All Things Must Pass

All Things Must Pass

movie

NR, 2015, Documentary, History

WISE
68%

WISE Score

94

Avg. Tomatometer

A loving obituary for Tower Records that'll hit hard if you remember buying CDs in actual stores—everyone else will wonder what the fuss was about.

IMDb7.3
RT Critics94%
MC73
Common Sense Media
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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: this is a well-made documentary (94% on Rotten Tomatoes doesn't lie) about a beloved record store chain that went bankrupt. If you're old enough to remember buying CDs at Tower Records, you'll probably find this fascinating and bittersweet. If you're a teen interested in business or music history, there's real value here about innovation, culture, and how quickly the world can change.

But let's be honest—for most kids and even many adults, this is pretty niche. It's a business documentary about a store that closed before today's teens were born. The story is compelling if you're already invested in the subject matter, but it's not going to hook casual viewers the way a true crime doc or nature series might.

The WISE score reflects that tension: solid educational content and safe viewing, but limited appeal and entertainment value for the average family. If your teen is into music, entrepreneurship, or just curious about how the world worked before Spotify, queue it up. Everyone else can skip without missing much.

Age Fit

Best for ages 15+ who have genuine interest in music history, business, or nostalgia for pre-streaming culture. Adults who remember Tower Records will get the most out of it. Younger teens might find it interesting if they're into entrepreneurship or music, but this isn't going to compete with their usual entertainment.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
78

Documentary about a beloved record store chain told through nostalgic lens with genuine affection for its founder and employees. Emotionally healthy portrayal of entrepreneurship, community, and cultural change. Some mild language and adult themes around business failure keep it from being fully family-friendly, but tone is warm and human throughout.

Imaginative
72

Chronicles the creative, rebellious spirit of Tower Records' founder Russ Solomon and the innovative retail culture he built. Explores how music retail shaped cultural discovery before the digital age. However, as a straightforward documentary about a defunct business, it's more historically interesting than actively imagination-sparking for younger viewers.

Safe
85

Documentary format with no violence, gore, or sexual content. Common Sense Media rates it 15+, likely due to some mild language and adult business themes around bankruptcy and corporate struggles. No surprise disturbing content—it's a business history doc about a record store. Safe for teens and adults.

Enriching
81

Strong critical reception (94% RT critics, 73 Metacritic) indicates substantive storytelling about business, music culture, and technological disruption. Offers valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, adaptation to change, and the end of an era. Music history context is genuinely educational. However, niche subject matter limits broader appeal.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Genuinely compelling business story about entrepreneurship, innovation, and adaptation (or failure to adapt)
  • Rich music history context—shows how people discovered new artists before algorithms did the work
  • Strong critical reception (94% on RT) means it's well-crafted storytelling, not just nostalgia bait
  • Offers real lessons about disruption, corporate culture, and the cost of refusing to evolve
  • Humanizes the rise-and-fall narrative through founder Russ Solomon's rebellious, charismatic personality
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What to Watch For

  • This is squarely for teens and adults—younger kids will have zero connection to record stores or physical media
  • Some business-related stress and failure themes that might be heavy for sensitive viewers
  • Likely contains mild language and adult business discussions (hence the CSM 15+ rating)
  • Realistically, this is a doc for music nerds and business history buffs—not exactly riveting for casual viewers

Conversation Starters

  • "How do you discover new music now compared to how people did it in record stores?"
  • "What businesses today might disappear the way Tower Records did? What's coming next?"
  • "Do you think something is lost when everything moves online, or is convenience worth it?"
  • "What would you do differently if you were running Tower Records in the 2000s?"

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