Music has always been an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the world of cinema and television. Numerous directors and screenwriters have explored this rich and varied universe, resulting in captivating TV shows that plunge you into the heart of musical creation, the lives of artists or striking cultural movements. Here’s a selection of must-see music-themed series.
DJ Mehdi: Made In France
DJ Mehdi: Made In France is a poignant documentary series that delves into the musical and personal world of DJ Mehdi, one of the most influential artists on the French music scene. A native of the Paris suburbs, Mehdi Favéris-Essadi, better known by his stage name DJ Mehdi, has left his mark on French music history as a pioneer of “French Touch”. This movement, which has propelled artists such as Daft Punk and Justice onto the international scene, owes much of its identity to DJ Mehdi’s influence.
Through rare archive footage and personal accounts from renowned artists, this series looks back at his incredible career, from his beginnings in hip-hop to his meteoric rise on the electronic scene. Collaborating with iconic figures such as Booba, IAM and MC Solaar, DJ Mehdi transcended genres to create a unique sound, blending urban beats, catchy samples and electro melodies. He was also a key member of the Ed Banger Records collective, which helped redefine the codes of electronic music in the 2000s.
- AlloCiné: 4.4
- IMDb: 8.7/10
- SensCritique: 8.4/10
- Available to stream on Arte.tv and YouTube
- Audio format: stereo (French)
- Video format: Full HD 1080p
Genius: Aretha Franklin
Following on from Albert Einstein and Picasso, in this third installment National Geographic’s acclaimed Genius anthology turns its attention to the story of The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. The series explores the key moments in her life, from her tumultuous childhood in Detroit to her meteoric rise to fame.
Masterfully portrayed by Cynthia Erivo, Aretha Franklin is depicted as a bold, talented and resolutely determined woman. The series delves into her personal and professional struggles, her fights for civil rights and her exceptional musical legacy. Each episode highlights iconic songs such as Respect, Chain of Fools and Natural Woman, while revealing the behind-the-scenes story behind their creation.
- AlloCiné: 4.5
- IMDb: 7.4/10
- SensCritique: 7.0/10
- Available for streaming on Disney+ and Prime Video
- Audio format: Dolby Digital 5.1 (French and English)
- Video format: UHD 4K
The Eddy
The Eddy is a Franco-American mini-series written by Jack Thorne and directed by Damien Chazelle, renowned for iconic movies such as La La Land. Available on Netflix, this musical-drama series plunges us into the vibrant streets of Paris, where music and human relationships intertwine.
The story follows Elliot Udo (played by André Holland), a former American jazz pianist with a tormented past, who has chosen exile in Paris to turn the page on his career and personal demons. He runs The Eddy, a small jazz club that is struggling financially. As Elliot tries to save the club and keep the band afloat, he becomes embroiled in darker issues, including connections with organized crime. The situation is further complicated by the unexpected arrival of his teenage daughter, Julie (Amandla Stenberg), who challenges his priorities and lifestyle.
The mini-series stands out for its highly immersive atmosphere. It captures the effervescence and cultural diversity of Paris, featuring characters from different nationalities and backgrounds, reflecting the city’s cosmopolitan energy. Music plays a central role, and each episode features live musical performances recorded on set, without playback, reinforcing authenticity. Viewers are literally transported to the club, into the heart of musical creation.
- AlloCiné: 3.1/5
- IMDb: 7.1/10
- SensCritique: 5.9/10
- Available on Netflix
- Audio format: Dolby Atmos (English) and Dolby Digital 5.1 (French)
- Video format: UHD 4K
The Playlist
The Playlist is a Swedish series produced by Netflix that traces the creation and spectacular rise of Spotify. Based on true events and inspired by the book Spotify Untold by Sven Carlsson and Jonas Leijonhufvud, the series offers a captivating behind-the-scenes look at the technological revolution that transformed the music industry.
Read more: The Playlist, or the story of Spotify’s creation
The series primarily follows Daniel Ek (played by Edvin Endre), the founder of Spotify, a young, visionary entrepreneur whose dream is to make online music accessible to everyone while fighting against the piracy that plagued the industry in the 2000s. Through six episodes, each part of the story is told from the point of view of a key protagonist: Daniel Ek, developers, artists, investors and music industry executives. This unique narrative structure allows us to explore the many facets of the project, from the technical challenges to the ethical dilemmas of artist compensation.
- AlloCiné: 4.0/5
- IMDb: 7.2/10
- SensCritique: 7.3/10
- Available on Netflix
- Audio format: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English and French)
- Video format: UHD 4K
The Beatles: Get Back
The Beatles: Get Back is a documentary series directed by Peter Jackson that offers an exceptional insight into the final months of The Beatles’ career. This ambitious project, broadcast on Disney+, revisits the famous recording sessions for the Let It Be album, and intimately captures the band’s dynamic through never-before-seen footage.
Based on footage shot in 1969 by Michael Lindsay-Hogg, the series reveals never-before-seen moments thanks to meticulous restoration work on the original tapes. This monumental documentary, spread over three episodes for a total running time of almost eight hours, shows the Beatles at work, in all their complexity. Between moments of camaraderie, creative tension and musical genius, the viewer is transported into the intimacy of the legendary group. Beyond the music, The Beatles: Get Back also sheds light on the personal relationships between John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr at the height of their fame, just before they disbanded.
- AlloCiné: 4.5/5
- IMDb: 9.0/10
- SensCritique: 8.5/10
- Available on Disney+ streaming
- Audio format: Dolby Atmos (English)
- Video format: UHD 4K
Le Monde de demain
Created by Katell Quillévéré, Hélier Cisterne and Vincent Poymiro, this series looks at the cultural and social roots of the hip-hop movement in France. It explores the environment in which this counter-culture was born, focusing on the underground scene and the beginnings of the legendary group NTM. We follow the journey of its members JoeyStarr (played by Anthony Bajon) and Kool Shen (played by Sandor Funtek), two youngsters from Seine-Saint-Denis whose energy, rage and creativity revolutionized French music and culture. Through their complex relationship, marked by moments of camaraderie, rivalry and shared passion, Le Monde de demain shows how music can be both an escape and a vehicle for change.
The story also focuses on Dee Nasty, the pioneering DJ who introduced the first influences of American hip-hop to France, and Béatrice, an iconic dancer and graffiti artist. Through these characters, the series paints a realistic and moving picture of the 1980s, an era marked by social inequality, the quest for identity, and a generation’s need for self-expression. The viewer is immersed in the first breakdance battles, underground parties where rap and daring mixes come together, and passionate discussions about the art of graffiti.
- AlloCiné: 4.4/5
- IMDb: 7.6/10
- SensCritique: 7.6/10
- Available on Arte.tv
- Audio format: stereo
- Video format: Full HD 1080p
Montre jamais ça à personne
Broadcast on Prime Video, Montre jamais ça à personne offers a rare and fascinating immersion into the life and career of one of the most influential artists on the French music scene: Orelsan. Directed by Clément Cotentin, Orelsan’s brother, this two-season series reveals the behind-the-scenes journey of an artist who rose from nothing to become an icon of French rap and pop culture.
The documentary is based on never-before-seen archive footage filmed (sometimes surreptitiously) by Clément over a period of more than 20 years. This footage captures Orelsan’s first steps in the rap world, his moments of doubt and failure, but also the key stages in his meteoric rise. We discover an artist who is passionate, a perfectionist and profoundly human, as well as an entourage that played an essential role in his success. The members of the Casseurs Flowters collective, led by Gringe and his long-time manager Ablaye, are also at the heart of the story, bringing a collective dimension to this artistic adventure.
Montre jamais ça à personne, offers a unique insight into the artist’s life. Thanks to Clément Cotentin’s camera, we feel as though we are discovering secret images and becoming part of Orelsan’s inner circle. Behind-the-scenes footage of tours, songwriting, and relationships with loved ones are approached with rare candor. The documentary also explores how Orelsan has reinvented himself over the years, evolving from a provocative rapper to a well-rounded artist capable of blending introspection, humor, and social commentary in his lyrics.
- AlloCiné: 4.6/5
- IMDb: 8.6/10
- SensCritique: 8.2/10
- Available on Prime Video
- Audio format: Dolby Digital Plus 5.1
- Video format: Full HD 1080p
Vinyl
Vinyl is a period drama television series created by Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Rich Cohen and Terence Winter. Originally broadcast on HBO, this ambitious production plunges viewers into the hustle and bustle of the music industry in 1970s New York. Rich in intrigue and music, Vinyl explores a world where rock, drugs, sex and unbridled ambition reign supreme.
The series follows Richie Finestra (played by Bobby Cannavale), a charismatic and tormented music producer who runs American Century Records, a record label in crisis. With the company about to be bought out by a German multinational, Richie must juggle crucial business decisions with a desperate quest to breathe new life into his label. His mission? Discover the “next big sound” to revive his company and his career.
Martin Scorsese’s direction in the pilot sets the tone: edgy, immersive and visually stunning. His mastery of storytelling and love of music shine through in every scene. This unique artistic touch gives Vinyl a cinematic dimension that sets it apart from many other series. Although the series was cancelled, it remains a must-see.
- AlloCiné: 4.5
- IMDb: 7.7/10
- SensCritique: 7.7/10
- Available to stream on MyCanal
- Audio format: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English and French)
- Video format: Full HD 1080p
Mozart in the Jungle
Mozart in the Jungle is a refreshingly unique series that delves behind the scenes of the classical music world, often perceived as rigid and conservative, to reveal a surprising side: chaotic, passionate and full of humor. Inspired by the book Mozart in the Jungle: Sex, Drugs, and Classical Music by Blair Tindall, this series explores the lives of the musicians in a major New York symphony orchestra, brilliantly blending fact and fiction.
The story is shaped by Rodrigo De Souza, portrayed by Gael García Bernal, an eccentric conductor who takes the reins of the orchestra and shakes up the habits of musicians and administrators alike. Inspired by renowned Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, Rodrigo is a charismatic, unpredictable character whose revolutionary vision of classical music disturbs as much as it seduces. At his side, Hailey Rutledge (Lola Kirke), a talented young oboist, tries to make a place for herself in this competitive environment, while juggling her artistic ambitions with the realities of an often precarious life.
- AlloCiné: 4.0/5
- IMDb: 8.2/10
- SensCritique: 7.6/10
- Available on Prime Video
- Audio format: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English and French)
- Video format: UHD 4K
Pistol
An explosive British mini-series, Pistol delves into the rebellious, chaotic world of the Sex Pistols. Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire), it traces the meteoric rise, scandals and tragic fall of the band that rocked the 1970s music scene.
Based on the memoirs of Steve Jones (Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol), the guitarist of the legendary band, Pistol explores the beginnings of punk in England, a cultural and musical movement born against a backdrop of economic crisis, social revolt and rejection of convention. Over six episodes, the series follows Steve Jones (Toby Wallace) and his bandmates, Johnny Rotten (Anson Boon), Sid Vicious (Louis Partridge), Paul Cook (Jacob Slater) and Glen Matlock (Christian Lees), as they struggle to make their voices heard and impose their vision of the world.
Beyond the music, Pistol offers an insight into 1970s England, marked by unemployment, strikes and a disillusioned youth in search of an identity. The series highlights how the Sex Pistols became a megaphone for this generation, defying established norms and demanding total freedom of expression, even if it meant shocking public opinion.
- AlloCiné: 4.0/5
- IMDb: 7.5/10
- SensCritique: 7.3/10
- Available to stream on Disney+
- Audio format: Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 (English and French)
- Video format: Full HD 1080p
Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy
Released shortly after the Montre jamais ça à personne series about Orelsan, Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy has the same docu-series concept, this time focusing on rapper Kanye West. Filmed over a period of more than 20 years, the series retraces the milestones in Kanye’s career and life. It opens with his early days as a talented producer, collaborating with renowned artists such as Jay-Z, but struggling to gain recognition as a rapper. Through exclusive archive footage, Jeen-Yuhs reveals a young and determined Kanye, convinced of his greatness despite the doubts and rejection of the music industry.
The documentary is divided into three parts, each exploring a specific phase of Kanye’s life. The first focuses on his struggle to be taken seriously as a solo artist. The second highlights his explosion as a superstar with the album The College Dropout, while addressing the growing pressures of success. Finally, part three delves into the most controversial and tumultuous aspects of his career, exploring his personal relationships, his mental health and his role in contemporary culture.
- AlloCiné: 4.5/5
- IMDb: 7.9/10
- SensCritique: 7.6/10
- Available on Netflix
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Whether they pay tribute to legendary artists like Aretha Franklin and Kanye West, or take us on a journey through the history of a movement such as hip-hop or punk, these series invite us to rediscover the universal power of music. Please feel free to add your favorite series and documentaries to the list in the comments, as well as those you feel are missing from this non-exhaustive list.
