--- title: "20 Feet from Stardom: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/20-feet-from-stardom/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/20-feet-from-stardom" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 19 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # 20 Feet from Stardom (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 19 reviews: 18 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Almost every critic likes this film, and most like it a great deal. The praise clusters on the singers themselves: Merry Clayton, Darlene Love and Lisa Fischer are named again and again, and the reviews describe the documentary as joyous, rousing and infectious. Clayton’s account of recording ‘Gimme Shelter’ is singled out more than once, as is Morgan Neville’s use of archive footage and the sheer quality of the music. Several critics say the women outsing the stars they stood behind. The reservations are consistent and mild. A number of reviews, among them The AV Club and Slant, find that the film has too many stories and never quite shapes them into one. Others, including The Guardian, wish it had said more about race and gender rather than settling for a feel-good tone. The spread is narrow; the lone mixed notice, from the Evening Standard, calls it an enjoyable arts feature on a safe subject, technically unremarkable. ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 11 March 2014. The critic praises the documentary as joyous, spectacular, tuneful, touching and thoughtful, noting its engaging exploration of back-up singers' artistry and stories of exploitation and talent versus fame. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/20-feet-stardom-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2013. The critic describes the film as infectious and irresistible, a moving and joyous look at backup singers who outsing many stars. It singles out the powerful voices and personal stories of the women, especially their transformative performances and resilience. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-jun-13-la-et-mn-review-twenty-feet-movie-20130614-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Susan Wloszczyna Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2013. The critic praises the documentary as a rousing tribute that highlights the talents of backup singers like Merry Clayton and Darlene Love. It singles out the women's personal stories and performances, especially Clayton's work on 'Gimme Shelter,' for making the film absorbing and revelatory. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/20-feet-from-stardom-2013) ## Variety Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2013. Festival review. The critic calls it a compelling crusade to recognize background singers, with a rousing group portrait that should appeal broadly. It singles out the essential role of African-American singers in shaping pop music sound and the absorbing personal accounts from figures like Darlene Love and Merry Clayton. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/twenty-feet-from-stardom-1117949005/) ## The AV Club — Sam Adams Rating B+. 13 June 2013. The documentary celebrates the accomplishments of mostly female backup singers through stories of heartbreak and near-misses with fame, though it struggles to fully explore racial and industry issues or weave its narratives cohesively. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/twenty-feet-from-stardom-1798177091) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 5 March 2013. Festival review. The critic describes it as a heartfelt tribute that thoughtfully examines race and gender in the music industry through the stories of African-American vocalists, with breezy execution and rewarding vocal performances, though it settles on a feel-good tone. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/twenty-feet-from-stardom/5052628.article) ## Time Out — David Fear Rating 4/5. 25 March 2014. The review highlights how the film puts unsung backing singers in the spotlight and effectively balances their success stories with failed solo attempts and ego suppression, calling it several cuts above average music docs and inspiring. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/twenty-feet-from-stardom) ## Sight and Sound — Kate Stables Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2014. The critic praises Neville's exuberant documentary for foregrounding the black female backing singers with energetic oral history, archive footage and performances, celebrating their gospel-rooted contributions while noting their struggles with solo careers and industry exploitation. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-20-feet-from-stardom) ## Slant Magazine — Thomas Hachard Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2013. The joyous documentary spotlights the stories of backup singers and their contributions to music history while touching on civil rights and industry mistreatment of women, though it has trouble shaping these into a clear narrative; the music and historical moments override structural flaws. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/twenty-feet-from-stardom/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 March 2014. The critic calls the film a great idea and a thoroughly enjoyable movie bursting with life, music and energy that highlights the under-appreciated backing singers. They note some personal sadness for those who wanted stardom but also wish for more discussion of race and gender issues. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/mar/27/20-feet-from-stardom-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Justin Lowe Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2013. Festival review. The film recognizes the talent and sacrifice of backup singers who have supported major stars, profiling figures like Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Lisa Fischer while noting its cable-friendly appeal and broader ambitions. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/twenty-feet-stardom-sundance-review-413598/) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2013. The critic calls the film generous and fascinating for rewriting pop music history by focusing on marginal yet vital backup singers. It singles out the theme of luck, ambition, and prejudice keeping talent in the shadows, along with standout performances like Claudia Lennear's take on 'Southern Man.' [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/movies/20-feet-from-stardom-explores-world-of-backup-singers.html) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2014. The critic calls it an enjoyable arts feature with great music clips but technically unremarkable and a safe subject, arguing it was not deserving of its Oscar win over more daring films. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/20-feet-from-stardom-film-review-9220718.html) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 February 2014. The critic calls it a fantastic musical documentary that is foot-tapping and uplifting. They single out the compelling interviews with the backup singers and the rich archive footage and celebrity contributions for praise, while noting minor organizational issues in presenting multiple stories. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/20-feet-from-stardom-2013-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2013. The critic calls the film a marvelously entertaining and instructive documentary spotlighting the hugely talented backup singers behind major stars. It shows how talent alone is often insufficient for stardom, but highlights the joy these performers find in sharing their voices. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/twenty-feet-gets-groove-backup-singers-97271/) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Rating 4/5. 24 March 2014. The film gives backing singers their overdue spotlight as unsung heroines of the music industry. It features a cracking soundtrack and vivid personal stories from figures like Merry Clayton and Darlene Love. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a558784/20-feet-from-stardom-review-music-industry-heroines-moment-to-shine/) ## HeyUGuys — Amon Warmann Rating 4/5. 28 March 2014. The critic calls it an illuminating and hugely entertaining documentary with important messages, a legitimate feel-good movie of the year. They single out the toe-tapping use of music, archived tracks, and the singers' candid stories for praise, while noting that some threads like racism and sexism could have had more screen time. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/twenty-feet-from-stardom-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 18 January 2013. Festival review. The critic praises the film's exploration of music history, race, collaboration, and performance through backup singers' perspectives, highlighting their passion and sisterhood; complains that the focus on individual careers and fame's capriciousness undermines the main point. [Read the review](https://collider.com/twenty-feet-from-stardom-review/) ## Paste — Annlee Ellingson Rating 7.2. 1 July 2013. The review highlights the film's thorough documentation of backup singing craft and its showcase of talented black female singers' stories and performances set to great music; notes it feels a bit long and doesn't deeply explore those who succeeded as leads or modern tech impacts. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/20-feet-from-stardom) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/20-feet-from-stardom.md