America Utopia is a warm, funky, intelligent, important blanket...

| Apr 4, 2024

Byrne's message in the film is one of diversity, inclusiveness and togetherness. He also has a message that despite how hopeless things seem at the moment, there is still hope for the future. This is a very positive movie, full of joy and hope.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 12, 2024

A joyous march through the audience that captures a moment in time shortly before live performance went dark and imagines the thrill of being able to do it again in the future.

| Feb 7, 2024

This film felt like a hug to me, saying that there is still a way to entertain on the stage and, one day, we will get to do the same again.

| Original Score: A- | Mar 8, 2023

Nobody could possibly come away from this with any political feeling stronger than having their core convictions safely affirmed.

| Nov 29, 2022

Utopia refers to an imagined place or state where everything is perfect. Well imagine no more. David Byrne’s American Utopia is the perfect remedy to these trying times. A cathartic, infectious and joyous experience that everyone will want to call Home.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 12, 2022

A sonic beam of joy and relief.

| Mar 11, 2022

American Utopia acknowledges that comfort zones sometimes need to be breached to make progress as a whole, that we all need to get better at dealing with our social anxieties, presumptions, and empathizing with others.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Feb 17, 2022

One of the most transcendent experiences to be found on any size of screen this year.

| Sep 26, 2021

...Spike Lee and David Byrne work very well together in this mordant, magnificent document of a Broadway performance of American Utopia...

| Sep 9, 2021

New York's finest team up for a greatest hits extravaganza that doubles as one of 2020's best films...

| Original Score: 5/5 | May 18, 2021

Terse, almost frills-free filmmaking from Lee results in a show about something that has been in short supply: Hope.

| Apr 22, 2021

It's the best party around.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Mar 16, 2021

What they've managed to do is create a permanent record of this amazing show, which I think will go down as one of the most meticulously crafted and contemplated performances by a major musician in history.

| Mar 13, 2021

It's the best movie experience I had this pandemic year.

| Original Score: A | Feb 25, 2021

Directed by Spike Lee, David Byrne's American Utopia is a largely delightful musical presentation, a filmed version of Byrne's 2019 Broadway show.

| Feb 13, 2021

American Utopia is much more earnest [than Stop Making Sense]. It is a bit of a disconnect. But it's a Broadway show, and Broadway has to be earnest.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 3, 2021

American Utopia is a gem. A concert film that, like "Stop Making Sense" redefines what live performance can be.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jan 29, 2021

Lee captures Byrne and his team of musicians, dancers, and vocalists as they bend, wobble, and declaim collectively.

| Jan 27, 2021

Spike Lee's film of Byrne's sold-out Hudson Theater run is respectfully faithful to the stage performance, with a few deft embellishments.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jan 14, 2021