View source for Almost Famous

{{short description|2000 film by Cameron Crowe}}
{{About|the film|other uses|Almost Famous (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Almost Famous
| image          = Almost famous poster1.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Cameron Crowe]]
| writer         = Cameron Crowe
| producer       = Cameron Crowe<br />[[Ian Bryce]]
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Patrick Fugit]]
* [[Billy Crudup]]
* [[Frances McDormand]]
* [[Kate Hudson]]
* [[Jason Lee (actor)|Jason Lee]]
* [[Anna Paquin]]
* [[Fairuza Balk]]
* [[Noah Taylor]]
* [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]
}}
| cinematography = [[John Toll]]
| editing        = [[Joe Hutshing]] <br />[[Saar Klein]]
| music          = [[Nancy Wilson (rock musician)|Nancy Wilson]]
| studio         = {{Unbulleted list|[[DreamWorks Pictures]]|[[Columbia Pictures]]|[[Vinyl Films]]}}
| distributor    = {{Unbulleted list|DreamWorks Distribution, LLC. (United States)|[[Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International]] (International)}}
| released       = {{film date|2000|09|08|[[2000 Toronto International Film Festival|TIFF]]|2000|09|15|United States}}
| runtime        = 122 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $60 million<ref name="boxofficemojo.com">{{cite web |title=Almost Famous (2000) |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=almostfamous.htm |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=September 10, 2009}}</ref>
| gross          = $47.4 million<ref name="boxofficemojo.com" />
}}
'''''Almost Famous''''' is a 2000 American [[comedy drama]] film written and directed by [[Cameron Crowe]], starring [[Billy Crudup]], [[Frances McDormand]], [[Kate Hudson]], [[Patrick Fugit]], and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]. It tells the story of a teenage journalist, played by Fugit, writing for ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine in the early 1970s, touring with the fictitious [[rock music|rock]] band Stillwater, and writing his first cover story on the band. The film is semi-autobiographical, based on Crowe's experiences as a teenage writer for ''Rolling Stone''.<ref>[http://www.theuncool.com/bio/ "Biography,"] The Uncool: The Official Website for Everything Cameron Crowe. Accessed Dec. 14, 2014.</ref>

The film performed poorly in theaters, grossing $47.4 million against a $60 million budget.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-13-fi-35885-story.html | title=Box-Office Fizzle of 'Almost Famous' Stirs Bad Blood | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=October 13, 2000 }}</ref> It was widely acclaimed by critics and earned four [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations, including a win for [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]]. It also won the 2001 [[Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]]. [[Roger Ebert]] hailed it as the best film of the year and the ninth-best film of the 2000s. The film also won two [[Golden Globe Awards]], one for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]] and another for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture]] for Hudson.

The film is regarded by some as a [[cult classic]] and in a 2016 international poll conducted by the  [[BBC]], ''Almost Famous'' was ranked the 79th-greatest film since 2000, while it was ranked as the 47th-best film of the 21st century in a 2025 poll by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |title=The 21st century's 100 greatest films |publisher=BBC |date=August 23, 2016 |access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/almost-famous-20th-anniversary-cameron-crowe-interview-1041826/ | title=Cameron Crowe on the 20th Anniversary of 'Almost Famous': 'It's Never Been as Popular as It is Now' | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=20 August 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html | title=The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century | date=June 23, 2025 }}</ref> In a ''Hollywood Reporter'' 2014 list voted on by "studio chiefs, Oscar winners and TV royalty", ''Almost Famous'' was ranked the 71st-greatest film of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 25, 2014|title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite Films|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/almost-famous-hollywoods-100-favorite-818448|url-status=live|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828120047/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com:80/lists/100-best-films-ever-hollywood-favorites-818512/item/almost-famous-hollywoods-100-favorite-818448 |archive-date=August 28, 2016 }}</ref> A [[Almost Famous (musical)|stage musical adaptation]] of the film opened on Broadway in November 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Huston |first=Caitlin |date=June 2, 2022 |title='Almost Famous' Musical Sets Broadway Run |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/almost-famous-musical-broadway-1235157572/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Plot ==
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In [[San Diego]] 1969, child prodigy William Miller struggles to fit in with his peers. His mother Elaine, a widowed college professor, further complicates his life by starting William early in school and leading him to believe he is 13 years old when he is only 11. Strong-willed Elaine's strict ban on [[rock music]] and her fear of pop culture have a lasting effect on her two children, finally driving William's 18-year-old sister Anita to move to [[San Francisco]] and become a flight attendant.

In 1973, William, now 15 and influenced by Anita's secret cache of rock albums, aspires to be a rock journalist, writing freelance articles for underground music magazines. Impressed by William's writing, rock journalist [[Lester Bangs]] gives him a $35 writing assignment to interview [[Black Sabbath]] at a concert. William is barred from backstage until the opening band Stillwater arrives and William flatters his way in. Lead guitarist Russell Hammond takes a liking to William, as does Penny Lane, the leader of a [[groupie]]-like group called "band aides", a term she coined to describe female fans who follow bands to support the music, not for sex.

On seeing William's Black Sabbath article, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' editor [[Ben Fong-Torres]] hires him to write an article about Stillwater and sends him on the road with the band. William interviews the other band members, but guitarist Russell Hammond avoids him. Tensions mount between Hammond and lead singer Jeff Bebe as Hammond becomes the more prominent member. The band jokingly refers to journalist William as "the enemy", but he eventually integrates into their inner circle.

Professional road manager Dennis Hope is brought in to handle problems with venues and promoters. Penny has to leave before the band reaches New York, where Russell's girlfriend Leslie is joining them. Penny and three other girls are gambled away to another band in a poker game; Penny acts nonchalant but is devastated. Meanwhile, Dennis foregoes the band touring by bus and instead charters a small plane to play more gigs.

At a party in a New York restaurant, William informs the group they are being featured on the ''Rolling Stone'' cover. Penny shows up uninvited but leaves after her attempts to get Russell's attention become disruptive. William follows Penny to her hotel, where he saves her from overdosing on [[methaqualone|quaaludes]]. The next day, the band encounters severe weather during their flight. Fearing the plane will crash, everyone confesses long concealed secrets while the simmering conflict between Jeff and Russell erupts. William confesses his love for Penny after Jeff insults her. The plane lands safely, leaving everyone to ponder the changed atmosphere.

William arrives at the ''Rolling Stone'' office in San Francisco and shocks the staff by his young age. William has difficulty finishing the article and calls Bangs for help. He advises William to "be honest...and unmerciful." The editors are enthused by William's article, but Russell lies to the magazine's fact-checker and claims most is false. ''Rolling Stone'' kills the piece, crushing William. Anita encounters a dejected William at the airport and offers to take him anywhere; he chooses for them to return home to San Diego.

Sapphire, a "Band Aide", chastises Russell for betraying William and mistreating Penny. Russell calls Penny, wanting to meet with her, but she instead gives him William's home address. Russell arrives believing it is Penny's house but is instead met by William's mother, Elaine. Russell apologizes to William and finally gives him an interview. Russell also verified William's article's to ''Rolling Stone'', which runs it as a cover feature. Penny fulfills her long-standing fantasy of going to [[Morocco]] while Stillwater again tours by bus.
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== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|
* [[Billy Crudup]] as Russell Hammond
* [[Frances McDormand]] as Elaine Miller
* [[Kate Hudson]] as Penny Lane (Lady Goodman)
* [[Jason Lee (actor)|Jason Lee]] as Jeff Bebe
* [[Patrick Fugit]] as William Miller
** [[Michael Angarano]] as young William
* [[Anna Paquin]] as Polexia Aphrodisia
* [[Fairuza Balk]] as Sapphire
* [[Noah Taylor]] as Dick Roswell
* [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]] as [[Lester Bangs]]
* [[Zooey Deschanel]] as Anita Miller
* [[Jimmy Fallon]] as Dennis Hope
* [[Bijou Phillips]] as Estrella Starr
* [[Terry Chen]] as [[Ben Fong-Torres]]
* [[Jay Baruchel]] as Vic Munoz
* [[Rainn Wilson]] as David Felton
* [[Mark Kozelek]] as Larry Fellows
* Liz Stauber as Leslie Hammond
* [[Zack Ward]] as [[Joseph L. Campbell|the Legendary Red Dog]]
* [[John Fedevich]] as Ed Vallencourt
* [[Pauley Perrette]] as Alice Wisdom
* [[Eric Stonestreet]] as Sheldon the desk clerk
* [[Marc Maron]] as angry promoter
* [[Jann Wenner]] as taxi passenger
* [[Peter Frampton]] as Reg
* [[Mitch Hedberg]] as Eagles road manager
* [[Eion Bailey]] as [[Jann Wenner]]
}}

== Production ==
[[Cameron Crowe]] used a composite of the bands he had known to create Stillwater, the emerging group that welcomes the young journalist into its sphere, then becomes wary of his intentions. "Stillwater" was the name of [[Stillwater (band)|a real band]] signed to Macon, Georgia's [[Capricorn Records]] label, which required the film's producers to obtain permission to use the name. In an interview, real Stillwater guitarist Bobby Golden said, "They could have probably done it without permission but they probably would have had a bunch of different lawsuits. Our lawyer got in touch with them. They wanted us to do it for free and I said, 'No we're not doing it for free.' So we got a little bit of change out of it."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Golden|first=Bobby|title=Stillwater Interview|url=http://phantomphotography.com/interviews/stillwater-interview/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518023519/http://phantomphotography.com/interviews/stillwater-interview/|archive-date=May 18, 2017|website=Phantom Photography}}</ref> Seventies rocker [[Peter Frampton]] served as a technical consultant on the film. Crowe and his then-wife, musician [[Nancy Wilson (guitarist)|Nancy Wilson]] of [[Heart (band)|Heart]], co-wrote three of the five Stillwater songs in the film, and Frampton wrote the other two, with [[Mike McCready]] of [[Pearl Jam]] playing lead guitar on all of the Stillwater songs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stillwater Secrets & Lies |url=https://www.theuncool.com/films/almost-famous/stillwater-secrets/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114230636/http://www.theuncool.com/films/almost-famous/stillwater-secrets/ |archive-date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |website=TheUncool.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 August 2021 |title=Nancy Wilson On Teaching Billy Crudup About LSD For 'Almost Famous' |url=https://uproxx.com/movies/nancy-wilson-interview-heart-almost-famous/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813165320/https://uproxx.com/movies/nancy-wilson-interview-heart-almost-famous/ |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |website=[[UPROXX]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[Patrick Fugit]], then "a complete unknown from [[Salt Lake City]], [[Utah]]", was cast late in the process after Crowe and casting director Gail Levin watched Fugit's self-taped audition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sennett |first=Shae |date=December 30, 2022 |title=How A 16-Year-Old Patrick Fugit Landed His Part In Almost Famous |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1152834/how-a-16-year-old-patrick-fugit-landed-his-part-in-almost-famous/ |access-date=January 2, 2023 |website=/Film |language=en-US}}</ref>

The character of Russell Hammond was originally set to be played by [[Brad Pitt]]. However,  during rehearsal prior to filming, Crowe and Pitt mutually decided that it was "not the right fit", and Pitt dropped out of the project. The line "I am a golden god!" in the pool-jumping sequence, as well as numerous references to Russell Hammond being unusually good looking, were written for Pitt but remained in the script after Billy Crudup was cast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collider.com/almost-famous-brad-pitt-meryl-streep-natalie-portman-cast/|title = Almost Famous Nearly Starred Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman| website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date = July 14, 2020}}</ref> In a 2020 interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'', Crowe confirmed that the "golden god" scene was inspired by [[Led Zeppelin]] lead singer [[Robert Plant]], who had uttered the sentence on a "[[Riot House]]" balcony.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Ilana |title='Almost Famous': The Oral History of a Golden God's Acid Trip |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/movies/almost-famous-anniversary-golden-god-scene.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 16, 2023 |date=July 23, 2020}}</ref>

[[Jack Black]] and [[Jon Favreau]] auditioned for the role of [[Lester Bangs]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 24, 2013|title=The Lost Roles of Jack Black|url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/01/the-lost-roles-of-jack-black.html|url-status=live|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015080336/http://www.vulture.com:80/amp/2013/01/the-lost-roles-of-jack-black.html |archive-date=October 15, 2018 }}</ref>

Crowe based the character of Penny Lane on the real-life [[Pennie Lane Trumbull]] and her group of female promoters who called themselves the "Flying Garter Girls Group".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/09/07/will-the-real-penny-lane-please-stand-up/ |title=Will the real Penny Lane please stand up? |date=September 7, 2012 |last=Ammann |first=Ana |work=Oregon Music News |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907213033/http://oregonmusicnews.com/2012/09/07/will-the-real-penny-lane-please-stand-up/ |archive-date=September 7, 2015 }}</ref> Though they were not in the Flying Garter Girls group, various other women have been described as Crowe's inspiration, for instance [[Pamela Des Barres]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Lecaro|first=Lina|date=December 15, 2010|title=Zooey Deschanel to Play Original '60s Groupie Pamela "I'm With the Band" Des Barres in HBO Series (NSFW)|work=[[LA Weekly]]|url=https://www.laweekly.com/zooey-deschanel-to-play-original-60s-groupie-pamela-im-with-the-band-des-barres-in-hbo-series-nsfw/}}</ref> and [[Bebe Buell]].<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Talk |title=Wild Things: Cameron Crowe and Bebe Buell |date=March 2001}}</ref> [[Sarah Polley]] was originally cast as Penny Lane, but, when Brad Pitt dropped out, she dropped out as well and was replaced with Kate Hudson. [[Natalie Portman]] was also considered.<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine|last=Martoccio|first=Angie|date=July 15, 2020|title='Almost Famous' Podcast: 10 Things We Learned|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/almost-famous-podcast-kate-hudson-1028468/|url-status=live|access-date=|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715193511/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/almost-famous-podcast-kate-hudson-1028468/ |archive-date=July 15, 2020 }}</ref>

The character of William Miller's mother (played by [[Frances McDormand]]) was based on Crowe's own mother, who even showed up on the set to keep an eye on him while he worked. Although he asked his mother not to bother McDormand, the two women ended up getting along well.<ref>Goldstein, Patrick (August 27, 2000). [http://www.theuncool.com/press/almost-famous-l-a-times/ "This Time, It's Personal A '70s rock film co-starring...Mom? It's Cameron Crowe's life story, and he's tried to tell it for years,"] ''[[Los Angeles Times]] —'' via The Uncool.com.</ref> [[Meryl Streep]] was also considered for the role.<ref name=":3" />

[[Alice in Chains]]' guitarist/vocalist [[Jerry Cantrell]] was Crowe's first choice for the role of Stillwater bass player Larry Fellows. Cantrell is friends with Crowe and had previously appeared in two films directed by him, ''[[Singles (1992 film)|Singles]]'' (1992) and ''[[Jerry Maguire]]'' (1996). Cantrell was busy writing the songs for his solo album ''[[Degradation Trip]]'' and had to turn the role down. [[Mark Kozelek]] was cast instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLTdrygi97Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/sLTdrygi97Q| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell almost starred in the movie 'Almost Famous' |work=YouTube|date=November 12, 2017|access-date=November 24, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Crowe took a copy of the film to London for a special screening with Led Zeppelin members [[Jimmy Page]] and Plant. After the screening, Led Zeppelin granted Crowe the right to use one of their songs on the soundtrack—the first time they had ever consented to this since allowing Crowe to use "[[Kashmir (song)|Kashmir]]" in ''[[Fast Times at Ridgemont High]]'' (1982)—and also gave him rights to four of their other songs in the movie itself, although they did not grant him the rights to "[[Stairway to Heaven]]" for an intended scene (on the special "Bootleg" edition DVD, the scene is included as an extra, sans the song, where the viewer is instructed by a watermark to begin playing it).<ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=August 20, 2020 |title=Cameron Crowe on the 20th Anniversary of 'Almost Famous': 'It's Never Been as Popular as It Is Now' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/almost-famous-20th-anniversary-cameron-crowe-interview-1041826/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820150219/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/almost-famous-20th-anniversary-cameron-crowe-interview-1041826/ |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |access-date=November 16, 2021 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 10, 2000 |title=This Time Cameron Crowe Gets Zeppelin for Movie Soundtrack |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/this-time-cameron-crowe-gets-zeppelin-for-movie-soundtrack-197204/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 16, 2021}}</ref>

In his 2012 memoir ''My Cross to Bear'', [[Gregg Allman]] writes that several aspects of the movie are based on Crowe's time spent with the [[Allman Brothers Band]]. The scene in which Russell jumps from the top of the [[Topeka, Kansas|Topeka]] party house into a pool was based on something [[Duane Allman]] did: "the jumping off the roof into the pool, that was Duane—from the third floor of a place called the [[Travelodge]] in [[San Francisco]]. My brother wanted to do it again, but the cat who owned the place came out shaking his fist, yelling at him. We told that story all the time, and I have no doubt that Cameron was around for it." He also confirms that he and [[Dickey Betts]] played a joke on Crowe by claiming clauses in their contract did not allow his story to be published—just before he was to deliver it to ''Rolling Stone''.<ref>{{cite book|last1 = Allman|first1 = Gregg|last2 = Light|first2 = Alan| author-link = Alan Light|title = My Cross to Bear|url = https://archive.org/details/mycrosstobear00allm_0|url-access = registration|year = 2012|publisher = William Morrow|isbn = 978-0062112033|pages=[https://archive.org/details/mycrosstobear00allm_0/page/242 242–43]}}</ref>

Filming of the movie lasted 92 days.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Eller |first=Claudia |date=October 13, 2000 |title=Box-Office Fizzle of 'Almost Famous' Stirs Bad Blood |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-13-fi-35885-story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429055455/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-oct-13-fi-35885-story.html |archive-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref> Some of the filming locations include [[Ocean Beach, San Diego]] and [[Sunset Cliffs, San Diego|Sunset Cliffs]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Sklar |first=Debbie L. |date=April 4, 2025 |title='Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!' and 9 other off-the-wall movies filmed in San Diego |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/04/04/attack-of-the-killer-tomatoes-and-9-other-off-the-wall-movies-filmed-in-san-diego/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405081551/https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2025/04/04/attack-of-the-killer-tomatoes-and-9-other-off-the-wall-movies-filmed-in-san-diego/ |archive-date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=April 14, 2025 |website=[[Times of San Diego]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Main|Almost Famous (soundtrack){{!}}''Almost Famous'' (soundtrack)}}
The ''Almost Famous'' soundtrack album was released by [[DreamWorks Records]] on September 12, 2000. It was awarded the 2001 [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media|Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]].

=== Personnel ===
==== "Stillwater" ====
* [[Jason Lee (entertainer)|Jason Lee]] ("Jeff Bebe") - vocals
* [[Billy Crudup]] ("Russell Hammond") - guitar
* [[Mark Kozelek]] ("Larry Fellows") - bass guitar
* [[John Fedevich]] ("Ed Vallencourt") - drums

==== Other personnel ====
* [[Nancy Wilson (rock musician)|Nancy Wilson]]
* [[Peter Frampton]]
* [[Mike McCready]]
* Jon Bayless
* Ben Smith
* [[Gordon Kennedy (musician)|Gordon Kennedy]]
* [[Marti Frederiksen]] – vocals

==== Songs on the soundtrack ====
* Simon & Garfunkel: "America" – 3:37
* The Who: "Sparks" – 3:48
* Todd Rundgren: "It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference" – 3:51
* Yes: "Your Move" – 3:33
* The Beach Boys: "Feel Flows" – 4:43
* Stillwater: "Fever Dog" – 3:09
* Rod Stewart: "Every Picture Tells a Story" – 5:54
* The Seeds: "Mr Farmer" – 2:51
* The Allman Brothers Band: "One Way Out" – 4:58
* Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Simple Man" – 5:56
* Led Zeppelin: "That's the Way" – 5:36
* Elton John: "Tiny Dancer" – 6:14
* Nancy Wilson: "Lucky Trumble" – 2:41
* David Bowie: "I'm Waiting for the Man" – 4:39
* Cat Stevens: "The Wind" – 1:40
* Clarence Carter: "Slip Away" – 2:31
* Thunderclap Newman: "Something in the Air" – 3:53

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
''Almost Famous'' had its premiere at the 2000 [[Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="kehr">{{cite news | last=Kehr | first=Dave | title=Organic Growth In Toronto | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=August 25, 2000 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/25/movies/at-the-movies-organic-growth-in-toronto.html | access-date=March 31, 2009 }}</ref> It was subsequently given a limited release on September 15, 2000, in 131 theaters where it grossed $2.3 million on its first weekend. It was given a wider release on September 22, 2000, in 1,193 theaters where it grossed $6.9 million on its opening weekend. The film went on to make $31.7 million in North America and $14.8 million in the rest of the world for a worldwide total of $47.4 million against a $60 million budget.<ref name="boxofficemojo.com"/><ref name=":0" />

=== Critical response ===
''Almost Famous'' was acclaimed by a number of critics. On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 91% approval rating, based on 229 reviews, with an average rating of 8.40/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''Almost Famous'', with its great ensemble performances and story, is a well-crafted, warm-hearted movie that successfully draws you into its era."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/almost_famous/|title=Almost Famous (2000)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media]]|access-date=March 26, 2024}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] it has a score of 90 out of 100, based on 38 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.metacritic.com/movie/almost-famous|title=Almost Famous Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=November 1, 2016}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cinemascore.com/ |access-date=April 24, 2022 |website=CinemaScore |language=en-US}}</ref>

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| footer = The performances of [[Kate Hudson]] and [[Frances McDormand]] garnered critical acclaim and were nominated for [[Academy Awards]].
}}

Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film four out of four stars, naming it the best film of 2000, and described it as "funny and touching in so many different ways."<ref name="ebert">{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=''Almost Famous'' |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=September 15, 2000 |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/almost-famous-2000 |access-date=July 17, 2020}}</ref> In his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[A.O. Scott]] wrote, "The movie's real pleasures are to be found not in its story but in its profusion of funny, offbeat scenes. It's the kind of picture that invites you to go back and savor your favorite moments like choice album cuts."<ref name="scott">{{cite news |last=Scott |first=A.O |title=''Almost Famous'' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 15, 2000 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/13/movies/film-review-with-sympathy-for-the-devil-a-rock-writer-finds-his-way.html |access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' praised the film's screenplay for "giving each character his reasons, making everyone in the emotional debate charming and compelling, creating fictional people who breathe in a story with an organic life."<ref name="corliss">{{cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |title=Absolutely Fabulous |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=September 10, 2000 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,54413,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210031638/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,54413,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2001 |access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref>

In her review for the ''[[L.A. Weekly]]'', [[Manohla Dargis]] wrote that "the film shimmers with the irresistible pleasures that define Hollywood at its best—it's polished like glass, funny, knowing and bright, and filled with characters whose lives are invariably sexier and more purposeful than our own."<ref name="dargis">{{cite news|last=Dargis|first=Manohla|date=September 13, 2000|title=Gonna Make You Groove|work=[[L.A. Weekly]]|url=https://www.laweekly.com/gonna-make-you-groove/|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> Peter Travers of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote, "Not since ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' has a movie caught the thrumming exuberance of going where the music takes you."<ref name="travers">{{cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |title=''Almost Famous'' |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=December 10, 2000 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947895/review/5947896/almost_famous |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611204854/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/5947895/review/5947896/almost_famous |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 11, 2007 |access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref>

In his review for ''[[Newsweek]]'', [[David Ansen]] wrote, "Character-driven, it relies on chemistry, camaraderie, a sharp eye for detail and good casting."<ref name="ansen">{{cite news |last=Ansen |first=David |title=He's With The Band |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=September 18, 2000 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/86148 |access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Every Cameron Crowe film is, in one way or another, about romance, rock & roll, and his romance with rock & roll. This power ballad of a movie, from 2000, also happens to be Crowe's greatest (and most personal) film thanks to the golden gods of Stillwater and their biggest fan, Kate Hudson's incomparable Penny Lane."<ref>Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "The 100 Greatest Movies, Tv Shows, Albums, Books, Characters, Scenes, Episodes, Songs, Dresses, Music Videos, And Trends That Entertained Us Over The Past 10 Years". ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. (1079/1080):74-84</ref>

''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the film an "A−" rating and [[Owen Gleiberman]] praised Crowe for depicting the 1970s as "an era that found its purpose in having no purpose. Crowe, staying close to his memories, has gotten it, for perhaps the first time, onto the screen."<ref name="gleiberman">{{cite magazine|last=Gleiberman|first=Owen|date=September 15, 2000|title=''Almost Famous''|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/09/15/movie-review-almost-famous/|access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> In his review for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', [[Kenneth Turan]] praised Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of Lester Bangs: "Superbly played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, more and more the most gifted and inspired character actor working in film, what could have been the clichéd portrait of an older mentor who speaks the straight truth blossoms into a marvelous personality."<ref name="turan">{{cite news|last=Turan |first=Kenneth |title=''Almost Famous'' |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 13, 2000 |url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie000912-1,0,6141798.story |access-date=March 31, 2009 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911042215/http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie000912-1%2C0%2C6141798.story |archive-date=September 11, 2009 }}</ref> However, in his review for ''[[The New York Observer]]'', [[Andrew Sarris]] felt that "none of the non-musical components on the screen matched the excitement of the music. For whatever reason, too much of the dark side has been left out."<ref name="sarris">{{cite news |last=Sarris |first=Andrew |title=It's Only Rock 'n' Roll-Where Are the Sex and Drugs? |work=[[The New York Observer]] |date=September 17, 2000 |url=http://www.observer.com/node/43393 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225201958/http://www.observer.com/node/43393 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> [[Desson Howe]], in his review for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', found it "very hard to see these long-haired kids as products of the 1970s instead of dressed up actors from the Seattle-[[Starbucks]] era. I couldn't help wondering how many of these performers had to buy a CD copy of the song and study it for the first time."<ref name="howe">{{cite news |last=Howe |first=Desson |title=Almost Poignant |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 22, 2000 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/almostfamoushowe.htm |access-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref>

In 2021, members of [[Writers Guild of America West]] (WGAW) and [[Writers Guild of America, East]] (WGAE) ranked its screenplay 9th in WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (so far).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2021-12-06 |title=101 Greatest Screenplays Of The 21st Century: Horror Pic Tops Writers Guild’s List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/greatest-screenplays-of-21st-century-list-writers-guild-get-out-1234885622/ |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (*so far) |url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-screenplays-of-the-21st-century-so-far/list |access-date=2025-12-26 |website=www.wga.org}}</ref>

=== Publication of ''Rolling Stone'' article ===
In 2021, ''Rolling Stone'' published the article “Stillwater Runs Deep!” by "William Miller," backdated to August 30, 1973.<ref>{{cite magazine | first=William|last=Miller|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/stillwater-almost-famous-cover-story-1165517/ | title=Stillwater Runs Deep! | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | publication-date=August 30, 1973 |orig-date=August 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210820131809/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/stillwater-almost-famous-cover-story-1165517/|archive-date=August 20, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.audacy.com/national/music/rolling-stone-published-the-article-from-almost-famous | title='Rolling Stone' just published the 'actual' Stillwater article from 'Almost Famous' | date=August 20, 2021 | first= Marty |last=Rosenbaum| work=Audacy}}</ref>

==Accolades==
{{Main|List of accolades received by Almost Famous{{!}}List of accolades received by ''Almost Famous''}}

== Home media ==
''Almost Famous'' was released on DVD and VHS by [[DreamWorks Home Entertainment]] on March 13, 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harwell |first=Shawn |date=March 16, 2001 |title=Almost Famous |url=https://www.dvdreview.com/2001/03/almost-famous/ |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=DVD Review & High Definition |language=en-US}}</ref> In December 2001, an extended cut of the film, also known as the "Bootleg" or "Untitled" version, was released on DVD.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Kate Erbland |date=July 12, 2021 |title='Almost Famous': Patrick Fugit Reveals His Preferred Cut and the Penny Lane Ending You Didn't See |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/almost-famous-patrick-fugit-favorite-cut-penny-lane-ending-1234649987/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701120708/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/07/almost-famous-patrick-fugit-favorite-cut-penny-lane-ending-1234649987/ |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |access-date=February 17, 2023 |website=IndieWire.com |publisher=Penske Media Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Almost Famous |url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=758916 |website=www.movie-censorship.com |quote=Comparison: Theatrical Version, Extended Version}}</ref> The extended version has about 40 minutes of additional footage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ManaByte |date=December 5, 2001 |title=Almost Famous: Untitled - The Bootleg Cut |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/05/almost-famous-untitled-the-bootleg-cut |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2006, [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]] (now known as [[Paramount Skydance]]) acquired the domestic rights to ''Almost Famous'', along with the rights to all 58 other live-action films DreamWorks had released since 1997, following its $1.6 billion acquisition of the company's live-action film assets and television assets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2006-02-02/paramount-dreamworks-deal-finalised/790778|title=Paramount-Dreamworks deal finalised|work=ABC News |date=February 2, 2006|via=www.abc.net.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paramount.com/studio/library/complete-library|title=Complete Library &#124; Theatrical Library &#124; Paramount Pictures|website=www.paramount.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222052623/http://www.paramount.com/studio/library/complete-library |archive-date=February 22, 2012 }}</ref> A remastered Blu-ray and [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] of both versions was released by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] on July 13, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2021 |title='Almost Famous' Celebrates its Anniversary with Newly Remastered 4K Ultra Steelbook |url=https://filmspeak.net/features/2021/7/13/almost-famous-celebrates-its-anniversary-with-newly-remastered-4k-ultra-steelbook |access-date=May 3, 2024 |website=FilmSpeak |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Stage musical adaptation ==
{{Main|Almost Famous (musical){{!}}''Almost Famous'' (musical)}}

In 2018, Crowe said he was working on a stage musical adaptation of the film, in which he would pen the stage libretto and write the musical numbers with [[Tom Kitt (musician)|Tom Kitt]].<ref name=":1" /> It premiered in [[San Diego]] at [[Old Globe Theatre|The Old Globe]] in 2019 and creative work continued during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. In June 2022, the musical announced that it will transfer to Broadway, with previews beginning September 13 and opening night scheduled for October 11, 2022. The cast of the production, directed by [[Jeremy Herrin]], included newcomer [[Casey Likes]] (in his Broadway acting debut) as William Miller, [[Chris Wood (actor)|Chris Wood]] as Russell Hammond, [[Anika Larsen]] as Elaine Miller, [[Solea Pfeiffer]] as Penny Lane, [[Drew Gehling]] as Jeff Bebe, Emily Schultheis as Anita Miller, Jana Djenne Jackson as Polexia Aphrodisia, Katie Ladner as Sapphire, [[Gerard Canonico]] as Dick Roswell and Rob Colletti as Lester Bangs.<ref name=":2" />

== See also ==
* [[1970s nostalgia]]
* [[List of media set in San Diego]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://www.theuncool.com/films/almost-famous/}}
* {{IMDb title|0181875|Almost Famous}}
* {{tcmdb title|id=341484}}
* {{AFI film|53889}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|id=almost_famous|title=Almost Famous}}
* {{Metacritic film|title=Almost Famous}}
* {{Mojo title|id=almostfamous|title=Almost Famous}}
* {{Letterboxd title|almost-famous}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MCC46r0K-c ''Almost Famous''] on [[YouTube]]

{{Cameron Crowe Films}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of accolades received by Almost Famous|Awards for ''Almost Famous'']]
|list =
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Film}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2000 American films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2000 musical films]]
[[Category:2000s coming-of-age comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2000s road comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American coming-of-age comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American road comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:American rock music films]]
[[Category:BAFTA winners (films)]]
[[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Picture Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:DreamWorks Pictures films]]
[[Category:English-language musical comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:English-language road comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films about groupies]]
[[Category:Films about journalists]]
[[Category:Films about musical groups]]
[[Category:Films about mother–son relationships]]
[[Category:Films adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Films directed by Cameron Crowe]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe–winning performance]]
[[Category:Films produced by Ian Bryce]]
[[Category:Films produced by Cameron Crowe]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1970s]]
[[Category:Films set in Cleveland]]
[[Category:Films set in Kansas]]
[[Category:Films set in Mississippi]]
[[Category:Films set in San Diego]]
[[Category:Films set in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Original Screenplay BAFTA Award]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Cameron Crowe]]
[[Category:Semi-autobiographical films]]
[[Category:Vinyl Films films]]