Movie Review and GIVEAWAY: Song Sung Blue {ends 1/27}
I was able to see Song Sung Blue at the theater last week, on my birthday, and I cannot say enough good things about it—it's probably one of the best, if not the best, movie I have seen this year (and pre-August aka pre-Baby K I saw quite a bit of movies!).
Fun fact, also—I follow the director, Craig Brewer, on Twitter (aka X), ever since his Footloose remake came out, and in the early 2010s he would sometimes respond when I tweeted at him, so I was excited to see he directed this one.
Two of my lucky readers will win a digital code for the movie, also! See below for details.
The film is now available on digital platforms to buy or rent, and will be on Blu-ray on February 17.
About the movie:
Academy Award® nominees Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables, The Greatest Showman) and Kate Hudson (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Almost Famous), in her Golden Globe® and Actor Award® nominated role, bring adoration and vulnerability to Focus Features’ inspirational love story SONG SUNG BLUE, arriving exclusively on digital* platforms to buy or rent on January 13, 2026, and on Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 17, 2026, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Based on the award-winning 2008 documentary by Greg Kohs (The Great Alone, AlphaGo), writer and director Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow, The Poor & Hungry) brings the remarkable true story to life by exploring the power of music and the timeless influence of iconic musician Neil Diamond. Boasting a stellar “A” CinemaScore and Verified Hot with a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, go backstage and experience the strength and perseverance that drives this unforgettable romance as the feature film adaptation comes home with never-before-seen extended musical performances and all new behind-the-scenes featurettes, diving deeper into the drama, humor, and Diamond’s timeless anthems.
Based on an incredible true story, Mike (Hugh Jackman) and Claire (Kate Hudson) are two down-on-their-luck musicians who prove that it’s never too late to find love and follow your dreams. They form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band called Lightning and Thunder, rising from a humble garage to dive bar gigs to unexpected hometown stardom. When tragedy strikes, their love for each other and passion for music give them the strength to overcome hardships, rediscover hope, and inspire everyone around them.
Reminding audiences that music has the power to heal and unite, SONG SUNG BLUE showcases emotionally riveting performances as Jackman delivers a transformative depiction of a Neil Diamond tribute band performer, with powerful vocals that combine heartbreak and redemption, while Hudson who gives a heartfelt and moving portrayal of a woman who discovers resilience through music as she navigates longing and adversity. The film’s star-studded ensemble cast also features Emmy Award® winner Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos,” Goodfellas), Ella Anderson (Suncoast, The Glass Castle), King Princess (Bottoms, Crush), Mustafa Shakir (Ghosted, Emancipation), Hudson Hensley (The Wildman of Shaggy Creek), and Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens (The Cove, the Short Circuit franchise) and Emmy Award® nominee Jim Belushi (“Saturday Night Live”). The film is beautifully co-produced by Emmy Award® nominee John Davis (Prey, I, Robot), John Fox (Game Night, Uglies), and Craig Brewer.
My review
Even as a casual Neil Diamond fan, I really loved this movie. I had a feeling I would—The Greatest Showman is one of my favorite movies, and he was fabulous in that movie too—and it was great to see in an actual theater.
Kate Hudson is also really great here—I forgot she's an excellent singer too—and the supporting cast was good, also. I didn't know that this was based on a true story, so I went to look it up afterwards, and the movie seems to stay pretty close to the actual story.
Overall I would give this movie 4.5/5 or 5/5 stars, and it's definitely worth seeing, even if it's at home and not at the theater.
GIVEAWAY:
Two of my lucky readers will win a digital copy of Song Sung Blue, redeemable at MoviesAnywhere.com!
Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Tuesday, January 27th, at 11:59pm ET, and the winners will be notified the next day via email.
U.S. and Canadian residents only, please.
Good luck!
