Legendary Concert Film 'Stop Making Sense' to Grace Theaters Once More

If you're excited about catching ‘Stop Making Sense’ on the big screen again, your wish is about to come true. Starting 27th January, the cherished Talking Heads concert film is making a return to theatres across the U.S., Canada and the U.K., marking its 40th anniversary this summer.

The film will have extended showings in cities like Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and more. Tickets can be purchased online.

A24, the distributor, is also offering a special collection of merchandise at select theatres. Additionally, they are opening preorders for a collector's edition 4K and Blu-ray release of the film on 27th January. Considering the Talking Heads' reunion celebration at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, there's speculation that band members might make surprise appearances at theatres during the theatrical tour.

On 10th January, A24 hinted at an upcoming tribute album for ‘Stop Making Sense,’ slated for release later this year. The album will feature Paramore as the lead, covering ‘Burning Down the House’ and 15 other artists yet to be revealed, contributing their own Talking Heads covers. The goal is to recreate the iconic setlist of the ‘Stop Making Sense’ tour.

A24, having secured global rights to re-released the concert film in theatres last fall. The reissue turned out to be a massive success, grossing $5 million at the box office, surpassing the film's entire initial 41-week run ($4.95 million) in 1984. Notably, ‘Stop Making Sense’ also became Imax's highest-grossing live event, earning $640,839 and selling out 25 screens across 165 Imax locations in North America.

Directed by Jonathan Demme, ‘Stop Making Sense’ is widely regarded as one of the greatest concert films ever. Starring Talking Heads members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison, along with Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir, Steve Scales, Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt, the electrifying live performance was captured over three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December 1983.

– Farheen Ali