Becoming Led Zeppelin — a rock documentary featuring Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham — debuts on Netflix
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“Becoming Led Zeppelin” is the first authorized feature documentary chronicling how Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and the late John Bonham came together and ignited legendary status. Directed by Bernard MacMahon and co-written by Allison McGourty, it premiered IMAX-first on February 7, 2025 and rolled out in theaters nationwide on February 14.
Structured as a visually immersive journey, the film dives into the band’s origins—Page and Jones as session musicians, Plant and Bonham’s blues band beginnings—leading to their explosive summer 1968 first rehearsal in a London basement: “the room just exploded,” Jones recalls. Using thousands of rare archival clips and images, the filmmakers meticulously piece together the band’s meteoric ascent leading up to Led Zeppelin II.
One of the most emotionally powerful moments features newly unearthed audio footage of Bonham recalling their inaugural rehearsal “felt quite strange,” drawing touching reactions from the surviving members.
The documentary’s inclusion of full live performances—such as “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown”—delivers that real concert thrill. Critics describe the experience as akin to being at a thunderous Zeppelin show, recommending the IMAX format for maximum impact.
While reviewers generally appreciate its focused, celebratory tone—with an 83 % Tomatometer and 95 % audience score—it’s acknowledged to gloss over darker themes like on-tour excesses and the band’s decline, ending on the Led Zeppelin II era and hinting at sequels. Some fans find it polished and surface-level, noting altered visuals and limited unseen content, while others laud it as a nostalgia-fueled tribute .
Currently exclusive to cinemas and IMAX, it was released on digital “premium VOD” in April: available to rent or buy on Prime Video ($19.99 rental/$24.99 purchase) as well as other digital platforms.
Netflix streaming is anticipated around June 2025 under Sony’s Pay‑1 deal
For rock devotees, Zeppelin fans, and newcomers alike, “Becoming Led Zeppelin” is a well-crafted, electrifying introduction to the band’s primal energy and camaraderie—particularly powerful in a theater setting—even if its storytelling stays firmly within the band’s early golden years.