The Velvet Underground

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2:15

The Velvet Underground

R

2021

1h 50m

Documentary

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

136 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock 'n' roll's most revered bands. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes, "The Velvet Underground" shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literary yet realistic; rooted in high art and street culture. The film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with a treasure trove of never-before-seen performances and a rich collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band's creative ethos: "how to be elegant and how to be brutal."

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Critics Consensus

The Velvet Underground takes a fittingly idiosyncratic approach to delivering a rock documentary that captures the band as well as its era.

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Nicolas Rapold

Sight & Sound

May 14, 2026

Todd Haynes eschews music documentary conventions to pen an ode to Cale, Reed, Tucker & Co. as vibrant as their music.

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J. Hoberman

Tablet

Mar 25, 2022

Without belaboring the point, The Velvet Underground also makes the case for Warhol’s enduring significance.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Dec 22, 2021

3.5/4

This bracing collage is pure rock bliss and a poke in the eye to old-style storytelling.

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Ryan Swen

Taipei Mansions

Sep 5, 2025

Very much the work of a fan, of someone in love with not just the brilliant and daring music, but also the whole vibe.

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Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Jan 16, 2025

5/5

The director’s admiration for The Velvet Underground is obvious but that doesn’t blunt his critical edge.

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William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 18, 2024

4/5

Todd Haynes’ The Velvet Underground is everything the band was: experimental, unique, energetic and, above all else, hypnotic.

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faith

Nov 4, 2021

I love box office man

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A. S

@Abc123722 Feb 5, 2026

Great well produced documentary by Todd Haynes. Haynes, has been strongly influenced by Reed and the Velvets. The film is two hours,the time flies fast. It's was too fast to really deep dive into the white light/white heat through the self titled album. It skips the tracks for what became the VU or the story behind rejecting and shelving that album. It also cuts short and ends early without mentioning the Yule 'Squeeze' album. Overall it is a good effort of a documentary with Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison both passed, using new interviews of the living members.

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Daniel B

@observor Feb 11, 2025

Interesting approach with lots of footage, but I wish they talked more about the music than the personalities.

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Sams K

@RT65506530 Aug 23, 2024

The best band ever.

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Torin F

@nonlinearize Jan 13, 2024

VELVET UNDERGROUND effectively invokes the experimental nature of the band in relating their story and enduring legacy, creating an interesting portrait of both the band and the era that informs and entertains, whether you're a fan or not.

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Gareth v

@geewah Jun 15, 2023

A confession first, I'm a huge fan of The Velvet Underground. This movie really focuses closely on the influences, relationships, and musical processes, The Velvet Underground developed in their short and influencial reign. Some great archival footage, and most of the talking heads are amazing, and give us a real feel of the 1960's - 70's NYC art scene. One of 2021's best movies.

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Todd Haynes

Director

Mary Woronov

Self

Jonathan Richman

Self

John Cale

Self

Maureen Ann Tucker

Actor

Sterling Morrison

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Synopsis

The Velvet Underground created a new sound that changed the world of music, cementing its place as one of rock 'n' roll's most revered bands. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes, "The Velvet Underground" shows just how the group became a cultural touchstone representing a range of contradictions: the band is both of their time, yet timeless; literary yet realistic; rooted in high art and street culture. The film features in-depth interviews with the key players of that time combined with a treasure trove of never-before-seen performances and a rich collection of recordings, Warhol films, and other experimental art that creates an immersive experience into what founding member John Cale describes as the band's creative ethos: "how to be elegant and how to be brutal."

Director: Todd Haynes
Producer: Christopher Clements, Julie Goldman, David Blackman, Carolyn Hepburn, Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon
Screenwriter: Todd Haynes
Distributor: Apple TV+
Production Co: Killer Films, Killer Content, Motto Pictures
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Nudity|Language|Some Drug Material)
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2021
Runtime: 1h 50m

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