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Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary – Music Box

Play trailer Poster for Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary – Music Box Nov 2024 Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 11 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Chronicles the emergence and popularity of the West Coast, soft rock pop culture epitomized by musical artists such as Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto. Retroactively dubbed “Yacht Rock” in 2005 by a parody website series, the easy listening, relaxing sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were beloved by many, came to be gently mocked and even dismissed by rock lovers and critics, but have since reclaimed their legitimate place in music history and are celebrated in this groove-infused film.

Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire FilmWeek (LAist) 01/17/2025
A really fun documentary that, of course, stirs up big debates over what is and isn't "yacht rock." Go to Full Review Anita Singh Daily Telegraph (UK) 01/08/2025
4/5
What is Yacht Rock? After watching the feature-length Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, I still couldn’t tell you exactly. But I thoroughly enjoyed the programme anyway. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal 12/10/2024
Among a number of very smart, even charming interviewees is the unlikely Questlove, who best defines the whole yacht-rock category: "Perfect sitting-down dancing music." And "Yacht Rock" is the yacht rock of documentaries. Go to Full Review Wade Major FilmWeek (LAist) 01/17/2025
It's fascinating and wonderful. Go to Full Review Roger Friedman Showbiz 411 12/10/2024
1/4
Is it a coincidence Yacht Rock rhymes with brain rot? The movie is a celebration of everything that went wrong with popular music in the early 80s. It’s a glorification of crap. Go to Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba 12/10/2024
Fascinating and surprisingly illuminating. Unlike Nothin' But a Good Time, which was purely a nostalgia trip for me since I lived through the hair metal era, Yacht Rock taught me a lot and gave me a newfound appreciation for the genre. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Doug H @DougiefreshScarb Jan 27 A surprisingly excellent dockumentary about a generation of music that most would like to forget. How creative all these guys that created Yacht Rock...amazing. The new found appreciation I now have for the individuals creating this music is a shock to me given how much I disliked this genre... The histories of Toto, Christopher Cross and many others are so well done, and the individuals all have a great sense of humour (of course, except Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)). Even Questlove is in on the fun! Worth seing See more Ben N @Bneffer Jan 19 Surprisingly good, I enjoyed this look into a genre of music born of a particular time and music movement occurring in the background. Involving session players and background musicians, the genre help swap for a hot minute and later gained notoriety for a specific sound born for just a handful of people, some of whom are known better for other material. Worth watching if you are a fan of these specific artists, or even if you are just a fan of learning about music in general. See more Claudia Eve B @RT89530077 02/18/2025 This documentary put a smile on my face from start to finish. My boomer parents loved it too, of course. Mom's review: "We bought all of those records back when they came out and we still listen to them today! A jewel of a documentary!" See more Read all reviews
Music Box — Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Garret Price

Director

Garret Price

Producer

Adam Gibbs

Producer

Madison Cross

Producer

Jody Gerson

Executive Producer

Marc Cimino

Executive Producer

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Music Box — Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary

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Season Info

Synopsis Chronicles the emergence and popularity of the West Coast, soft rock pop culture epitomized by musical artists such as Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto. Retroactively dubbed “Yacht Rock” in 2005 by a parody website series, the easy listening, relaxing sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s, which were beloved by many, came to be gently mocked and even dismissed by rock lovers and critics, but have since reclaimed their legitimate place in music history and are celebrated in this groove-infused film.
Director
Garret Price
Executive Producer
Jody Gerson, Marc Cimino, Bill Simmons
Network
HBO
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date
Nov 29, 2024