The Sparks Brothers

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2:24

The Sparks Brothers

R

2021

2h 21m

Documentary

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

164 Reviews

98%

Popcornmeter

100+ Verified Ratings

How can one rock band be successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time? Edgar Wright's debut documentary THE SPARKS BROTHERS, which features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, Neil Gaiman, and more, takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers/bandmates Ron and Russell Mael celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band's favorite band.

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Critics Consensus

Their albums may be cult favorites, but this Edgar Wright-directed documentary offers an introduction to Sparks that has something for everyone.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Aug 1, 2021

5/5

From bucket-of-water tomfoolery to visually inventive biography and witty musicology, this really does have something for the girl with everything.

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Max Weiss

Baltimore Magazine

Jul 30, 2021

3.5/4

The Sparks Brothers film is smart, funny, infectiously weird, a little geeky, a little too long, a little niche, and consistently entertaining.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Jul 30, 2021

4/5

The film is too long and, although Wright hopes it will convert heathens, it's still probably one for the fans. The Maels, however, make enjoyably unpredictable hosts.

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Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Jan 16, 2025

4/5

This documentary will win over those unfamiliar with Sparks as well as providing plenty of pleasure for the band’s many fans.

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Amy Smith

InSession Film

Mar 1, 2024

C

With a few tweaks, there is a strong movie in here. I just wish that some of the writing didn’t feel as flat and that there was a strong demographic group for the film.

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Serena Seghedoni

Loud and Clear Reviews

Sep 18, 2023

4.5/5

In The Sparks Brothers, master storyteller Edgar Wright introduces us to Sparks, crafting a documentary that’s as captivating, cool and ironic as the pop-rock duo itself.

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Catherine DeBlasio

Jul 24, 2021

This film is so joyful, funny and inspiring that I feel like Ive been resurrected from the dead! I have immense gratitude to Ron and Russel Mael for all their hard work as well as to Edgar Wright for making this beautiful film. The fact that the Mael brothers have remained true to themselves and their artistic vision for 5 decades is in itself a truly brilliant victory. See this film. It will spark within you the desire to go forth and do great things.

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Russell W

Jul 4, 2021

A great bio pic of a band Ive strangely never even heard of! Im definitely going to check their music out now!

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robert J

Jul 3, 2021

Really good. A it too long

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Lisa

Jul 2, 2021

Phenomenal. This is the best music documentary Ive ever seen. I think anyone would enjoy it whether a lifelong, brand new, or yet to be Sparks fan.

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lisa b

Jul 2, 2021

Very entertaining and loved getting to know the Sparks Brothers!

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Catherine

Jul 1, 2021

Sparks is one of the Greatest most Innovative bands EVER and to have their story woven together by the genius that is Edgar Wright is Seventh Heaven...

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Edgar Wright

Director

Ron Mael

Self

Russell Mael

Self

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Synopsis

How can one rock band be successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time? Edgar Wright's debut documentary THE SPARKS BROTHERS, which features commentary from celebrity fans Flea, Beck, Jack Antonoff, Jason Schwartzman, Neil Gaiman, and more, takes audiences on a musical odyssey through five weird and wonderful decades with brothers/bandmates Ron and Russell Mael celebrating the inspiring legacy of Sparks: your favorite band's favorite band.

Director: Edgar Wright
Producer: Nira Park, Edgar Wright, George Hencken, Laura Richardson
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Media Rights Capital, Complete Fiction
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 18, 2021, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 31, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $623.0K
Runtime: 2h 21m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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