The Doors: When You're Strange

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The Doors: When You're Strange

R

2010

1h 30m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

70 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

The chemistry of four artists made The Doors one of America's most influential rock bands. With rare footage shot from their formation in 1965 to Jim Morrison's death in 1971, When You're Strange, Tom DiCillo's GRAMMY® Award-Winning film narrated by Johnny Depp, follows the band through their career, providing insight into the revolutionary impact of their music. On the occasion of the band's 60th anniversary, the film will be presented in cinemas in 4K for the first time ever, and feature a newly recorded performance of "Riders on the Storm" featuring John Densmore, Robby Krieger, and special guests performing the song in exotic locations around the world in partnership with Playing For Change.

Critics Consensus

It's far from a critical assessment of the band's music or its legacy, but When You're Strange gives fans a beautifully filmed, lovingly assembled tribute to the Doors.

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Steven Rea

Philadelphia Inquirer

07/06/2010

3/4

When You're Strange offers a worshipful but insightful portrait of the group...

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David Gritten

Daily Telegraph (UK)

07/06/2010

3/5

This is a far better bet than Oliver Stone's ghastly Doors movie.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

07/02/2010

2/5

The cumulative effect of this film is to enhance one's respect for The Doors (John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek) and to diminish the same for Morrison, whose posturing now looks like the most fatuous exhibitionism.

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James McMahon

NME (New Musical Express)

05/19/2021

1.5/5

The surviving Doors shouldn't hate Oliver Stone so much - his movie portrays them as a better band than this does. He made a better movie too.

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Gemma James

CineVue

11/05/2018

4/5

Reaffirms Jim Morrison as a rock legend, a poet in his own rite and a spiritual and sexual messiah, who opened the doors of perception for his generation and all those to follow.

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Benjamin H. Smith

Decider

01/24/2018

...it lazily recycles all the same tired myths about Jim Morrison being "like an ancient shaman," and "A rock and roll poet, dangerous and highly intelligent," that we've been reading in solipsistic '60s holdovers like Rolling Stone for the last 50 years.

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Brian M

Dec 11

The movie was riveting and informative on the history of the Doors.

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Jeff

Dec 8

Quite a nice documentary-style take, with just enough commentary to keep it very enjoyable.

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Dennis

Dec 8

Great Documentary on The Doors Which covered the entire years of their existence on the scene. Well made film!

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Phil E

Dec 8

This movie was made by the band and is incredibly well done. It's a tough, but true look into what was and what could've been for one of the best bands of all time.

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Paul H

Dec 8

I enjoyed the historical pictures and film of the band playing. I also enjoyed the video with the remaining group members as a group. Definitely a one of a kind group!

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Jeanne

Dec 8

I truly loved this movie. It was very well put together and gave a true sense of the time. I hope it comes out on DVD!

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Tom DiCillo

Director

Johnny Depp

Narrator

Jim Ladd

Voice

Tom DiCillo

Screenwriter

Dick Wolf

Producer

John Beug

Producer

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Synopsis

The chemistry of four artists made The Doors one of America's most influential rock bands. With rare footage shot from their formation in 1965 to Jim Morrison's death in 1971, When You're Strange, Tom DiCillo's GRAMMY® Award-Winning film narrated by Johnny Depp, follows the band through their career, providing insight into the revolutionary impact of their music. On the occasion of the band's 60th anniversary, the film will be presented in cinemas in 4K for the first time ever, and feature a newly recorded performance of "Riders on the Storm" featuring John Densmore, Robby Krieger, and special guests performing the song in exotic locations around the world in partnership with Playing For Change.

Director: Tom DiCillo
Producer: Dick Wolf, John Beug, Jeff Jampol, Peter Jankowski, Bill Guttentag
Screenwriter: Tom DiCillo
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: Wolf Films, Strange Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Drug Material|Nudity|Some Sexual Content Incl Ref)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 9, 2010, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 4, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $238.6K
Runtime: 1h 30m