This is a moody, atmospheric film about creative isolation and depression. It's not a crowd-pleaser. The movie captures Bruce in 1982, post-The River tour, dealing with the weight of fame, personal demons, and the impulse to strip everything away and record alone in his bedroom on a 4-track cassette recorder.

Jeremy Allen White does a solid job inhabiting Springsteen's physicality and voice, though some critics have noted he leans too heavily into brooding intensity (which, fair—he's playing Nebraska-era Bruce, not Born to Run Bruce).

For families with older teens who are into music, this film offers a fascinating look at the creative process and mental health. It doesn't sugarcoat depression or the isolating nature of artistic work. There's substance use (drinking, some drug references), adult themes around relationships and existential despair, and the overall vibe is heavy.

But if you've got a 15-year-old who's learning guitar, writing songs in their room, or dealing with their own mental health struggles, this could be a powerful watch. It shows that even legends like Springsteen have dark periods—and that sometimes the best art comes from the worst times.

Best for ages 14+, maybe 13 if they're mature and already familiar with themes of depression and creative struggle.

Content concerns:

This isn't a "fun music movie." It's a character study. If your kid loved The Bear for its intensity and anxiety, they might appreciate this. If they're expecting Bohemian Rhapsody-style crowd-pleasing moments, they'll be disappointed.

This is the more accessible option. It's a concert film meets behind-the-scenes documentary, following the E Street Band as they prepare for and execute their 2023-2024 tour. You get rehearsal footage, interviews, concert performances, and reflections on what it means to be in your 70s and still doing three-hour rock shows.

The documentary doesn't shy away from mortality—several band members have died over the years, and there's discussion of aging, loss, and legacy. But the overall tone is celebratory and warm. It's about showing up, doing the work, and the joy of playing music with people you've known for 50 years.

If you've got a kid who's in band, plays an instrument, or is just starting to appreciate live music, this is a great entry point. You see the discipline of rehearsal, the camaraderie of a long-term creative partnership, and the sheer physical stamina required to perform at that level.

The concert footage is legitimately thrilling, even if your kids don't know every song. Springsteen is a showman, and watching him work a crowd is a masterclass in performance.

Best for ages 10+, especially for music-loving kids.

Content concerns:

This is the one you can watch with your 10-year-old who just started guitar lessons or your 12-year-old who's obsessed with School of Rock. It's inspiring without being saccharine, and it treats music as both craft and joy.

Choose the biopic (Deliver Me from Nowhere) if:

Choose the documentary (Road Diary) if:

Watch both if:

Neither film is "educational" in the traditional sense, but both offer value:

The biopic is a conversation starter about mental health, creative process, and the cost of fame. If you watch it with your teen, be ready to talk about depression, what it means to struggle even when you're successful, and how art can be both therapeutic and isolating.

The documentary is a conversation starter about work ethic, aging, loss, and what it means to keep showing up. It's also a great way to talk about the value of live music in an era when everything is streaming and TikTok clips.

If your kids aren't already Springsteen fans, that's fine. The documentary works even if you don't know the songs—it's about the experience of performance. The biopic is harder to appreciate without some context, so maybe queue up Nebraska on Spotify first and see if the vibe resonates.

Both films are competently made, but neither is a masterpiece. The biopic is too slow and self-serious for casual viewers, and the documentary sometimes feels like it's preaching to the choir (Springsteen fans will love it; everyone else might shrug).

But for families with music-loving kids, especially those learning instruments or starting to appreciate what goes into creating and performing music, these films offer something valuable. The documentary is the safer, more accessible choice. The biopic is for older teens who can handle darkness and slow pacing.

If you're trying to decide, start with Road Diary. If your kid responds to it and wants more, you can always move to the biopic later. And if neither lands, there are plenty of other great music documentaries for kids that might be a better fit.

And if you're not a Springsteen household? That's cool too. There are plenty of other movies about music and musicians that might be a better fit for your family's taste.