- 2010
- R
- Abramorama
- 1 h 37 m
SummaryNarrated by Johnny Depp, award-winning writer-director Tom DiCillo’s riveting film uncovers historic, previously unseen footage of The Doors and provides new insight into the revolutionary impact of their music and legacy. “When You’re Strange” is the first feature documentary to tell their story. (Rhino Records)
Directed By:Tom DiCillo
Written By:Tom DiCillo
When You're Strange
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.2
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
33% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
50% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
17% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
83
When You're Strange, a documentary history of the Doors directed by Tom DiCillo, is for people like me who can stumble onto the scrappiest Doors video on VH1 at 3 a.m. and sit there, mesmerized.
75
Unhappy with what Oliver Stone did to Jim Morrison and the Doors in his 1991 biopic? Here’s the doc for you.
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.2
93% Positive
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
7% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Dec 4, 2025
8
"When You're Strange" is a documentary history of the Doors directed by Tom DiCillo, is for people like me who can stumble onto the scrappiest Doors video on VH1 at 3 a.m. and sit there, mesmerized. Narrated by Johnny Depp, it offers a worshipful but insightful portrait of the group - centered, of course, on its charismatic front man.
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Oct 18, 2010
8
An excellent reflection of Morrison and the Doors. Johnny Depp's excellent narration makes you listen to every word as we roll through this entertaining documentary.
Report
60
Thanks to his major role in songwriting, Krieger is credited repeatedly, but the other two players recede as the band increasingly becomes The Jim Morrison Show.
60
Like so many Doors chroniclers, DiCillo can’t help but fall under the singer’s spell; it’s understandable, but frustrating.
60
A must for Doors fans as the film attempts to disentangle the facts from the myths surrounding the legendary band.
42
Director Tom DiCillo does his damnedest to make his documentary about The Doors unwatchable, but the subject matter is too compelling--and the vintage footage too electrifying--to be completely worthless.
25
When You're Strange is a remedial Doors class, taught by a professor who sounds as if he's doing voiceovers for car commercials.
Sep 22, 2010
6
I'll tell you what's strange... Finding an actor who looks exactly like Jim Morrison and making him do all kinds of weird crap that's worthy of the cheesiest Unsolved Mysteries dramatizations. Other than that I enjoyed it.
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Production Company:
- Wolf Entertainment
Release Date:Apr 9, 2010
Duration:1 h 37 m
Rating:R
Genres:
Awards
SXSW Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Grammy Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
