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Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2006) Stream and Watch Online

Want to watch ' Metal: A Headbanger's Journey ' on your TV or mobile device at home? Hunting down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the Sam Dunn-directed movie via subscription can be confusing, so we here at Moviefone want to do the heavy lifting. Read on for a listing of streaming and cable services - including rental, purchase, and subscription alternatives - along with the availability of 'Metal: A Headbanger's Journey' on each platform when they are available. Now, before we get into the fundamentals of how you can watch 'Metal: A Headbanger's Journey' right now, here are some specifics about the Banger Productions, Seville Pictures, 235 Films, Chum Television music flick. Released June 21st, 2006, 'Metal: A Headbanger's Journey' stars Sam Dunn , Chris Adler , Tom Araya , Gavin Baddeley The R movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 31 min, and received a user score of 76 (out of 100) on TMDb, which compiled reviews from 145 top users. What, so now you want to know what the movie's about? Here's the plot: "The film discusses the traits and originators of some of metal's many subgenres, including the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, power metal, Nu metal, glam metal, thrash metal, black metal, and death metal. Dunn uses a family-tree-type flowchart to document some of the most popular metal subgenres. The film also explores various aspects of heavy metal culture." .

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Metal: A Headbanger's Journey

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• Houston Chronicle Bruce Westbrook A lightweight fanboy valentine for ostensibly heavyweight music.
• Los Angeles Times Kevin Crust Interviews with metal practitioners such as Tony Iommi, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and Dee Snider, journalists and academic types paint a compelling portrait of a vibrant society of outsiders.
• Boston Globe Erin Meister The metal scene emerges throughout the documentary as the recruitment center of an army of misfits, where the outcasts of the world can seek each other out based on their love of the angsty, eardrum-destroying tunes their parents warned them about.
• New York Post Kyle Smith It'll make you want to dig out your Whitesnake T-shirt. It might even convince Tipper Gore that heavy metal thunder is all in good fun.
• New York Times Manohla Dargis This documentary about one of the most loathed, lampooned and beloved music genres isn't the kind of film to rock your world, though it may well inspire laughter.
• Seattle Times Ted Fry It's all jolly good fun captured with proficiency, professionalism and the keen sense of someone who truly wants outsiders to understand what makes a dyed-in-the-wool headbanger so passionate about his music of choice.
• Chicago Tribune Allison Benedikt The film is packed with hilarious, often poignant interviews with metal luminaries.
• Dallas Morning News Chris Vognar Unlikely to win many new converts, but its core audience should have a rockin' good time.
• Salt Lake Tribune Sean P. Means The movie is woefully short on concert footage, which could have shown us the power of metal instead of just telling us.
• Los Angeles Daily News Glenn Whipp You might not go out and buy the latest Slipknot album after seeing it, but you will understand why some disenfranchised kid would.
• Rob's Movie Vault Rob Gonsalves Brings on a variety of eloquent voices from both the fanbase and the gods of metal themselves.
• Deseret News (Salt Lake City) Jeff Vice A film that manages to be intelligent without being boring, making it one of the better music documentaries in recent memory.
• Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov There's so much information and so many finely honed arguments in this ultimately joyous film that it's liable to send audiences scurrying home to their computers to download the bands they've just heard.
• Los Angeles CityBeat Andy Klein It's a measure of Dunn's success that even a total nonfan like myself could find his journey interesting.
• L.A. Weekly Scott Foundas At once playful and thorough, the documentary is also stacked teased-hair high with wicked performance footage.
• Film Threat KJ Doughton Dunn effortlessly smashes the cliché of metal-bands-as-Neanderthal-lunkheads.
• FilmJerk.com Edward Havens Acts not as the window for the outsider into the spectacle of heavy metal music, as the filmmakers proclaim it to be, but an unprovoked fan's defense for liking what he likes
• Reel Film Reviews David Nusair ...an engaging, entertaining little documentary...
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White Those who only remember metal as an MTV aberration from the 1980s will learn a lot from Dunn's film, and metal heads will find vindication for their dedication to a music that has been condemned and dismissed as infantile and depraved.

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METAL: A HEADBANGER'S JOURNEY

Sam Dunn is a 30-year old anthropologist who wrote his graduate thesis on the plight of Guatemalan refugees. Recently he has decided to study the plight of a different culture, one he has been a part of since he was a 12-year old: the culture of heavy metal.

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Metal: A Headbanger's Journey

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Release details.

• Release date: Friday 28 April 2006
• Duration: 96 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise

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Watch Metal: A Headbanger's Journey

• 1 hr 36 min
• 8.0   (12,428)

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is a 2005 documentary film directed by Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, and Jessica Joy Wise. The film delves into the world of heavy metal music, exploring its history, evolution, and cultural impact. The film is presented by Sam Dunn, a Canadian anthropologist and metalhead himself. He narrates the film while interviewing musicians, fans, and experts on the genre. The documentary features interviews with some of the most influential and iconic figures in metal, including Tom Araya of Slayer, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie, and many more.

The film begins by exploring the roots of heavy metal music, tracing its origins to early blues and rock music. Dunn interviews musicians like Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi, who were key in creating the distinctive sound of heavy metal in the 1970s. The film then moves on to explore the various subgenres that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, including thrash metal, death metal, and black metal. Dunn provides an in-depth look into these subgenres, discussing their musical characteristics, cultural significance, and controversies.

Throughout the film, Dunn touches on some of the criticisms and stereotypes that heavy metal has faced over the years. He interviews academics, journalists, and religious leaders who have spoken out against the genre, highlighting the role that heavy metal has played in various controversies, such as the Satanic Panic of the 1980s. However, the documentary also showcases the positive aspects of metal, including its ability to bring people together and provide a sense of community.

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey also explores the visual aspects of heavy metal, including the iconic album covers, stage performances, and music videos that have become synonymous with the genre. The film discusses the importance of aesthetics in metal and how they help to convey the themes and messages of the music.

One of the most unique aspects of this documentary is its anthropological approach, exploring metal as a culture and way of life. Dunn interviews fans from all corners of the world, discussing their love for the genre and its communal aspects. He also visits different metal scenes around the globe, including Norway, Japan, and Brazil, showcasing the diversity of the metal community.

Overall, Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is a comprehensive, entertaining, and informative documentary that delves deep into the world of heavy metal. The film offers a nuanced look at the genre, exploring its history, subgenres, visual aspects, and cultural significance. It's a must-watch for any metalhead or music enthusiast interested in understanding the cultural impact of heavy metal.

• Genres Documentary Music
• Cast Tom Araya Gavin Baddeley Blasphemer
• Director Sam Dunn Scot McFayden
• Release Date 2005
• MPAA Rating R
• Runtime 1 hr 36 min
• Language English
• IMDB Rating 8.0   (12,428)
• Metascore 73

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey

• An examination of the heavy metal music subculture that tries to explain why, despite the longevity and popularity of the genre, fans are marginalized and ridiculed for their passion.
• Sam Dunn is a 30-year old anthropologist who wrote his graduate thesis on the plight of Guatemalan refugees. Recenly he has decided to study the plight of a different culture, one he has been a part of since he was a 12-year old: the culture of heavy metal. Sam sets out on a global journey to find out why this music has been consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned and yet is loved so passionately by its millions of fans. Along the way, Sam explores metals' obsession with some of life's most provacative subjects - sexuality, religion, violence and death - and discovers some things about the culture that even he can't defend. Shot on location in the UK, Germany, Norway, Canada and the US, this documentary is the first of its kind. It is both a defense of a long-misunderstood art form and a window for the outsider into the spectacle that is heavy metal. — Scot McFadyen

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Metal: A Headbanger's Journey

Film details, brief synopsis, cast & crew, alice cooper, pamela des barres, technical specs.

Sam Dunn is a 30-year-old anthropologist. He's also a lifelong metal fan. After years of studying diverse cultures, Sam turns his academic eye a little closer to home and embarks on an epic journey into the heart of heavy metal. His mission: to figure out why metal music is consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned, even while the tribe that loves it stubbornly holds its ground--spreading the word, keeping the faith, and adopting styles and attitudes that go way beyond the music. Sam visits heavy metal landmarks as far flung as L.A.'s Sunset Strip, the dirty streets of Birmingham, and the dark forests of Norway. Along the way, the two sides of Sam Dunn--curious anthropologist and rabid fan--collide, as Sam explores metal's obsession with sex, religion, violence and death, meets his her s, and discovers some things about the culture that even he can't defend.

Jessica Joy Wise

Scot mcfadyen, chuck klosterman, lemmy kilmister, ronnie james dio, donna gaines, bruce dickinson.

Fred Brennan

Sam feldman, john hamilton, kenneth mak, michael munn, david reckziegel, lou solakofski, brendan steacy, miscellaneous notes.

Released in United States 2006

Released in United States April 21, 2006

Released in United States March 2006

Released in United States on Video May 23, 2006

Released in United States September 2005

Released in United States Spring April 14, 2006

Shown at Rotterdam International Film Festival (Sturm und Drang) January 25-February 5, 2006.

Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (Spotlight: The Late Show) April 20-May 4, 2006.

Shown at South by Southwest Film Festival (24 Beats Per Second) March 10-18, 2006.

Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Midnight Madness) September 8-17, 2005.

Released in United States 2006 (Shown at Rotterdam International Film Festival (Sturm und Drang) January 25-February 5, 2006.)

Released in United States 2006 (Shown at San Francisco International Film Festival (Spotlight: The Late Show) April 20-May 4, 2006.)

Released in United States March 2006 (Shown at South by Southwest Film Festival (24 Beats Per Second) March 10-18, 2006.)

Released in United States April 21, 2006 (New York City)

Released in United States September 2005 (Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Midnight Madness) September 8-17, 2005.)

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Metal - A Headbanger's Journey

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Product Description

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (Dbl DVD)

Sam Dunn, a 30-year old anthropologist, decided to study the plight of a different culture, one he has been a part of since he was a 12-year-old: the culture of heavy metal. Sam sets out on a global journey to find out why this music has been consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned and yet is loved so passionately by its millions of fans. Along the way, Sam explores metals obsession with some of life's most provocative subjects - sexuality, religion, violence and death - and discovers some things about the culture that even he can't defend. Shot on location in the UK, Germany, Norway, Canada and the US, this documentary is the first of its kind. It is both a defense of a long-misunderstood art form and a window for the outsider into the spectacle that is heavy metal.

An anthropological study of Heavy Metal? Is this for real? Believe it man, it's true, and it's pretty darn good at that. Metal - A Headbanger's Journey is a labor of love for director/ producer Sam Dunn; anthropologist, academia, metalhead. Like a good anthropologist Dunn has often wondered about cultures, societies, and the key elements that makes them thrive. Being a life-long headbanger, Sam Dunn decided to turn his academic skills onto himself to study and attempt to explain the often misunderstood culture that shaped his existence and millions of others around the world. Structured like a traditional anthropological journal, Metal - A Headbanger's Journey is broken into sections such as "Origins," "Roots," "Environments," "Culture," "Sexuality," "Religion," and "Death." Many topics are addressed such as identifying the first heavy metal band, what in the music defines the heavy metal sound, why heavy metal unites fans from around the world, why the music has been a target for so many watchdog groups, and who really popularized the heavy metal horn salute. For non-metalheads, the structured approach keeps the documentary on track and prevents it from getting cartoonish and too fan-based and self congratulatory. Metalheads that don't care about film's structure, will thoroughly enjoy the interviews of metal's elite (including originators Tony Iommi, Alice Cooper, Dio, and Bruce Dickinson to modern day heroes Tom Morello, Rob Zombie and Lamb of God) the music, fan commentaries and the concert footage. So raise your horns up high, turn it up loud and check out the best Heavy Metal film ever made. Metal - A Headbanger's Journey will not disappoint. --Rob Bracco

Product details

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.53 inches; 0.01 ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 2211081
• Director ‏ : ‎ Sam Dunn, Scot McFadyen, Jessica Joy Wise, Scott Mcfadyen
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Color, Closed-captioned, Multiple Formats, PAL
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 3 hours
• Release date ‏ : ‎ January 2, 2007
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Tony Iommi, Dee Snider, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Vince Neil
• Producers ‏ : ‎ David Reckziegel, Scot McFadyen, John Hamilton, Sam Dunn, Sam Feldman
• Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Studio ‏ : ‎ WarnerBrothers
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000EGEJIY
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 2
• #2,110 in Documentary (Movies & TV)

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Metal: A Headbanger's Journey Reviews

Brings on a variety of eloquent voices from both the fanbase and the gods of metal themselves.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Oct 20, 2007

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 20, 2007

The success of Dunn's film in support of heavy metal music might be the result of not offering the audience too much music

Full Review | Nov 10, 2006

The metal scene emerges throughout the documentary as the recruitment center of an army of misfits, where the outcasts of the world can seek each other out based on their love of the angsty, eardrum-destroying tunes their parents warned them about.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | May 12, 2006

Enjoyable whether you're a fan of the music or not.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 6, 2006

A documentary that preaches to the converted if ever there was one, but Dunn's enthusiasm for the subject and the range of pretension and humour of his interviewees makes for fun viewing.

A film that manages to be intelligent without being boring, making it one of the better music documentaries in recent memory.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 21, 2006

This documentary about one of the most loathed, lampooned and beloved music genres isn't the kind of film to rock your world, though it may well inspire laughter.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 21, 2006

It'll make you want to dig out your Whitesnake T-shirt. It might even convince Tipper Gore that heavy metal thunder is all in good fun.

The movie is woefully short on concert footage, which could have shown us the power of metal instead of just telling us.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 21, 2006

It's a measure of Dunn's success that even a total nonfan like myself could find his journey interesting.

Full Review | Apr 20, 2006

You might not go out and buy the latest Slipknot album after seeing it, but you will understand why some disenfranchised kid would.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 14, 2006

A lightweight fanboy valentine for ostensibly heavyweight music.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Apr 14, 2006

Acts not as the window for the outsider into the spectacle of heavy metal music, as the filmmakers proclaim it to be, but an unprovoked fan's defense for liking what he likes

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 14, 2006

Interviews with metal practitioners such as Tony Iommi, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie and Dee Snider, journalists and academic types paint a compelling portrait of a vibrant society of outsiders.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Apr 13, 2006

The film is packed with hilarious, often poignant interviews with metal luminaries.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 13, 2006

At once playful and thorough, the documentary is also stacked teased-hair high with wicked performance footage.

Full Review | Apr 13, 2006

Unlikely to win many new converts, but its core audience should have a rockin' good time.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 7, 2006

There's so much information and so many finely honed arguments in this ultimately joyous film that it's liable to send audiences scurrying home to their computers to download the bands they've just heard.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 1, 2006

Those who only remember metal as an MTV aberration from the 1980s will learn a lot from Dunn's film, and metal heads will find vindication for their dedication to a music that has been condemned and dismissed as infantile and depraved.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Mar 21, 2006

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey 2005

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