Sony Pictures Classics’ Becoming Led Zeppelin — the first officially approved documentary about Led Zeppelin in the band’s nearly 57-year history — has been nominated for Best Music Documentary at the 2025 Critics Choice Documentary Awards.
The Critics Choice Association recognizes the most outstanding achievements in documentaries released across theaters, television, and major streaming platforms. Nominees and winners are selected by qualified Critics Choice Association (CCA) members who specialize in the documentary field. This milestone tenth edition of the awards is produced by Bob Bain of Bob Bain Productions and Joey Berlin of Berlin Entertainment.
The tenth annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards will take place on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at The Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. Hosted by award-winning actor, writer, and producer Aasif Mandvi, the event will bring together top filmmakers, industry insiders, and special guests for an evening celebrating excellence in nonfiction filmmaking.
Earlier this year, Becoming Led Zeppelin made headlines for its record-breaking box office debut. During its first weekend, the film grossed $3 million from IMAX screenings across 16 countries and territories. In the United States alone, it earned $2.6 million with an impressive $7,000 per-screen average — marking the biggest opening weekend ever for an IMAX-exclusive music documentary.
The film chronicles the birth and rise of Led Zeppelin, capturing how the legendary rock group came together and achieved global fame in just one year. Viewers are given a rare, immersive look at the band’s first two official tours and the creation of their groundbreaking self-titled debut and follow-up albums.
Featuring stunning, psychedelic, and never-before-seen visuals, Becoming Led Zeppelin presents a deeply personal and musical exploration of the band’s early days. Director Bernard MacMahon offers fans an unprecedented experience through exclusive interviews, archival material, and restored performances — providing unparalleled access to the group’s creative and personal beginnings. The project cements itself as the definitive documentary on Led Zeppelin, offering an intimate window into their evolution from obscurity to rock icons.
The film also includes a treasure trove of rare performance footage that had long been thought lost. Blending documentary storytelling with the energy of a live concert, it places audiences inside the venues and lives of Led Zeppelin during their formative years, enhanced by candid commentary from the band members themselves.
Christopher Campbell, Vice President of the CCA’s documentary branch, shared his thoughts on this year’s nominees, saying, “The nominated films and series this year remind us how documentary storytelling can illuminate truth, inspire empathy, and deepen our understanding of the world. We’re thrilled to recognize the filmmakers whose vision and dedication keep the art form evolving.”
Becoming Led Zeppelin almost never happened. The filmmakers faced enormous challenges in tracking down enough visual material to tell the band’s story, as little footage from their earliest era was known to exist. Determined to complete the project, MacMahon and producer Allison McGourty embarked on a worldwide search for archival content that could bring the band’s early history to life.
Directed by Emmy- and BAFTA-nominated Bernard MacMahon (American Epic) and written by MacMahon and BAFTA-nominated producer Allison McGourty, the film was produced by McGourty and Paradise Pictures in association with Big Beach. Executive producers include Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub, Cynthia Heusing, David Kistenbroker, Duke Erikson, Simon Moran, and Ged Doherty. Editing was handled by Dan Gitlin, with sound supervision by Nick Bergh, sound restoration by Grammy Award winner Peter Henderson, and archival research by Kate Griffiths and Rich Remsberg.
With its combination of rare footage, immersive sound, and insider storytelling, Becoming Led Zeppelin stands as both a cinematic celebration and a historical record of one of rock’s most influential bands — now officially recognized among the best documentaries of the year.
