{"id":1775973,"date":"2026-02-17T12:42:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1775973"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:42:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:42:00","slug":"the-moment-6-times-musicians-made-their-own-films","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1775973","title":{"rendered":"The Moment: 6 times musicians made their own films"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-170-2237-1491\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437806.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/music\/article\/69656\/1\/the-moment-charli-xcx-music-mockumentary-spiceworld-8-mile-prince\" data-article-id=\"69656\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.33\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Moment\" class=\"img\" height=\"1680\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1400\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437806.jpg\" width=\"2240\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">A24<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-17T12:42:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"17 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"17\">17,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - music\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\">Music<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/lists\">Lists<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\">Music<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/lists\">Lists<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>The Moment: 6 times musicians made their <span class=\"nowrap\">own films<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>Is it a mockumentary? Is it a biopic? Is it autofiction? Here, we dive into the rich history of self-satirising, semi-autobiographical musician cinema, featuring Prince, The Spice Girls, Eminem <span class=\"nowrap\">and more<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-17T12:42:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"17 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"17\">17,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-17T12:42:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"17 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"17\">17,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/solomonpacemccarrick\">Solomon Pace-McCarrick<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>What actually <\/span><em><span>is<\/span><\/em><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/charli-xcx\"> Charli xcx<\/a>\u2019s new film, <\/span><em><span>The Moment<\/span><\/em><span>? Set in the inescapable Brat Summer of 2024, and featuring Charli as herself in the lead role \u2013 not to mention <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/rachel-sennott\">Rachel Sennott<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/kylie-jenner\">Kylie Jenner<\/a> and AG Cook all cameoing as themselves \u2013 the film is either a mockumentary, a fictionalised biopic, autofiction or a \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/music-news\/charli-xcx-the-moment-2024-period-piece-1235446763\/\">2024 period piece<\/a>\u2019 depending on who you ask (or, in Charli\u2019s case, which day you ask her). <\/span><em><span>The Moment<\/span><\/em><span>\u2019s selective reading of reality<\/span><span>might raise eyebrows, but it continues a surprisingly rich history of music artists making their own films \u2013 a history so rich, in fact, that these films practically have their own genre: musician cinema.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Most notable is The Beatles\u2019 1964 feature <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span>, which is arguably the ground zero of this brand of self-satirising, semi-autobiographical musician film. It\u2019s not strictly a mockumentary, predating <\/span><em><span>Spinal Tap<\/span><\/em><span>\u2019s popularisation of the term by 20 years and sitting much closer to a traditional film narrative. But by casting the band playing themselves at the height of Beatlesmania, <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span> is the first film to articulate the symbiotic relationship between popstardom and cinematic fiction. While not actually pretending to <em>be<\/em> a documentary \u2013 there is no voice-over, no interviews with talking heads, no overt directorial presence \u2013 it&#8217;s filmed in a cin\u00e9ma-v\u00e9rit\u00e9 style which lends it a realistic, unfiltered quality, like you&#8217;ve been granted a glimpse into the lives of the band as they go about their day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Much like how<\/span><em><span> The Moment<\/span><\/em><span>\u00a0weaves reality into a larger-than-life, lime-green universe, The Beatles\u2019 film deepened the characters they were already portraying through their music and public appearances \u00a0\u2013 a trend that has been survived in countless films since. In <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span>, John Lennon is the cheeky chap poking fun at his \u201crather straight\u201d grandfather; in <\/span><em><span>Purple Rain<\/span><\/em><span>, Prince is the talented rebel gunning for stardom; in <\/span><em><span>Spice World<\/span><\/em><span>, the Spice Girls are using their somewhat intangible \u2018girl power\u2019 to fight unscrupulous music execs, and so on. Some of these films sit closer to the light-hearted publicity stunt than the cinematic masterpiece, but, featuring standout soundtracks from the featured artists and contextualising their music for a wider audience, each one has become a cult classic in its own right.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"Pxqhi7Sgvu8\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pxqhi7Sgvu8\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>While all of these exaggerated portrayals came across as a knowing wink to the audience which essentially says, \u2018this is all a bit of an act\u2019, the bar is set a little higher for Charli\u2019s debut film this Friday \u2013 unlike <em>A Hard Day&#8217;s Night<\/em> or <em>Spice World,<\/em> which revolved around fictional performances, <em>The Moment i<\/em>s retelling something we all lived through and in very recent memory: Brat Summer. Trailers for the film depict Charli attempting to beat the audience to the punch by calling <\/span><em><span>Brat <\/span><\/em><span>\u201ccringe\u201d, but, in recent interviews, she has also called <\/span><em><span>The Moment<\/span><\/em><span> a \u201cvery accurate depiction of what [she\u2019s] experienced in the music industry\u201d. Already, the film is creating the expectation that it will be both \u2018not that deep\u2019 and \u2018actually kind of deep\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Trickier still, early spoilers have revealed that the film entirely sidesteps the co-opting of <\/span><em><span>Brat <\/span><\/em><span>by Kamala Harris\u2019 failed 2024 US election campaign in favour of the more conventional foil of evil corporations. This begs the question: Is Charli really the most reliable narrator of her own legacy? We\u2019ll let fans be the judge of that on Friday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the meantime, below, we revisit the rich history of musician cinema, from The Beatles\u2019 <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night <\/span><\/em><span>to Eminem\u2019s <\/span><em><span>8 Mile<\/span><\/em><span>, and everything in between.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>A HARD DAY\u2019S NIGHT<\/span><\/em><span> (1964)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"Pbg8T9r1DiQ \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pbg8T9r1DiQ%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Much of what we consider to embody modern stardom \u2013 crazed fandoms, youthful rebellion and moral panic \u2013 was pioneered by The Beatles, and this groundbreaking history is cemented in their 1964 debut film <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span>. Following the band on their way to perform on a televised show, the film\u2019s frequent musical segments \u2013 featuring The Beatles performing excerpts of their third studio album of the same name alongside fast-paced, beat-matched jump cuts \u2013 are widely regarded as a pioneer of the modern music video format.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Most important, however, is how the film pioneered what film critic Roger Ebert called a new cinematic \u201cgrammar\u201d, pointing out that \u201cquick cutting, hand-held cameras [and] interviews conducted on the run with moving targets\u201d are all staples of modern television today. This, combined with the fact that <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span> is the first example of pop stars making their own film, makes it clear that <\/span><em><span>Spice World<\/span><\/em><span>, <\/span><em><span>8 Mile<\/span><\/em><span> and the rest would all look very different if The Beatles hadn\u2019t done it first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>PURPLE RAIN<\/span><\/em><span> (1984)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"AuXK8ZbTmLk \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AuXK8ZbTmLk%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Prince\u2019s 1984 single \u201cPurple Rain\u201d is legendary: it consistently ranks as one of the best songs of all time, it summoned rainclouds during his 2007 Super Bowl halftime performance, and it even has its own (highly romanticised) feature film retelling its creation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Reportedly originating in an ultimatum presented to Prince\u2019s then-manager Bob Cavallo (either land Prince a movie role or he would be fired),\u00a0<\/span><em><span>Purple Rain <\/span><\/em><span>sits slightly closer to fiction than the other entries on this list, but is nonetheless inspired by Prince\u2019s real life. It is set in Prince\u2019s hometown, Minneapolis; features the late rock star playing a romanticised version of himself named \u2018The Kid\u2019, and is based on plot points of Prince\u2019s own creation. The film might take some questionable liberties (namely, casting both The Kid\u2019s parents as white) and it was nominated for a couple of Razzies (Worst New Star for female lead Apollonia Kotero and Worst New Song for Apollonia 6\u2019s \u201cSex Shooter\u201d), but it\u2019s hard to hate when it quite literally has one of the best soundtracks of all time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Released the same year as <\/span><em><span>Spinal Tap <\/span><\/em><span>(still to this day the archetypal music mockumentary), <\/span><em><span>Purple Rain <\/span><\/em><span>is also significant for forming a spiritual ancestor to Eminem\u2019s <\/span><em><span>8 Mile. <\/span><\/em><span>In the film, the star-casted lead from a troubled home competes against rival musicians until ultimately winning with a song that became a real-world hit. Sound familiar?<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>THE NONA TAPES<\/span><\/em><span> (1995)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"v0Ohyj8FmLo\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v0Ohyj8FmLo\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Where <\/span><em><span>Purple Rain <\/span><\/em><span>and <em>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/em> were essentially promos for classic albums, Seattle rock band Alice in Chains flipped this trend on its head in their 1995 short film <\/span><em><span>The Nona Tapes<\/span><\/em><span>. Created with the budget that was allocated by Columbia, the band&#8217;s record label, to promote their self-titled third album, <\/span><em><span>The Nona Tapes <\/span><\/em><span>is a music mockumentary in almost every sense \u2013 except that it is about Alice in Chains themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Interspersing talking heads clips of Alice in Chains being interviewed by an aspiring journalist (played by the band\u2019s vocalist, Jerry Cantrell) with found footage segments of the band members going about their daily life, the film is drenched in satire. At one point, the band is asked what they hope people will notice about the new record, only for Layne Staley to respond, \u201cThe songs\u2026 I hope they notice there are new songs on the record.\u201d Despite initially being infuriated by the band\u2019s use of their budget, Columbia still sold the film (against Alice in Chains\u2019 wishes), and it ended up peaking at number 23 on Billboard\u2019s Top Video Sales chart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>SPICE WORLD<\/span><\/em><span> (1997)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"BmSBtOHzGPM\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BmSBtOHzGPM\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em><span>Spice World <\/span><\/em><span>is a classic. Sure, the plot is nothing to write home about, and the film itself is basically a glorified promotional campaign, but following the Spice Girls in the run-up to a major performance at the height of their fame (much like <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span> did with The Beatles 30 years earlier), it is chock full of charm. It&#8217;s filled with moments which perfectly embody the lovable campiness of 90s family comedies: the band entering their tour bus only to find a Tardis-like interior the size of a full apartment, say, or being abducted by aliens who happen to be huge fans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The film is also subtly self-aware, with scenes like Mel C poking fun at Victoria for agonising over wearing \u201cthe little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress or\u2026 the little Gucci dress!\u201d, or one in which the girls complain about how they get stereotyped as their fictional characters, only to realise that they are all behaving exactly on brand. <\/span><em><span>Spice World <\/span><\/em><span>strikes a strong balance between fiction and reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>8 MILE<\/span><\/em><span> (2002)\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"axGVrfwm9L4 \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/axGVrfwm9L4%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Eminem might find himself as something of a meme in 2026, but in terms of musicians making their own biopic,\u00a0<\/span><em><span>8 Mile <\/span><\/em><span>is arguably the most successful to date. Like all other films on this list, it takes some stark liberties with the truth: Eminem was actually cast out of the 90\u2019s rap battle circuit for committing the unforgivable sin of pre-writing his lyrics, to give just one example. But winning one Oscar and two Grammys for its soundtrack, the film arguably makes up for that by bringing hip hop to a whole new audience of film critics and suburban mums.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Almost 25 years on from its release, moments like Eminem vomiting in the toilet before the film\u2019s climax or Cheddar Bob shooting himself in the crotch are still referenced in pop culture today. <\/span><em><span>8 Mile <\/span><\/em><span>stands as a glittering example of how musician cinema, even with all its selective readings of reality, can make for powerful drama, even quote-unquote serious film.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING: BIG IN JAPAN<\/span><\/em><span> (2021)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"Qy6cAyHXrE4 \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qy6cAyHXrE4%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Speaking of serious films, it goes without saying that British mockumentary series <\/span><em><span>People Just Do Nothing <\/span><\/em><span>(and its spin-off film <\/span><em><span>People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan<\/span><\/em><span>) is no <\/span><em><span>Citizen Kane<\/span><\/em><span>. But in the lineage of musician cinema, it is subtly innovative. Based on the star\u2019s own experiences as garage MCs in the 00s, with lead actor Allan Mustafa having had his own music career under the name MC Sniper, the series provides a surprisingly authentic portrayal of UK music, with classic grime instrumentals like \u201c138 Trek\u201d and \u201cPulse X\u201d appearing in the show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It also blurs the line between traditional music mockumentary and musician cinema. <\/span><em><span>People Just Do Nothing <\/span><\/em><span>might have initially been based around a fictional garage crew named Kurupt FM, but their celebrity soon crossed over into the real world. By the time that\u00a0<em>People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan<\/em> rolled around, the group had already performed multiple tours in-character and even released a full-length album, <\/span><em><span>Kurupt FM: The Greatest Hits<\/span><\/em><span>, which peaked at number eight on the UK charts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. 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href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69596\/1\/berlin-club-closures-is-the-party-over-techno-schwuz-cost-of-living-clubbing\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rush-Troye-Sivan-2\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-99-1440-957\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436779.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Berlin: Is the party finally over?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69621\/1\/indie-pop-yearner-sarah-kinsley-fleeting-internet-obsessions\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sarah Kinsley\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-166-2447-1628\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437106.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Alt-pop yearner Sarah Kinsley shares her internet obsessions<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69609\/1\/bacardi-cebo-luthuli-amapiano-club-night-london\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\">BACARD\u00cd<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"bacardi Move With The Greats campaign Cebo Luthuli\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-247-1080-718\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436924.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">In pictures: Unfiltered joy from the heart of Amapiano club culture<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69643\/1\/listen-to-slushy-noobz-loverboy-playlist-youtube-valentines-day\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Slushy Noobz Loverboy\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/243-334-2515-1673\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437343.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Listen to Slushy Noobz\u2019 loverboy playlist<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69629\/1\/5-times-charli-xcx-soundtracked-the-big-screen\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Charli xcx wuthering heights\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-82-724-482\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437307.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">5 times Charli xcx soundtracked the big screen<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69628\/1\/ledbyher-uk-ug-rapper-outlier-the-elephant-interview-2026\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"DSCF4917\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-864-2000-1330\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437166.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">London rapper Ledbyher is the outlier of UK Ug<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69610\/1\/danny-l-harle-you-cant-overestimate-the-power-of-your-own-club-night\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"DLH_PRESS_FINAL\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-2-3000-1995\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437175.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Danny L Harle: \u2018You can\u2019t overestimate the power of your own club night\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69624\/1\/ticket-prices-are-sucking-the-fun-out-of-pop-harry-styles-taylor-swift-music\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GettyImages-1393470392\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1012-673\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437133.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Pop music isn\u2019t fun anymore<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69623\/1\/musicians-protesting-ice-raid-minneapolis-noise-colorado-immigration\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"iceout\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1024-681\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437131.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Sonic warfare: How musicians are using \u2018noise protests\u2019 against ICE<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69565\/1\/judeline-past-present-and-future-of-spanish-music-andalusia\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Judeline_Retouched_Sent_7\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-2-3000-1995\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436480.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Judeline is the past, present and future of Spanish music <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69594\/1\/chanel-beads-is-searching-for-meaning-in-this-big-old-world\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"DC290_S06_SoundOn_ChanelBeads_KendalWalker_02\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/111-0-1605-1068\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436776.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Chanel Beads is searching for meaning in \u201cthis big old world\u201d<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69598\/1\/giggs-government-lyrics-inadmissible-court-art-not-evidence-rap\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"maxresdefault (4)\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/213-94-936-623\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436778.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Giggs urges government to make lyrics inadmissible in court<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>What actually <\/span><em><span>is<\/span><\/em><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/charli-xcx\"> Charli xcx<\/a>\u2019s new film, <\/span><em><span>The Moment<\/span><\/em><span>? Set in the inescapable Brat Summer of 2024, and featuring Charli as herself in the lead role \u2013 not to mention <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/rachel-sennott\">Rachel Sennott<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/kylie-jenner\">Kylie Jenner<\/a> and AG Cook all cameoing as themselves \u2013 the film is either a mockumentary, a fictionalised biopic, autofiction or a \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/music-news\/charli-xcx-the-moment-2024-period-piece-1235446763\/\">2024 period piece<\/a>\u2019 depending on who you ask (or, in Charli\u2019s case, which day you ask her). <\/span><em><span>The Moment<\/span><\/em><span>\u2019s selective reading of reality<\/span><span>might raise eyebrows, but it continues a surprisingly rich history of music artists making their own films \u2013 a history so rich, in fact, that these films practically have their own genre: musician cinema.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Most notable is The Beatles\u2019 1964 feature <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span>, which is arguably the ground zero of this brand of self-satirising, semi-autobiographical musician film. It\u2019s not strictly a mockumentary, predating <\/span><em><span>Spinal Tap<\/span><\/em><span>\u2019s popularisation of the term by 20 years and sitting much closer to a traditional film narrative. But by casting the band playing themselves at the height of Beatlesmania, <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span> is the first film to articulate the symbiotic relationship between popstardom and cinematic fiction. While not actually pretending to <em>be<\/em> a documentary \u2013 there is no voice-over, no interviews with talking heads, no overt directorial presence \u2013 it&#8217;s filmed in a cin\u00e9ma-v\u00e9rit\u00e9 style which lends it a realistic, unfiltered quality, like you&#8217;ve been granted a glimpse into the lives of the band as they go about their day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Much like how<\/span><em><span> The Moment<\/span><\/em><span>\u00a0weaves reality into a larger-than-life, lime-green universe, The Beatles\u2019 film deepened the characters they were already portraying through their music and public appearances \u00a0\u2013 a trend that has been survived in countless films since. In <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span>, John Lennon is the cheeky chap poking fun at his \u201crather straight\u201d grandfather; in <\/span><em><span>Purple Rain<\/span><\/em><span>, Prince is the talented rebel gunning for stardom; in <\/span><em><span>Spice World<\/span><\/em><span>, the Spice Girls are using their somewhat intangible \u2018girl power\u2019 to fight unscrupulous music execs, and so on. Some of these films sit closer to the light-hearted publicity stunt than the cinematic masterpiece, but, featuring standout soundtracks from the featured artists and contextualising their music for a wider audience, each one has become a cult classic in its own right.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"Pxqhi7Sgvu8\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pxqhi7Sgvu8\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>While all of these exaggerated portrayals came across as a knowing wink to the audience which essentially says, \u2018this is all a bit of an act\u2019, the bar is set a little higher for Charli\u2019s debut film this Friday \u2013 unlike <em>A Hard Day&#8217;s Night<\/em> or <em>Spice World,<\/em> which revolved around fictional performances, <em>The Moment i<\/em>s retelling something we all lived through and in very recent memory: Brat Summer. Trailers for the film depict Charli attempting to beat the audience to the punch by calling <\/span><em><span>Brat <\/span><\/em><span>\u201ccringe\u201d, but, in recent interviews, she has also called <\/span><em><span>The Moment<\/span><\/em><span> a \u201cvery accurate depiction of what [she\u2019s] experienced in the music industry\u201d. Already, the film is creating the expectation that it will be both \u2018not that deep\u2019 and \u2018actually kind of deep\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Trickier still, early spoilers have revealed that the film entirely sidesteps the co-opting of <\/span><em><span>Brat <\/span><\/em><span>by Kamala Harris\u2019 failed 2024 US election campaign in favour of the more conventional foil of evil corporations. This begs the question: Is Charli really the most reliable narrator of her own legacy? We\u2019ll let fans be the judge of that on Friday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>In the meantime, below, we revisit the rich history of musician cinema, from The Beatles\u2019 <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night <\/span><\/em><span>to Eminem\u2019s <\/span><em><span>8 Mile<\/span><\/em><span>, and everything in between.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>A HARD DAY\u2019S NIGHT<\/span><\/em><span> (1964)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"Pbg8T9r1DiQ \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Pbg8T9r1DiQ%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Much of what we consider to embody modern stardom \u2013 crazed fandoms, youthful rebellion and moral panic \u2013 was pioneered by The Beatles, and this groundbreaking history is cemented in their 1964 debut film <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span>. Following the band on their way to perform on a televised show, the film\u2019s frequent musical segments \u2013 featuring The Beatles performing excerpts of their third studio album of the same name alongside fast-paced, beat-matched jump cuts \u2013 are widely regarded as a pioneer of the modern music video format.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Most important, however, is how the film pioneered what film critic Roger Ebert called a new cinematic \u201cgrammar\u201d, pointing out that \u201cquick cutting, hand-held cameras [and] interviews conducted on the run with moving targets\u201d are all staples of modern television today. This, combined with the fact that <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span> is the first example of pop stars making their own film, makes it clear that <\/span><em><span>Spice World<\/span><\/em><span>, <\/span><em><span>8 Mile<\/span><\/em><span> and the rest would all look very different if The Beatles hadn\u2019t done it first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>PURPLE RAIN<\/span><\/em><span> (1984)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"AuXK8ZbTmLk \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AuXK8ZbTmLk%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Prince\u2019s 1984 single \u201cPurple Rain\u201d is legendary: it consistently ranks as one of the best songs of all time, it summoned rainclouds during his 2007 Super Bowl halftime performance, and it even has its own (highly romanticised) feature film retelling its creation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Reportedly originating in an ultimatum presented to Prince\u2019s then-manager Bob Cavallo (either land Prince a movie role or he would be fired),\u00a0<\/span><em><span>Purple Rain <\/span><\/em><span>sits slightly closer to fiction than the other entries on this list, but is nonetheless inspired by Prince\u2019s real life. It is set in Prince\u2019s hometown, Minneapolis; features the late rock star playing a romanticised version of himself named \u2018The Kid\u2019, and is based on plot points of Prince\u2019s own creation. The film might take some questionable liberties (namely, casting both The Kid\u2019s parents as white) and it was nominated for a couple of Razzies (Worst New Star for female lead Apollonia Kotero and Worst New Song for Apollonia 6\u2019s \u201cSex Shooter\u201d), but it\u2019s hard to hate when it quite literally has one of the best soundtracks of all time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Released the same year as <\/span><em><span>Spinal Tap <\/span><\/em><span>(still to this day the archetypal music mockumentary), <\/span><em><span>Purple Rain <\/span><\/em><span>is also significant for forming a spiritual ancestor to Eminem\u2019s <\/span><em><span>8 Mile. <\/span><\/em><span>In the film, the star-casted lead from a troubled home competes against rival musicians until ultimately winning with a song that became a real-world hit. Sound familiar?<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>THE NONA TAPES<\/span><\/em><span> (1995)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"v0Ohyj8FmLo\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v0Ohyj8FmLo\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Where <\/span><em><span>Purple Rain <\/span><\/em><span>and <em>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/em> were essentially promos for classic albums, Seattle rock band Alice in Chains flipped this trend on its head in their 1995 short film <\/span><em><span>The Nona Tapes<\/span><\/em><span>. Created with the budget that was allocated by Columbia, the band&#8217;s record label, to promote their self-titled third album, <\/span><em><span>The Nona Tapes <\/span><\/em><span>is a music mockumentary in almost every sense \u2013 except that it is about Alice in Chains themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Interspersing talking heads clips of Alice in Chains being interviewed by an aspiring journalist (played by the band\u2019s vocalist, Jerry Cantrell) with found footage segments of the band members going about their daily life, the film is drenched in satire. At one point, the band is asked what they hope people will notice about the new record, only for Layne Staley to respond, \u201cThe songs\u2026 I hope they notice there are new songs on the record.\u201d Despite initially being infuriated by the band\u2019s use of their budget, Columbia still sold the film (against Alice in Chains\u2019 wishes), and it ended up peaking at number 23 on Billboard\u2019s Top Video Sales chart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>SPICE WORLD<\/span><\/em><span> (1997)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"BmSBtOHzGPM\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BmSBtOHzGPM\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><em><span>Spice World <\/span><\/em><span>is a classic. Sure, the plot is nothing to write home about, and the film itself is basically a glorified promotional campaign, but following the Spice Girls in the run-up to a major performance at the height of their fame (much like <\/span><em><span>A Hard Day\u2019s Night<\/span><\/em><span> did with The Beatles 30 years earlier), it is chock full of charm. It&#8217;s filled with moments which perfectly embody the lovable campiness of 90s family comedies: the band entering their tour bus only to find a Tardis-like interior the size of a full apartment, say, or being abducted by aliens who happen to be huge fans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The film is also subtly self-aware, with scenes like Mel C poking fun at Victoria for agonising over wearing \u201cthe little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress or\u2026 the little Gucci dress!\u201d, or one in which the girls complain about how they get stereotyped as their fictional characters, only to realise that they are all behaving exactly on brand. <\/span><em><span>Spice World <\/span><\/em><span>strikes a strong balance between fiction and reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>8 MILE<\/span><\/em><span> (2002)\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"axGVrfwm9L4 \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/axGVrfwm9L4%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Eminem might find himself as something of a meme in 2026, but in terms of musicians making their own biopic,\u00a0<\/span><em><span>8 Mile <\/span><\/em><span>is arguably the most successful to date. Like all other films on this list, it takes some stark liberties with the truth: Eminem was actually cast out of the 90\u2019s rap battle circuit for committing the unforgivable sin of pre-writing his lyrics, to give just one example. But winning one Oscar and two Grammys for its soundtrack, the film arguably makes up for that by bringing hip hop to a whole new audience of film critics and suburban mums.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Almost 25 years on from its release, moments like Eminem vomiting in the toilet before the film\u2019s climax or Cheddar Bob shooting himself in the crotch are still referenced in pop culture today. <\/span><em><span>8 Mile <\/span><\/em><span>stands as a glittering example of how musician cinema, even with all its selective readings of reality, can make for powerful drama, even quote-unquote serious film.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><em><span>PEOPLE JUST DO NOTHING: BIG IN JAPAN<\/span><\/em><span> (2021)<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"Qy6cAyHXrE4 \"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qy6cAyHXrE4%20\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span>Speaking of serious films, it goes without saying that British mockumentary series <\/span><em><span>People Just Do Nothing <\/span><\/em><span>(and its spin-off film <\/span><em><span>People Just Do Nothing: Big in Japan<\/span><\/em><span>) is no <\/span><em><span>Citizen Kane<\/span><\/em><span>. But in the lineage of musician cinema, it is subtly innovative. Based on the star\u2019s own experiences as garage MCs in the 00s, with lead actor Allan Mustafa having had his own music career under the name MC Sniper, the series provides a surprisingly authentic portrayal of UK music, with classic grime instrumentals like \u201c138 Trek\u201d and \u201cPulse X\u201d appearing in the show.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>It also blurs the line between traditional music mockumentary and musician cinema. <\/span><em><span>People Just Do Nothing <\/span><\/em><span>might have initially been based around a fictional garage crew named Kurupt FM, but their celebrity soon crossed over into the real world. By the time that\u00a0<em>People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan<\/em> rolled around, the group had already performed multiple tours in-character and even released a full-length album, <\/span><em><span>Kurupt FM: The Greatest Hits<\/span><\/em><span>, which peaked at number eight on the UK charts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69656\/1\/the-moment-charli-xcx-music-mockumentary-spiceworld-8-mile-prince&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/0-170-2237-1491\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437806.jpg&#8221;] A24 February\u00a0 17,\u00a0 2026 Music \/ Lists Music \/ Lists The Moment: 6 times musicians made their own films Is it a mockumentary? Is it a biopic? Is it autofiction? Here, we dive into the rich history of self-satirising, semi-autobiographical musician cinema, featuring Prince, The Spice Girls, Eminem and more February\u00a0 17,\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1775973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1775973"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1775973\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1775973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1775973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1775973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}