View source for Stop Making Sense

{{Short description|1984 concert film by Jonathan Demme}}
{{For|the soundtrack|Stop Making Sense (album){{!}}''Stop Making Sense'' (album)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Stop making sense poster original.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Jonathan Demme]]
| name           = Stop Making Sense
| producer       = [[Gary Goetzman]]
| writer         = [[Talking Heads]]<br />Jonathan Demme
| starring       = Talking Heads
| music          = Talking Heads
| cinematography = [[Jordan Cronenweth]]
| editing        = Lisa Day
| studio         = [[Arnold Stiefel|Arnold Stiefel Company]]
| distributor    = [[Cinecom|Cinecom International Films]]<br>[[Island Records|Island Alive Releasing]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Stop Making Sense (1984) |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |access-date=March 17, 2023 |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/57205-STOP-MAKINGSENSE}}</ref>
| released       = {{Film date|1984|4|24|[[San Francisco International Film Festival|SFIFF]]|1984|10|19|United States}}
| runtime        = 88 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $1.2 million
| gross          = $12.4 million<ref name="gr2963034629">{{cite Box Office Mojo |title=Stop Making Sense (1984) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr2963034629/ |access-date=April 1, 2024}}</ref>
}}

'''''Stop Making Sense''''' is a 1984 American [[concert film]] featuring a live performance by the American rock band [[Talking Heads]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mubi.com/en/us/films/stop-making-sense|title=Stop Making Sense (1984) |via=mubi.com}}</ref> The film was directed by [[Jonathan Demme]] and executive produced by [[Gary Kurfirst]], the band’s longtime manager. The film was shot over four nights in December 1983 at Hollywood’s [[Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)|Pantages Theatre]] while Talking Heads were on tour promoting their 1983 album, ''[[Speaking in Tongues (Talking Heads album)|Speaking in Tongues]]''. ''Stop Making Sense'' includes performances of the early Talking Heads single, "[[Psycho Killer]]" (1977), through to their most recent hit at the time, "[[Burning Down the House]]" (1983). It also includes songs from the solo career of frontman [[David Byrne]] and by [[Tom Tom Club]], the side project of drummer [[Chris Frantz]] and bassist [[Tina Weymouth]].

The film was [[independent film|independently produced]] and the band raised the budget of $1.2 million themselves. The four core members of Talking Heads are joined by backing singers [[Lynn Mabry]] and [[The Ritchie Family|Ednah Holt]], guitarist [[Alex Weir (musician)|Alex Weir]], keyboardist [[Bernie Worrell]] and percussionist Steve Scales. ''Stop Making Sense'' is considered by many critics to be a classic and one of the greatest concert films of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a54788/jonathan-demme-stop-making-sense-talking-heads/|title=Why ''Stop Making Sense'' Remains the Greatest Concert Film|website=esquire.com|date=April 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://siskelebert.org/?p=6069|title=Cult Movies on Videocassette, 1987 – Siskel and Ebert Movie Reviews|website=siskelebert.org}}</ref><ref>[https://www.fatherly.com/entertainment/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-kids-and-family 39 Years Later, Gen-Z Is Making One Perfect Rock Movie Into A Smash Hit - Fatherly]</ref> The film is a pioneering example of the use of early [[digital audio]] techniques. In 2021, it was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/talking-heads-stop-making-sense-added-to-national-film-registry/ |title=Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense Added to National Film Registry |date=December 14, 2021 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> A special 4K restoration of the film was re-released in theaters in September 2023 by [[A24]].

==Synopsis==
Lead singer [[David Byrne]] walks on to a bare stage with a portable [[cassette tape]] player and an acoustic guitar. He introduces "[[Psycho Killer]]" by saying he wants to play a tape, but in reality a [[Roland TR-808]] drum machine starts playing from the [[mixing board]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2013/12/beat_box_review_drum_machine_gets_its_due_in_joe_mansfield_book.html |title=Select-a-Rhythm |last=Hamilton |first=Jack |date=December 5, 2012 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=March 21, 2018 |publisher=[[Graham Holdings Company]]}}</ref>

With each successive song, Byrne is joined by more members of the band: first by [[Tina Weymouth]] for "[[Heaven (Talking Heads song)|Heaven]]" (with [[Lynn Mabry]] providing harmony vocals from backstage), second by [[Chris Frantz]] for "[[Thank You for Sending Me an Angel]]", and third by [[Jerry Harrison]] for "Found a Job". Performance equipment is wheeled out and added to the set to accommodate the additional musicians: back-up singers [[Lynn Mabry]] and [[The Ritchie Family|Ednah Holt]], keyboardist [[Bernie Worrell]], percussionist Steve Scales, and [[guitarist]] [[Alex Weir (musician)|Alex Weir]]. The first song to feature the entire lineup is "[[Burning Down the House]]", although the original 1985 RCA/Columbia Home Video release (which featured three additional songs in two performances edited into the film) has the entire band (minus Worrell) performing "[[Cities (song)|Cities]]" before this song. The band also performs two songs from Byrne's soundtrack album ''[[The Catherine Wheel (album)|The Catherine Wheel]]'', "What a Day That Was" and (as a bonus song on the home video release) "Big Business".

Byrne leaves the stage at one point for a costume change, during which the Weymouth–Frantz-led side-band [[Tom Tom Club]] perform their song "[[Genius of Love]]". The Tom Tom Club performance allows Byrne to don his "big suit", an absurdly large business suit that he wears for the song "Girlfriend Is Better".

In a departure from most concert films, the audience is mostly unseen during the concert. During the final song, "[[Crosseyed and Painless]]," the viewer sees shots of the audience for the first time.<ref name="40th">{{Cite web |last=Krause |first=Gary M. |date=2023-09-21 |title="Stop Making Sense," the best concert film ever, converted me into a Talking Heads fan |url=https://www.salon.com/2023/09/21/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-rerelease/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=Salon}}</ref>

==Setlist==
===DVD and Blu-ray===
{{Track listing
| headline      = 
| extra_column  = 
| total_length  =

| all_writing   = [[David Byrne]], [[Chris Frantz]], [[Jerry Harrison]], [[Tina Weymouth]], except where noted.
| all_lyrics    = 
| all_music     =

| title_width   = 
| writing_width = 
| music_width   = 
| lyrics_width  = 
| extra_width   =

| title1        = [[Psycho Killer]]
| writer1       = Byrne, Frantz, Weymouth

| title2        = [[Heaven (Talking Heads song)|Heaven]]
| writer2       = Byrne, Harrison

| title3        = [[Thank You for Sending Me an Angel]]
| writer3       = Byrne

| title4        = Found a Job
| writer4       = Byrne

| title5        = Slippery People
| writer5       =

| title6        = [[Burning Down the House]]
| writer6       =

| title7        = [[Life During Wartime (song)|Life During Wartime]]
| writer7       =

| title8        = Making Flippy Floppy
| writer8       =

| title9        = Swamp
| writer9       =

| title10       = What a Day That Was
| writer10      = Byrne

| title11       = [[This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)]]
| writer11      =

| title12       = [[Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song)|Once in a Lifetime]]
| writer12      = Byrne, [[Brian Eno]], Frantz, Harrison, Weymouth

| title13       = [[Genius of Love]]
| writer13      = Weymouth, Frantz, [[Adrian Belew]], [[Steven Stanley]] (as [[Tom Tom Club]])

| title14       = [[Girlfriend Is Better]]
| writer14      =

| title15       = [[Take Me to the River]]
| writer15      = [[Al Green]], [[Mabon "Teenie" Hodges]]

| title16       = [[Crosseyed and Painless]]
| writer16      = Byrne, Eno, Frantz, Harrison, Weymouth

}}

===VHS and LaserDisc===
{{Track listing
| headline      = 
| extra_column  = Note

| all_writing   = [[David Byrne]], [[Chris Frantz]], [[Jerry Harrison]], [[Tina Weymouth]], except where noted
| all_lyrics    = 
| all_music     =

| title_width   = 
| writing_width = 
| music_width   = 
| lyrics_width  = 
| extra_width   =

| title1        = [[Psycho Killer]]
| writer1       = Byrne, Frantz, Weymouth

| title2        = [[Heaven (Talking Heads song)|Heaven]]
| writer2       = Byrne, Harrison

| title3        = [[Thank You for Sending Me an Angel]]
| writer3       = Byrne

| title4        = Found a Job
| writer4       = Byrne

| title5        = Slippery People
| writer5       =

| title6        = [[Cities (song)|Cities]]
| writer6       = Byrne
| extra6        = *

| title7        = [[Burning Down the House]]
| writer7       =

| title8        = [[Life During Wartime (song)|Life During Wartime]]
| writer8       =

| title9        = Making Flippy Floppy
| writer9       =

| title10       = Swamp
| writer10      =

| title11       = What a Day That Was
| writer11      = Byrne

| title12       = [[This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)]]
| writer12      =

| title13       = [[Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song)|Once in a Lifetime]]
| writer13      = Byrne, [[Brian Eno]], Frantz, Harrison, Weymouth

| title14       = Big Business
| writer14      = Byrne, John Chernoff
| extra14       = *

| title15       = [[I Zimbra]]
| writer15      = Byrne, Eno, [[Hugo Ball]]
| extra15       = *

| title16       = [[Genius of Love]]
| writer16      = Weymouth, Frantz, [[Adrian Belew]], [[Steven Stanley]] (as [[Tom Tom Club]])

| title17       = [[Girlfriend Is Better]]
| writer17      =

| title18       = [[Take Me to the River]]
| writer18      = [[Al Green]], [[Mabon "Teenie" Hodges]]

| title19       = [[Crosseyed and Painless]]
| writer19      = Byrne, Eno, Frantz, Harrison, Weymouth

}}

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Songs available as extra features on DVD/Blu-ray releases, but not part of the main feature.

==Personnel==
The following are in order of appearance.
* [[David Byrne]] – [[Lead vocalist|lead vocals]], [[guitar]]
* [[Tina Weymouth]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]], [[keyboard bass]], [[guitar]], lead vocals for "Genius of Love"
* [[Chris Frantz]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], vocals for "Genius of Love" and "Burning Down the House"
* [[Jerry Harrison]] – guitar, [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]
* Steve Scales – [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], backing vocals
* [[Lynn Mabry]] – backing vocals
* [[The Ritchie Family|Ednah Holt]] – backing vocals
* [[Alex Weir (musician)|Alex Weir]] – guitar, backing vocals
* [[Bernie Worrell]] – keyboards

==Production==
The filming of ''Stop Making Sense'' spanned four live shows at the [[Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)|Pantages Theatre]] in [[Los Angeles]] between December 13 and 16, 1983.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Doherty |first=Thomas |title=Stop Making Sense |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/1212389 |journal=[[Film Quarterly]] |volume=38 |number=4 |year=1985 |pages=12–16 |doi=10.2307/1212389 |jstor=1212389 |access-date=December 21, 2020|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Initially, three nights were booked but a fourth night, December 16, was added for additional filming. Although the film was originally recorded using analog techniques, it was later transferred and then digitally edited and mixed using a Sony PCM-3324 24-track digital recorder.<ref>{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Larry |date=October 1985 |title=Film Sound |pages=122, 125 |work=Recording Engineer |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-Recording-Engineer/80s/Recording-1985-10.pdf |access-date=March 25, 2023}}</ref> Demme has stated that one night of shooting was dedicated almost entirely to wide shots from a distance, to minimize the intrusion of cameras on stage. Demme had considered additional shooting on a soundstage made to recreate the Pantages Theatre, but the band declined to do this, as they thought the lack of audience response would have hindered the energy of their performance. Before the shooting of the movie, Byrne implored the band to wear neutral-coloured clothing so the stage lights would not illuminate anything too distinctive. However, Frantz's laundry had not come back in time for the first show at the Pantages, and so he wore a turquoise-colored polo shirt for all three nights for continuity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title='Stop Making Sense' Is Back, and Talking Heads Have More to Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/arts/music/talking-heads-stop-making-sense.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=September 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909094335/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/arts/music/talking-heads-stop-making-sense.html/ |archive-date=September 9, 2023 |date=September 9, 2023}}</ref>

Demme also considered including more shots of the audience reacting to the performance, as is traditional in concert films. However, he discovered that filming the audience required additional lighting, which inhibited the audience's energy. This in turn made the band feel insecure and thus led to "the worst Talking Heads performance in the history of the band's career". The only direct audience shots in the film occur at the very end, during "[[Crosseyed and Painless]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=Jonathan Demme – On Stop Making Sense (2007) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS-FHFV7IbQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/pS-FHFV7IbQ| archive-date=December 12, 2021 |url-status=live |website=YouTube | date=April 26, 2017 |publisher=Reelblack |access-date=December 1, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The big suit that Byrne wears during "Girlfriend is Better" was partly inspired by [[Noh]] theatre styles, and became an icon not only of the film – as it appears on the movie poster, for instance – but of Byrne himself. Byrne said: "I was in Japan in between tours and I was checking out traditional Japanese theater – [[Kabuki]], Noh, [[Bunraku]] – and I was wondering what to wear on our upcoming tour. A fashion designer friend (Jurgen Lehl) said in his typically droll manner, 'Well, David, everything is bigger on stage.' He was referring to gestures and all that, but I applied the idea to a businessman's suit."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/2980989/stop-making-sense-anniversary-david-byrne-jonathan-demme/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |first=Melissa |last=Locker |title=David Byrne and Jonathan Demme on The Making of Stop Making Sense |date=July 15, 2014 |access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref> [[Pauline Kael]] stated in her review: "When he comes on wearing a boxlike 'big suit' – his body lost inside this form that sticks out around him like the costumes in Noh plays, or like [[Beuys]]' large suit of felt that hangs off a wall – it's a perfect psychological fit."<ref name="kael">{{cite magazine |first=Pauline |last=Kael |author-link=Pauline Kael |url=http://www.davidbyrne.com/archive/film/Stop_Making_Sense/s_m_s_press/s_m_s_pauline_kael_nyer.php |title=Three Cheers |date=November 26, 1984 |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |publisher=NYP Holdings |access-date=October 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123806/http://www.davidbyrne.com/archive/film/Stop_Making_Sense/s_m_s_press/s_m_s_pauline_kael_nyer.php |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> On the DVD he gives his reasoning behind the suit: "I wanted my head to appear smaller and the easiest way to do that was to make my body bigger, because music is very physical and often the body understands it before the head."

The film was conceived with the intention of only filming the concert, with no plans for cutaways to interviews with the band members, or the use of split-screen. The band reflected this was a wise choice in hindsight: the mockumentary ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]'' was released in the same year, with Weymouth remarking the film would have inevitably been compared to ''Spinal Tap'' had they taken that approach.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Tom |title=Talking Heads were wary of 'Stop Making Sense' film being "too Spinal Tap" |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/talking-heads-didnt-want-stop-making-sense-film-to-be-too-spinal-tap-3765641 |website=NME |date=June 14, 2024 |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> 

The film's title was derived from a lyric in the song "[[Girlfriend Is Better]]."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://davidbyrne.com/explore/stop-making-sense/explore | title=Stop Making Sense &#124; Lyrics and Credits &#124; About | date=February 19, 1984}}</ref>

==Release==
''Stop Making Sense'' premiered on April 24, 1984 as the closing night film of the [[San Francisco International Film Festival]].<ref>Walter V. Addiego, "The Film Festival: rare Chaplin to New Wave", ''The San Francisco Examiner'', March 14, 1984. Retrieved via Newspapers.com.</ref> Three months later, [[Filmex]] screened the film on its closing night.<ref>Sheila Benson, "Filmex Enters the Home Stretch", ''The Los Angeles Times'', July 18, 1984. Retrieved via Newspapers.com.</ref> The film entered commercial release in the United States on October 19, 1984.<ref name="tt0088178">{{cite Box Office Mojo |title=Stop Making Sense (1984) |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0088178/ |access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref>

When the film was first released on home video, the songs "Cities" and "Big Business"/"I Zimbra" were restored to the performance, thus forming what was dubbed the "special edition" of the film. For the 1999 re-release, these songs were no longer included in sequence with the rest of the footage. It and subsequent video and DVD releases have placed these songs after the film in an unrestored full-frame version.

The film has been released on [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]], [[widescreen]] DVD, VHS in both [[Pan and scan|fullscreen]] and [[widescreen]] versions, and [[LaserDisc]] (in Japan).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lddb.com/laserdisc/19368/SM037-3323/Talking-Heads:-Stop-Making-Sense|title=LaserDisc Database - Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense [SM037-3323]|website=www.lddb.com}}</ref>

===2023 re-release===
[[File:Stop Making Sense 4K re-release poster.jpg|thumb|Poster for the 4K re-release of ''Stop Making Sense''.|334x334px]]
As part of the deal with the film's original distributor, Cinecom, the ownership of the rights to ''Stop Making Sense'' reverted to Byrne, Weymouth, Frantz, and Harrison shortly before the 40th anniversary of its original release. Hoping to commemorate the occasion, the group sought out potential companies to partner with on a re-release, eventually settling on [[A24]].<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine |last1=Fear |first1=David |title=Big Suits, Lost Tapes, and Dancing Heads: Inside A24's Incredible 'Stop Making Sense' Restoration |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-restoration-david-byrne-a24-40th-anniversary-1234828312/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=13 April 2024 |date=27 September 2023}}</ref> A24 announced they had obtained the distribution rights in March 2023, making ''Stop Making Sense'' their second acquisition for re-release following ''[[Pi (film)|Pi]]'' (1998), and revealed plans to release a [[4K resolution|4K]] restoration in theaters the following September.<ref name="rollingstone" />

The studio sought out as much of the original materials as possible for the restoration, but learned after announcing the release that the original [[Negative (photography)|negative]] for the film was missing: prior distributors simply scanned preexisting screening prints of the film, including for the previous 1999 re-release. After an extensive search, the original negative for the film was found in an [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] film vault, despite MGM not having been involved in the making of the film.<ref name="rollingstone" /> Similarly, Eric Thorngren and Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison planned to create new [[Dolby Atmos]] sound mixes, initially using materials from the previous distributor and [[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]]. However, they ran into difficulty when they discovered they did not have the original audience tracks: the original audio was stored in the library of [[Todd-AO]], which had since gone out of business and its building demolished. Eventually, it was discovered that Todd-AO's collection had been claimed by [[Sony]], who transported it to a warehouse in Kansas, where the original audio tracks were found in time to be included in the restoration.<ref name="rollingstone" /> Using these original tracks, as well as the post-production overdubs originally overseen by Demme to fix mistakes in the film's recording, Thorngren and Harrison painstakingly remastered the film's sound.<ref name="rollingstone" />

The studio premiered the new restoration on September 11, 2023, in 4K on [[IMAX]] at the [[2023 Toronto International Film Festival]], followed by a Q&A hosted by [[Spike Lee]] with Byrne, Weymouth, Frantz and Harrison in attendance, reuniting the group for the first time since their induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/talking-heads-reunite-for-stop-making-sense-40th-anniversary-tiff-celebration-1235521195/ |title=Talking Heads To Reunite For 'Stop Making Sense' 40th Anniversary TIFF Celebration |first=Bruce |last=Haring |date=August 17, 2023 |website=Deadline}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/talking-heads-concert-film-toronto-1235567986/ |title=Talking Heads Concert Pic 'Stop Making Sense' to Screen at Toronto Film Festival |first=Etan |last=Vlessing |date=August 16, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.spin.com/2023/08/talking-heads-reuniting-tiff-screening/ |title=Talking Heads Reuniting For 'Stop Making Sense' Screening In Toronto |date=August 16, 2023 |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |work=Spin}}</ref> A24 also released a 4K Collector's Edition in May 2024. The home video release includes an extended cut overseen by the band that includes the performances of the "Cities" and "Big Business / I Zimbra" performances: the original negatives had been lost, but new edits were compiled using the restored footage from the cameras, including unseen footage. Jonathan Demme's own extended cut featuring the missing songs, originally released on VHS and LaserDisc, is also included.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millman |first1=Zosha |title=You can buy A24's Stop Making Sense restoration on 4K, and nothing is better than that |url=https://www.polygon.com/24064113/a24-stop-making-sense-4k-dvd-how-where-buy |website=Polygon |access-date=7 February 2024 |date=7 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stop Making Sense: Collector's Edition |url=https://shop.a24films.com/products/stop-making-sense-collectors-edition?variant=40138572431409 |website=A24 Shop |access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref>

The film entered first as an exclusive [[IMAX]] exhibition on September 22, 2023, before heading to conventional theaters on September 29, 2023, globally.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imax.com/movies/stop-making-sense |title=Stop Making Sense |date=September 6, 2023 |website=imax.com}}</ref> [[Rhino Entertainment]] also released a new remaster of the [[Stop Making Sense (album)|film's soundtrack]], which includes the complete concert for the first time, on vinyl and digitally on August 18, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=March 16, 2023 |title=A24 Releasing Remastered Version of Talking Heads Classic Concert Film 'Stop Making Sense' |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/a24-talking-heads-concert-film-stop-making-sense-1235556326/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325153159/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/a24-talking-heads-concert-film-stop-making-sense-1235556326/amp/ |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=March 16, 2023 |title=A24 Acquires Talking Heads 1984 Concert Film 'Stop Making Sense', Will Restore In 4K For Theatrical Release |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-a24-rerelease-david-byrne-1235301150/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316170048/https://deadline.com/2023/03/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-a24-rerelease-david-byrne-1235301150/amp/ |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Stop Making Sense'' holds an [[List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes|approval rating of 100%]] based on 66 reviews, with an average rating of 9.3/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Jonathan Demme's ''Stop Making Sense'' captures the energetic, unpredictable live act of peak Talking Heads with colour and visual wit."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/talking_heads_stop_making_sense/ |title=Stop Making Sense (1984) |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|94|15}}<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/stop-making-sense/ |title=Stop Making Sense Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref> It won the [[National Society of Film Critics]] Award for best non-fiction film in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/?page_id=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323062049/http://www.nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/?page_id=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 23, 2015 |title=Past Awards |date=March 23, 2015 |website=National Society of Film Critics}}</ref>

The film is widely regarded as one of the finest concert films ever made. [[Leonard Maltin]] gave it four out of four, describing it as "brilliantly conceived, shot, edited and performed" and "one of the greatest rock movies ever made."<ref name="Leonard Maltin 2008">{{cite book |first=Leonard |last=Maltin |title=Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780452289789 |url-access=registration |publisher=Plume |year=2008 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780452289789/page/1321 1321] |isbn=9780452289789}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film a three-and-a-half star rating, writing that "the {{sic|overwelming}} impression throughout ''Stop Making Sense'' is of enormous energy, of life being lived at a joyous high...It's a live show with elements of ''[[Metropolis (1927 film)|Metropolis]]''...But the film's peak moments come through Byrne's simple physical presence. He jogs in place with his sidemen; he runs around the stage; he seems so happy to be alive and making music...He serves as a reminder of how sour and weary and strung-out many rock bands have become."<ref name=ebert>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/stop-making-sense-1984 |title=Stop Making Sense |author-link=Roger Ebert |publisher=Ebert Digital LLC |work=RogerEbert.com |last=Ebert |first=Roger |date=January 1, 1984 |access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref>

[[Danny Peary]] described ''Stop Making Sense'' as "Riveting...What takes place on stage will make even the most sceptical into Talking Heads converts...[The] performances are invariably exciting, Byrne's lyrics are intriguing. Byrne, his head moving rhythmically as if he had just had shock treatments, is spellbinding – what a talent!...Byrne is known for his belief that music should be performed in an interesting, ''visual'' manner, and this should make him proud."<ref>{{cite book |first=Danny |last=Peary |title=Guide for the Film Fanatic |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1986 |page=406 |isbn=978-0671610814}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] noted the "sinuous, almost elegant clarity" of Demme's direction, while writing that the film had pushed the "limits to how great a rock concert movie can be ... as far as they were liable to go."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Christgau |first=Robert |date=April 1988 |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/vr/sign-48.php |title=Prince: Sign 'O' the Times |magazine=Video Review |access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref> Christgau described it as "the finest concert film"<ref>{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=October 30, 1984 |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv10-84.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=[[The Village Voice]] |access-date=July 17, 2018}}</ref> while [[Pauline Kael]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' described it as "close to perfection".<ref name="kael"/>

In 1985, the film received the Grand Prix for Best Film at [[Film Fest Gent]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmfestival.be/en/festival/awards/official-competition | title=Official Competition }}</ref>

==Legacy==
The movie version of "[[Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song)|Once in a Lifetime]]" appeared over the opening credits of the 1986 comedy film ''[[Down and Out in Beverly Hills]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmsite.org/downandoutinbh.html |title=Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) |website=filmsite.org}}</ref>

''Stop Making Sense'' was parodied in an episode of the comedy series ''[[Documentary Now!]]''. In the second-season episode "Final Transmission", the show sees the New Wave band Test Pattern play its final concert. It includes references to the staging and music styles of Talking Heads, with the band's lead singer (played by [[Fred Armisen]]) parodying Byrne. Gizmodo screened the episode to Frantz and Weymouth in a video released online, where they both expressed amusement and shock at the level of detail gone into parodying the film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yoo |first1=Noah |title=Watch Talking Heads' Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth React to Fred Armisen and Bill Hader's Parody Band |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/68911-watch-talking-heads-chris-frantz-and-tina-weymouth-react-to-fred-armisen-and-bill-haders-parody-band/ |website=Pitchfork |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=November 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/documentary-now-talking-heads-fred-armisen-bill-hader-1201735807/ |title='Documentary Now!': Fred Armisen and Bill Hader Start Making Nonsense With Talking Heads Concert Parody |first=Hanh |last=Nguyen |date=October 12, 2016}}</ref>

The image of Byrne's big suit has been parodied on multiple occasions, including a spoof by [[Rich Hall]] impersonating Byrne and his big suit on an episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2014/06/stop-making-sense-feature |title=Stop Making Sense: An Appreciation |website=daily.redbullmusicacademy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/tv/recaps/saturday-night-live-season-45-episode-14/ |title='Saturday Night Live' recap: John Mulaney hosts on Leap Day with musical guest David Byrne |first=Andy |last=Hoglund |date=February 29, 2020 |website=EW.com |access-date=July 4, 2024}}</ref> Byrne himself made light of his massive suit during an appearance on ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'', where he appeared in a fake ad for "David Byrne's Giant Suit Emporium" promoting his new clothing store while insisting he did not sell giant suits like the one he wore in ''Stop Making Sense''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Helman |first1=Peter |title=Watch David Byrne's Giant Suit Emporium Commercial And Performance With Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1986727/watch-david-byrnes-giant-suit-emporium-commercial-and-performance-with-stephen-colbert/news/ |website=Stereogum |date=March 10, 2018 |access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> Byrne makes an appearance in the children's musical comedy special ''[[John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch]]'' performing an original song alongside child performer Lexi Perkel. At one point, Byrne and Perkel wear matching pink suits, Perkel's being several sizes too large for her, in reference to ''Stop Making Sense''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Sanchez |first1=Omar |date=December 24, 2019 |title=Behind John Mulaney's 24-hour race to get David Byrne for a Sack Lunch Bunch cameo |url=https://ew.com/tv/2019/12/24/david-byrne-sack-lunch-bunch-cameo-john-mulaney/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref>

''Stop Making Sense'' is regularly screened as a [[cult film]] in [[revival house]]s throughout the world. [[The Astor Theatre, Melbourne|The Astor Theatre]] in [[Melbourne|Melbourne, Australia]] has made a tradition of playing it as part of a "Stop Making Sense Dance Party" every January since 2016. Dancing and audience participation is encouraged, with many turning up in costume and bringing props.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stop Making Sense |url=https://www.astortheatre.net.au/films/talking-heads-stop-making-sense-4k-remaster |website=Astor Theatre |publisher=Astor Theatre |access-date=25 January 2025}}</ref>

In 2021, ''Stop Making Sense'' was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=December 14, 2021 |title=National Film Registry Adds ''Return Of The Jedi'', ''Fellowship Of The Ring'', ''Strangers On A Train'', ''Sounder'', ''WALL-E'' & More |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/national-film-registry-2021-list-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-fellowship-of-the-ring-sounder-nightmare-on-elm-street-wall-e-1234890666/ |access-date=December 14, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/descriptions-and-essays/ Brief Descriptions and Expanded Essays of Titles at National Film Registry]</ref>

In January 2024, [[A24 Music]] announced a tribute album called ''[[Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense]]'', which was released on May 17.<ref name="Tribute Album Tracklist">{{Cite news |last=Chelosky |first=Danielle |date=April 24, 2024 |title=Talking Heads Tribute Album Tracklist Revealed for Today's 40th Anniversary of ''Stop Making Sense'' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2260759/talking-heads-tribute-album-tracklist-revealed-for-todays-40th-anniversary-of-stop-making-sense/music/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=[[Stereogum]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Thania |last2=Shafer |first2=Ellise |date=January 31, 2024 |title=A24 Sets ''Stop Making Sense'' Tribute Album with Miley Cyrus, Lorde, Paramore and More Artists Delivering Talking Heads Covers |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/stop-making-sense-tribute-album-a24-paramore-talking-heads-1235867596/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> The album features 16 bands and artists, including [[The National (band)|the National]], [[Paramore]], [[Lorde]], and [[Miley Cyrus]], covering the ''Stop Making Sense'' setlist in order.<ref name="Tribute Album Tracklist" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bloom |first=Madison |date=January 31, 2024 |title=Paramore, the National, Lorde, Miley Cyrus, and More Announced for A24's New ''Stop Making Sense'' Tribute Album |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/paramore-the-national-lorde-miley-cyrus-announced-for-a24-new-stop-making-sense-tribute-album/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
{{Main|Stop Making Sense (album){{!}}''Stop Making Sense'' (album)}}

==See also==
* ''[[The Last Waltz]]'' (1978) – [[Martin Scorsese]] concert film featuring [[the Band]]
* [[New wave music]]
* [[Worldbeat]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite web |url=http://www.dareland.com/emulsionalproblems/startmakingsense.htm |title=Start Making Sense: An Interview with Jonathan Demme |first=Michael |last=Dare |date=November 9, 1984 |work=[[LA Weekly]] |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724050040/http://www.dareland.com/emulsionalproblems/startmakingsense.htm |archive-date=July 24, 2009}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/talking-heads-on-stop-making-sense-we-didnt-want-any-bulls-t-231875/ |title=Talking Heads on 'Stop Making Sense': 'We Didn't Want Any Bulls—t' |first=Kory |last=Grow |date=August 1, 2014 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Siegel |first=Alan |date=2023-09-27 |title=Nothing Is Better Than This: The Oral History of 'Stop Making Sense' |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2023/9/27/23891070/stop-making-sense-talking-heads-movie-oral-history |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}
* {{cite book|last=Steenstra |first=Sytze |year=2010 |title=Song and Circumstance: The Work of David Byrne from Talking Heads to the Present |publisher=Continuum |isbn=978-0-8264-4168-3 |url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/song-and-circumstance-9780826441683/}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title|0088178|title=Stop Making Sense}}
* ''[http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/stopmakingsense Stop Making Sense] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131204426/http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/stopmakingsense|date=January 31, 2010}}'' at [[Metacritic]]

{{Talking Heads}}
{{Jonathan Demme}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Non-Fiction Film}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1980s American films]]
[[Category:1980s English-language films]]
[[Category:1984 films]]
[[Category:1984 documentary films]]
[[Category:1984 independent films]]
[[Category:American documentary films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:American rock music films]]
[[Category:Concert films]]
[[Category:English-language documentary films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Jonathan Demme]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films produced by Gary Goetzman]]
[[Category:1980s live video albums]]
[[Category:Talking Heads video albums]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
[[Category:English-language independent films]]