Director Robert Schwartzman’s film, Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary, premiered at SXSW 2023 and will be released theatrically in cities around the U.S. in May 2025.
The iconic British rock band, The Zombies, met as teenagers and formed a band ahead of what is known as “the British Invasion,” with many bands coming to the USA. They are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and this is their first-ever feature documentary. Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Chris White, and Hugh Grundy are the principal cast.
As one watches the film, the band members tell the story of their youth and where it took them worldwide. They share their history of the good and the not-so-fair times in their career in the music industry. It is wonderful to see them at this stage of their life and look back at photos of them in their youth, as they created albums, including Odessey and Oracle. The minute the self-written song “She’s Not There” played in the film, I felt easily transported to my youth, with my head bopping like when I first heard them on the radio. They were the first British band (after The Beatles) to reach #1 in the U.S. with a self-written song. Hearing them speak of this achievement is so good, as if they are years later, still in disbelief. “Time of the Season” was a No. 1 hit and became a global success.
Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary features many interviews with Finneas, Harry Styles, Dave Grohl, Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Paul Atkinson, Søren Kuch, Steve Rodford, Tom Toomey, Chris White, and Atkinson’s daughter.
Executive Producer: Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Rick Krim
Producer: Russell Wayne Groves, Robert Schwartzman
Cinematographer: Michael Rizzi, Editor: Meryl Goodwin, Production Designer: Zane Stein, Tim Ferro, Sound Designer: Juan Campos, Music: The Zombies, Benjamin Messelbeck
The film began special screenings nationwide on May 13th, with continued release in LA at the Landmark NuArt Theatre on May 15th and in New York at the Quad Cinema on May 16th. Check your local listings for additional screenings added in several cities.
Source: Utopia