
Woodstock
dir. Michael Wadleigh
88
7 sourcesSynopsis
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation through cleanup, with historic access to insiders, blistering concert footage, and portraits of the concertgoers; negative and positive aspects are shown, from drug use by performers to naked fans sliding in the mud, from the collapse of the fences by the unexpected hordes to the surreal arrival of National Guard helicopters with food and medical assistance for the impromptu city of 500,000.
Critics consensus
By documenting arguably the most renowned music festival in history, Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music achieves the rare feat of capturing the unique spirit of its time.
What resonated with audiences
'Woodstock' is a legendary documentary featuring an iconic soundtrack with performances from Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who, praised for innovative split-screen camera work and nostalgic authenticity that perfectly captures the late sixties spirit. While universally acclaimed for its directorial vision and editing, some find the extensive runtime challenging, requiring multiple sittings with occasional slow sections. Despite length concerns, the film remains highly rewatchable and engaging, successfully immersing viewers in the historic three-day festival experience.

Directed byMichael Wadleigh
StarringRichie Havens, Joan Baez, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Pete Townshend
Written byMichael Wadleigh
CinematographyMalcolm Hart
EditingJere Huggins
Woodstock
1970 · R · 3h 4m
Documentary, History, Music
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation through cleanup, with historic access to insiders, blistering concert footage, and portraits of the concertgoers; negative and positive aspects are shown, from drug use by performers to naked fans sliding in the mud, from the collapse of the fences by the unexpected hordes to the surreal arrival of National Guard helicopters with food and medical assistance for the impromptu city of 500,000.
