The Song Remains the Same

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The Song Remains the Same

PG

1976

2h 16m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Filmed in 1973 over the course of a three-night stand at New York City's Madison Square Garden, this concert film shows Led Zeppelin at the apogee of their hard-rocking glory. In addition to featuring such indelible hits as "Dazed and Confused," "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven," the live footage is interspersed with elaborate fantasy sequences, backstage shenanigans and a glimpse of what the business side of such a large touring operation entails.

Critics Consensus

While its concert segments are presented with a whole lotta love, The Song Remains the Same gets trampled underfoot with its dull fantasy segments and middling insights into the band.

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Robert Martin

Globe and Mail

Oct 8

Mediocre music; dull fantasies.

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Lawrie Zion

The Age (Australia)

Sep 9

3/5

One of the 1970s' most enduring rock films.

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Archer Winsten

New York Post

03/03/2025

Unfortunately the total effect ends up as a kind of torture chamber in which small rodents might die and people, not inured to Led Zeppelin, wonder if they can stand it without permanent damage to their eardrums.

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Jason Caro

Radio Times

Aug 31

3/5

Fans will enjoy.

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Norman Dresser

Toledo Blade

Aug 20

It is a garish movie.

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Jeffrey Polman

Boston Phoenix

03/08/2025

The Song Remains the Same achieves what few other concert films have: a balanced, accurate display of a band's musical accomplishments.

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Michael M.

@mlm5l Jul 26

One of the greatest rock n roll concert movies ever. I never had the chance to see Zeppelin in concert, this is the next best thing. Could have done without the four little vignettes each band member had. They just interrupted a great concert. Great memories from my teen years.

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JFM B

@RT97624280 02/28/2025

CRAZY TALENT--FROM THE BOYS ACROSS THE POND

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Jill C

@RT21449021 12/06/2024

If you really love LedZep, totally recommend. But there are some really naff fantasy sequences, the beginning is totally disjointed and makes you wonder if you're in the wrong theatre. And there are some overindulged extended sequences even in the great concert parts. But the capture of that era and Jimmy Page makes it unmissable.

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Andree W

@RT21766438 11/04/2024

Very trippy film. Brought back memories of the 1970's. The band was phenomenal. The music all-encompassing and magnificent!

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04/11/2022

The amateurish and somewhat silly fantasy sequences work against this concert film overall, plus even for a Zep fan, the version here of "Dazed and Confused" goes on just a tad too LONG and could have used some judicial editing. Other than that, I think the group is in good form and plays some killer versions of their classic songs. Just watch it for the performance footage and backstage shenanigans

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12/09/2021

Heaven for Zep fans. The fantasy sequences are clunkily tongue in cheek so shouldn't be taken too seriously. The music is wild and thrilling but heavily improved in post production so it isn't really a live performance imo. Wonderful 70's bombastic indulgence from a stellar band of top-tier players. Loved it.

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Peter Clifton

Director

Joe Massot

Director

John Bonham

Self

Jimmy Page

Self

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Synopsis

Filmed in 1973 over the course of a three-night stand at New York City's Madison Square Garden, this concert film shows Led Zeppelin at the apogee of their hard-rocking glory. In addition to featuring such indelible hits as "Dazed and Confused," "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven," the live footage is interspersed with elaborate fantasy sequences, backstage shenanigans and a glimpse of what the business side of such a large touring operation entails.

Director: Peter Clifton, Joe Massot
Screenwriter: Peter Clifton
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Swan Song
Rating: PG
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 1976, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2016
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Surround