Rock and roll is more than a genre. It’s an emotion. From its early stage of emergence in the 1950s, rock and roll is often credited as a rite of passage experienced by a majority of teenagers, globally. Many modern-day masters have credited rock and roll as a source of induction at the start of their creative pursuits. From filmmakers like Wong Kar Wai to cultural icons like Andy Warhol, rock and roll is often regarded as the cornerstone of most creative endeavors. There is no surprise that these two mediums of art are as compatible as salt and pepper, with these 10 films proving just why.

10 Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

     Recorded Picture Company

Only Lovers Left Alive opened to a grand reception at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Touted as a refreshingly dark take on love and life, the film centers around Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton, who play an aging vampire couple living among modern day humans. The film was helmed by Jim Jarmusch, who is a musician himself. Jarmusch’s distinctive visual style successfully pays homage to the city of Detroit, highlighted beautifully in the night sequences in the film. With eerie, heart-touching soundtracks from frequent fellow collaborator Sqùrl, Only Lovers Left Alive is a must-watch for every lover of rock and roll.

9 School of Rock (2003)

     Paramount Pictures

If we all had a music teacher like Jack Black, we’d all be rock stars. School of Rock is often regarded as one of the first introductory films to rock and roll. From legendary director Richard Linklater, the film perfectly sets up the ethos of the genre — perfectly creating the balance of individuality and unity. While many films about rock are dark and gritty, School of Rock celebrates the spirit of rock, a spirit that transcends all groups.

8 Inside Lweyn Davis (2013)

     CBS Films

If rock and roll can thrill, oftentimes it instills a deep sadness that seeps into one’s bones. Partly inspired from Dave Von Ronk’s autobiography, Inside Lweyn Davis tells the heart-wrenching tale of a musician struggling to make ends meet against the backdrop of New York in the ’60s. From master filmmakers, the Coen Brothers, Inside Lweyn Davis stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and Adam Driver. The film also features soundtracks from industry heavyweights such as Bob Dylan and Justin Timberlake.

7 Dazed and Confused (1993)

     Alphaville

Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is another one of those films about rock and roll that one views during their introductory phase to the genre. Dazed and Confused revolves around a group of teenagers living through their last few days of high school. The film touches on important subjects related to coming-of-age, with themes such as individuality, rebellion, and teenage trite, all highlighted in a delicately beautiful manner. With a star-studded cast featuring the likes of Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, and Adam Goldberg, it’s Matthew McConaughey’s small but memorable role that steals the show.

6 Almost Famous (2000)

     DreamWorks Pictures

Almost Famous is Cameron Crowe’s love letter to himself. Loosely based on his journey in the world of journalism, Almost Famous recounts the story of a fifteen-year-old journalist as he covers a rock band during their tour. Being a contributing editor for Rolling Stone, Crowe leaves no stone unturned in his unflinching recollection of the rock and roll life. Receiving four Academy Award nominations and one win (Best Original Screenplay), Almost Famous is a film that’s bold, fast-paced, and rocks out like no other.

5 Purple Rain (1984)

     Warner Bros Pictures

Musicals, when made for adults, are difficult to get right. Add to that a rock star making his acting debut and a director with not a lot of prior experience. One would think the outcome would be a product of disaster, right? Wrong. Albert Magnoli’s Purple Rain, starring Prince, is proof that when a film is made from the heart, it eventually finds its way through. Prince’s Purple Rain revolves around his character, The Kid, and his band The Revolution, documenting their rise to super-stardom. Upon its release in 1984, Purple Rain received commercial and critical success along with an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score.

4 Gimme Shelter (1970)

     Cinema 5

Gimme Shelter is a documentary film that follows The Rolling Stones’ 1969 US tour, which eventually led up to the shocking death of Meredith Hunter Jr, a concert-goer who was stabbed to death. There were two more deaths caused by hit-and-run accidents, and another death caused by drug overdose. The film’s directors, Albert and David Maysles, along with Charlotte Zwerin, managed to scourge footage from the festival grounds and culminate it into a documentary, switching between the narratives of the various bands that witnessed the gruesome incident at the festival.

3 Walk The Line (2005)

     20th Century Fox

Based on the life of legendary singer Johny Cash, Walk the Line is a feature film directed by James Mangold, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. The film is based on two autobiographies written by Johnny Cash himself, Man in Black and Cash: The Autobiography. Walk the Line premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2005, followed by a theatrical release in the USA, winning Reese Witherspoon an Academy Award and earning Phoenix a nomination.

2 Sid and Nancy (1986)

     Initial Pictures

If there’s one film that perfectly embodies the spirit of punk rock, it’s Sid and Nancy. An autobiographical homage to the real-life Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, Sid and Nancy leaves no stone unturned in revealing the highly dysfunctional, borderline toxic relationship between a modern-day Demigod and his muse/girlfriend. A raw, bold film that yells for attention at the top of its voice and does everything to hold it.

1 The Doors (1991)

     Tri-Star Pictures

Many would argue there would be no modern rock without The Doors and there would be Doors without the legendary lizard king, Jim Morrison. The Doors is Oliver Stone’s masterpiece based on the rise and fall of the Electric Poet, Jim Morrison, and his band, The Doors. Though the film was critically well received with Val Kilmer, in particular, garnering praise for his portrayal of Jim Morrison, the band and other industry figures weren’t too happy with the historical accuracy of the film. But that aside, The Doors, is a must-watch for every Rock and Roll fan, especially if you love Jim Morrison.