews 90% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil delivered a highly influential 1982 album that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica, and then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity. Director and former roadie Sacha Gervasi follows guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour and reflect on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams. Read More Read Less

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Anvil! The Story of Anvil

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Anvil! The Story of Anvil

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Critics Consensus

A touching, uplifting and inspirational rockumentary about an aging metal band, both hilarious and heart-warming in equal measure.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: B+ Feb 14, 2012 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 5/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 21, 2010 Full Review Joel Fisher Battle Royale With Cheese Anvil is a documentary that not only speaks to music aficionados, but to people who have ever followed a dream and failed or given up Sep 25, 2022 Full Review Jason Best Movie Talk Indeed, the movie turns out to be as much about teenage dreams and middle-aged male friendship as it is about music, which means, fortunately, that you don't have to be a metalhead to enjoy it. Nov 20, 2020 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Anvil! The Story of Anvil is funny, poignant, tender and remarkably affirming of spending one's life chasing a dream. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 2, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve C A tedious pastiche of cameos and a "This Is Spinal Tap" easter eggs. The first ten minutes was moderately funny, but after that there was nothing redeeming about this film. Crosses that fine line between clever and stupid. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 11/04/23 Full Review Films On Blast F caught this in the theater years ago and it was great then... just rewatched on cod for the first time since, and it is still great. check out this wonderful doc! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/23 Full Review William L Imagine if the Spinal Tap guys had to get day jobs to keep on rocking, thirty years later. A solid documentary that is not so much about a group of rapidly aging could-have-been rock stars as it is about dogged dedication and dream-chasing despite what the rest of the world says to your face. Nice contrast between the hard-rocking persona and typical reflective, after-the-fact documentary style (opening up with rock legends expressing their admiration for Anvil's pioneering work in the genre) before switching over towards an intimate close-up of the band in the modern day, a "wait, they're still here?" moment. A couple of guys pursuing a dream even when every passing day makes a breakout less and less likely, the sheer likeability and mental determination of Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner is an inspiration, even if there are surprisingly few individuals shown in the film itself that directly oppose their continued efforts. About a decade and a half later, these two are still going at it. (3/5) Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/05/22 Full Review Audience Member This film is more spinal tap than spinal tap - and it's actually real! An absolute must see for anyone - whether or not you are a fan of rock music. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll rock! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review adam b I'm not the biggest fan of music docs but goddamn, this one hit me hard. A must see for Anvil fans and a decent watch for film fans Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Surprisingly poignant and intimate look at what it's like to be underappreciated pioneers that almost made it and are still trying to. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Anvil! The Story of Anvil

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Movie Info

Synopsis Canadian heavy-metal band Anvil delivered a highly influential 1982 album that would inspire the likes of Anthrax and Metallica, and then dropped off the map to begin what would become decades of toiling in obscurity. Director and former roadie Sacha Gervasi follows guitarist Steve "Lips" Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner as they stumble through a harrowing European tour and reflect on failure, friendship, resilience and the will to follow even the most impossible of dreams.
Director
Sacha Gervasi
Producer
Rebecca Yeldham
Distributor
Abramorama
Production Co
Sacha Gervasi
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 10, 2009, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 2022
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 26, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$666.7K
Runtime
1h 25m
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