Music and film are each their own forms of art, but what’s neat is that these two are inherently connected. Great movies are often backed up by memorable soundtracks, and fantastic music often makes its way into movies, sometimes even being an inspiration for storylines in films. Think of some of the great movie soundtracks that have arrived over the years, like 1992’s The Bodyguard and 1977’s Saturday Night Fever. Those movies wouldn’t be the same without those sounds behind them.
In 2000, a Cameron Crowe film debuted that brought the world of film and music together. It had a sweet soundtrack, but the entire movie was based on rock ‘n’ roll.
That film was Almost Famous, and it’s been named one of the greatest movies of all time by the experts at The Hollywood Reporter. It’s also currently streaming for free, so you can watch Penny Lane and her friends without paying, well, even a penny.
Almost Famous, set in 1973, tells the story of a glorified groupie Penny Lane, played by Kate Hudson, and teenage journalist William Miller, played by Patrick Fugit. It’s a coming-of-age story about finding oneself, the reality vs. illusion of fame and the power of music. Crowe has said it’s a semi-autobiographical story.
You can watch it for free on Pluto TV, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
“A high school boy in the early 1970s is given the chance to write a story for Rolling Stone magazine about an up-and-coming rock band as he accompanies them on their concert tour,” IMDb’s official synopsis states of the film.
Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Lester Bangs, a mentor to Miller who has strong views on the music business. “One of Hoffman’s most beloved performances — and he delivered the whole thing while suffering from the flu,” The Hollywood Reporter states in their feature on the 100 greatest films of all time, where it comes in at No. 71.
The movie has a domestic lifetime gross, adjusted for inflation in 2014, according to the outlet, of just over $48 million. So, while the film has a cult following, it’s also mainstream enough to have been a financial success. It’s a touching, heartfelt story about the darker side of the music world, especially that world in the ’70s, that has found a place in the hearts of millions over the years.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Jun 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.aol.com ’
