The highly anticipated Led Zeppelin documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin" will make its exclusive IMAX debut on February 7, 2025, screening in nearly 200 theaters across North America. Select markets will offer special early access screenings on February 5, 2025.
Directed by Bernard MacMahon and written alongside Allison McGourty, this groundbreaking film chronicles the legendary rock band's explosive rise to fame within their first year. The documentary stands as the first officially sanctioned film about Led Zeppelin, featuring the band telling their story in their own words.
The hybrid docu-concert format showcases previously unreleased performance footage and intimate commentary from the notoriously private band members. MacMahon and McGourty spent five years conducting an extensive global search for rare materials, scouring attics and basements across the Atlantic to uncover hidden footage, photographs, and music recordings.
"The cinematic power of IMAX paired with the film's authentic sound creates an immersive and transportive viewing experience letting audiences feel like they are there, in the venues with the band," said MacMahon.
The project faced considerable challenges, as very little footage existed from the band's early days. Through meticulous restoration work, the filmmakers employed custom techniques to enhance the 55-year-old material, ensuring pristine audio and visual quality for the IMAX format.
A work-in-progress version premiered at the 2021 Venice International Film Festival. The final cut features a new sound mix and additional archival material from all four band members' personal collections.
Sony Pictures Classics co-president Tom Bernard praised the film's ability to connect with both dedicated fans and newcomers alike, noting its potential to inspire future generations while defining Led Zeppelin's legacy for years to come.