What is The Greatest Night in Pop about? Netflix movie explained

The Greatest Night in Pop just dropped on Netflix. So, what is this feature-length music documentary about?

Netflix certainly has form when it comes to high-quality music documentaries. The streaming platform has served up factual features focused on the careers of performers such as Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé.

Netflix’s documentary library includes exposés on the less savory side of the industry, too. The Two Killings of Sam Cooke and FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened are both well-regarded examples of this alternative approach.

And now we have The Greatest Night in Pop: the latest addition to Netflix’s music-focused programming. What’s it about? Read on to find out!

What is The Greatest Night in Pop about?

The Greatest Night in Pop tells the real-life story behind the 1985 charity single “We Are the World.”

Written by Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson, the track featured an all-star line-up of talent. Solo performers included Richie, Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. The chorus also boasted plenty of big names, including Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, and Hollywood icon Dan Ackroyd. Quincy Jones served as the supergroup’s conductor.

This stellar roster was enough to send “We Are the World” to the top of music charts around the world when it debuted in March 1985. The song quickly became the fastest-selling pop single in US history, and (together with tie-in merchandise) raised over $60 million for the non-profit organization USA For Africa.

The Greatest Night in Pop chronicles Ritchie and Jackson’s efforts to write “We Are the World,” as well as the mammoth task of pulling together the charity tune’s recording session. It includes never-before-seen footage from both the writing and recording sessions, as well as interviews with many of the artists and technicians involved.

What are critics saying about The Greatest Night in Pop?

The critical response to The Greatest Night in Pop has been overwhelmingly positive so far. It currently holds a 94% professional review score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 18 reviews).

In a 9/10 review, SlashFilm‘s Ben Pearson opined that “The Greatest Night in Pop certainly lives up to its name by delivering a jaw-dropping and occasionally even transcendent peek behind the curtain of one of music’s biggest moments.”

The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney agreed, describing the film as “an engaging blitz of nostalgia guaranteed to leave core viewers misty-eyed.”