Skip to content
Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers: Dead or Alive poster
Recommendations based on

Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers: Dead or Alive

2006 Movie Documentary Music

The spotlight is on guitarist Johnny Thunders, best known for his stint with punk gods the New York Dolls, in this combination concert video and documentary chronicling his hedonistic, self-destructive lifestyle. Included is his only live show on film -- backed by the Heartbreakers and featuring the songs "Chinese Rocks," "Born to Lose" and "Hurt Me" -- plus behind-the-scenes studio footage and clips from his 1976 "Anarchy" tour of Britain.

Same cast & genre

14 Shares actors and at least one genre with this title
Born to Lose: The Last Rock and Roll Movie poster
FILM

Veteran documentary filmmaker and hipster Lech Kowalski creates this film about his friend and hard-partying rock god Johnny Thunders, member of legendary proto-punk band the New York Dolls. Through archive footage and interviews with such musicians as Dee Dee Ramone and Sylvain Sylvain, the film details his stint with the Dolls, the formation of his other band, the Heartbreakers; his rise to fame, particularly in Japan; his descent into heroin addiction, and the mysterious circumstances of his death.

Born to Lose: The Last Rock and Roll Movie

2001 Music
New York Dolls: All Dolled Up poster
FILM

In the early 70’s, Rock photographer Bob Gruen and his wife Nadya purchased a portable Video Recorder. In a period of three years they shot over 40 hours of New York Dolls footage. Now for the first time ever this footage is unveiled. This feature length documentary captures the band during early performances in New York at Kenny’s Castaways and Max’s Kansas City, then follows the Dolls on their tour of the West Coast, including footage from the Whisky A Go Go, the Real Don Steele Show, Rodney Bingenheimer’s E Club and much more. Intercut with revealing interviews, backstage banter and late night debauchery, this is THE definitive document of the New York Dolls.

New York Dolls: All Dolled Up

2005 Music
Looking for Johnny poster
FILM

Johnny Thunders was the legendary hard-living rock'n'roll guitarist who inspired glam-metal, punk and the music scene in general. 'Looking For Johnny' is a 90-minute film that documents Thunders' career from his beginnings to his tragic death in 1991. The film examines Johnny Thunders' career from the early 70's as a founding member of the influential New York Dolls; the birth of the punk scene with The Heartbreakers in New York City and London; Gang War and The Oddballs. It also explores Johnny's unique musical style, his personal battle with drugs and theories on his death in a New Orleans hotel in 1991 at age 38. The film includes forty songs with historic film of Johnny, including unseen New York Dolls and Heartbreakers footage and photos. Cult filmmakers Bob Gruen, Don Letts, Patrick Grandperret, Rachael Amadeo and others contribute classic archive footage.

Looking for Johnny

2014 Documentary
Johnny Thunders Live: In Cold Blood poster
FILM

Recorded at Irving Plaza, New York City, on March 13, 1982. This rare 1982 concert video showcases rough-and-tumble rocker (and former New York Doll) Johnny Thunders performing a set of the songs that shot him to punk notoriety, including "In Cold Blood," "Too Much Junkie Business" and "Alone in the Crowd." Thunders and his backing band also treat their New York audience to "Sad Vacation," "Who Needs Girls," "Pipeline," "Born to Lose," "Just Another Girl" and "Baby I Love You, Really I Do."

Johnny Thunders Live: In Cold Blood

2002 Music

Closely Ranked

10 Ranked across franchise, crew, cast, themes, genre, era and audience scores
Katy Perry: Part of Me poster
94% match FILM

Giving fans unprecedented access to the real life of the music sensation, Katy Perry: Part of Me exposes the hard work, dedication and phenomenal talent of a girl who remained true to herself and her vision in order to achieve her dreams. Featuring rare behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Katy and her friends, and all-access footage of rehearsals, choreography, Katy’s signature style and more, Katy Perry: Part of Me reveals the singer’s unwavering belief that if you can be yourself, then you can be anything.

Katy Perry: Part of Me

★ 7.1 2012 Documentary

Viewers also picked

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition poster
91% match FILM

With unprecedented access to the official archives and intimate recollections from the band, both current and past, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition invites fans to experience one of the most iconic journeys in music history. Spanning five decades, this electrifying documentary charts the band’s rise from the pubs of East London to the world’s biggest stadiums. Featuring exclusive interviews with band members and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, as well as all-new animated sequences of the band's legendary mascot, Eddie, the film offers a rare and intimate look at Iron Maiden’s uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their truly global army of fans.

Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition

★ 8.5 2026 Documentary

Viewers also picked

Crossfire Hurricane poster
88% match FILM

This film is released as part of the ongoing 50th anniversary celebration of the Rolling Stones. It tells the story of the Stones' unparalleled journey from blues obsessed teens in the early 60s to their undisputed status as rock royalty. All of the Stones have been newly interviewed and their words form the narrative arc that links together archive footage of performances, news coverage, and interviews, much of it previously unseen. Taking its title from a lyric in "Jumpin' Jack Flash," this film gives the viewer an intimate insight into exactly what it's like to be part of the Rolling Stones as they overcome denunciation, drugs, dissensions, and death to become the definitive survivors. Over a year in the making and produced with the full cooperation and involvement of the Stones, this film is and will remain the definitive story of the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band

Crossfire Hurricane

★ 7.1 2012 Documentary

Viewers also picked