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Coachella

Coachella

2006120 minRMidcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Director
Drew Thomas
Starring
Michael Franti, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, John Frusciante

Filmmaker Drew Thomas brings California's popular Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to the screen with a different kind of musical documentary that not only showcases performances by some of the hottest acts to take the stage, but offers interviews with such musical icons as Beck, Joshua Homme, Mos Def, and Perry Farrell as well. From English icon Morrissey's performance at the inaugural Coachella Festival back in 1999 to Canadian indie rockers the Arcade Fire's electric 2005 set, the musical acts featured here run the gamut from hip-hop to alternative and virtually everything in between. Other artists featured include the Pixies, the Flaming Lips, Kool Keith, Radiohead, Saul Williams, and Squarepusher.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Coachella?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Coachella streaming on Qello Concerts via The Roku Channel and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Coachella?

Coachella earns 1 badge: Crowd Pleaser.

Reception

Is Coachella worth watching?

Coachella's Midcredits score is the 81st percentile of all films, from 485 ratings across 4 sources. 78% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

81st percentile

Better received than 81% of films

56th percentile among Documentary79th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)72nd
Approval (how many liked it)88th

68 /100

72nd percentile of all films

36th percentile among Documentary71st percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

78% liked it

88th percentile of all films

76th percentile among Documentary87th percentile among 2000s
78% rated it 7–1022% rated it 1–6

Critics 89% · Audience 75%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

42nd percentile

485 ratings across platforms

69th percentile among Documentary34th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 82% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both fans and detractors acknowledge the film highlights a wide range of musical performances, but disagree on the balance between music and commentary.

Fans praised

  • diverse music acts and genre variety showcase the festival's breadth
  • immersive atmosphere captures the live concert energy
  • interviews offer insights into different music-industry perspectives

Detractors panned

  • repetitive, hollow interviews about festival philosophy with no diversity
  • too little music performance, too much setup of stoned hippies
  • documentary feels unfocused and inaccurate to the actual festival experience

What stands out

AtmosphereDivisive72

immersive slice-of-life festival vibe praised; detractors call it sterile and unappealing

Effects and spectacleDivisive70

lively performances from multiple bands, with some standout acts like Prodigy and Flaming Lips

Sound and musicDivisive68

great rock and diverse music sound; detractors note limited good performances

Emotional impactDivisive50

fans feel nostalgia and awe; detractors find hollow message and disappointment

OriginalityDivisive45

unique festival documentary idea but formulaic repetitive interviews

Plot and storyDivisive35

loose structure with redundant commentary; fans appreciate variety of perspectives

Pacing28

too many cutaways and philosophical interviews dragging between performances

Watch experience

What is Coachella like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

No single mood: browse every movie of this kindNo one kind of watch fits it, so it is described by how heavy it is.

Watch this when you want something light and easy.

It leaves you fired up. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulTriumphantContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Exuberant · 2% of films: Bursting with energy and joy in its own filmmaking.Epic · 2% of films: Vast in scale: big landscapes, big stakes, a long span.
Told as
Episodic · 13% of films: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.
TonePlays its subject straight: an earnest, celebratory portrait that treats the festival as a genuine cultural event and lets the music carry the feeling.
The rideThe film maintains an energetic, celebratory mood from performances, interspersed with more reflective interview segments.
StructurePerformances and interviews from different festival years are assembled as a string of loosely linked episodes rather than told through a single narrative arc.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Fired up.

Rousing · 10% of filmsFeel-good
Why it leaves you this wayViewers leave with the adrenaline of the performances and a warm sense of belonging to a larger gathering, rather than the resolution of any story.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeA non-narrative concert documentary compiling performance highlights and interviews from several festival editions; the form has no story for the plot archetypes to fit.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9% (this title): Community 14% (this title) · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% (this title) · Technology 1%

Society

Community · 14% of filmsArt · 4% of filmsFreedom · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the communal experience of a major music festival, the diversity of musical expression, and the sense of escape and freedom it offers attendees.
StanceThe film celebrates the music festival as a communal, unifying cultural event, presenting the performances and atmosphere with admiration.

The world

ContemporaryIn transitRealistic
RockPopElectronicFolkForeground music · diegetic only · Test Shot Starfish
SettingCoachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, California desert, early 2000s
MusicThe soundtrack consists entirely of live festival performances from the featured bands.

Cast and crew

Who is in Coachella?

Cast

Michael Franti
as Self - Spearhead
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
as Self - The Mars Volta
Cedric Bixler-Zavala
as Self - The Mars Volta
John Frusciante
as Self
Cut Chemist
as Self
Noel Gallagher
as Self
Björk
as Self
Thom Yorke
as Self
Kool Keith
as Self
Saul Williams
as Self

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Coachella?

Movies like Coachella include Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not be Televised) (2021), Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé (2019) and BTS: Permission to Dance on Stage - LA (2022). Of the 10 closest matches, all are music documentaries, and most are films that feel exuberant.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 10 share its story type: concert film. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Coachella?

1.4K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: concert film. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.