Remastered Talking Heads Documentary Becomes IMAX King

Stop Making Sense became the best-selling IMAX live event after being remastered and live-streamed across 150 IMAX theaters.

The Talking Heads were one of the most successful bands in their heyday. From the late 70s to 80s, the David Byrne-led group produced popular music with an alternative, New Wave twist. The documentary, Stop Making Sense, was about their “Speaking in Tongues” Tour, which completely changed the way that concerts and tours are performed. Now, 30 years later, it has been re-released and remastered for IMAX by A24, first as a live-streamed event, and then in regular viewing times.

The Wrap reports that Stop Making Sense officially became IMAX’s best-selling live event ever. The remastered version of the concert documentary was released this past Monday, September 12th. The event garnered $640,839 of same-day revenue, spread across over 25 sold-out theaters in the United States, and the IMAX theater in London.

The world premiere, which happened in Toronto, also featured a Q&A panel. On this panel was film legend Spike Lee, who is known for Do the Right Thing, BlacKkKlansman, and the 2013 American re-interpretation of Oldboy – the original Korean version of the film, directed by Park Chan-wook, is being re-released this year. Also on the panel were band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison.

The Talking Heads have come out with some of the most popular songs of all time, such as "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)," "Once In A Lifetime," "Burning Down The House," and, of course, "Psycho Killer." These songs, in particular, have been tremendously influential on pop culture, and have been featured in a myriad of movies and TV shows. Some of the media that has featured the music of The Talking Heads includes The Boys, Stranger Things, The Vampire Diaries, Crazy Stupid Love, Grey’s Anatomy, High Fidelity, Lars and the Real Girl, Hot Tub Machine, Wreck-It Ralph, Julie & Julia and many more.

Stop Making Sense Continues Its Success

Stop Making Sense is in the pantheon of the greatest concert movies ever made, along with Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii – which was shot live, in an ancient amphitheater over the course of four days – Michael Jackson’s This Is It, Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium, and the Martin Scorsese-directed The Last Waltz. It was directed by Jonathan Demme, who is known for directing Silence of The Lambs –which won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture.

Stop Making Sense will be in theaters for a limited time only. Audiences can go watch the documentary/concert starting September 22nd.