When You're Strange

When You're Strange

A film about The Doors

Directed by Tom DiCillo

Produced by Strange Pictures, Wolf Entertainment

201086 min7.3 / 10

A visually rich documentary portrait of The Doors' creative rise and tragic arc, built from archival footage and driven by the band's artistic ambition and Morrison's self-destructive trajectory.

The creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.

Questions people ask

  • Is When You're Strange sad? Yes. More sad than 82% of films.

  • Is When You're Strange violent? Barely. Less violent than 76% of films.

  • Does When You're Strange end with hope? Not especially. Less hopeful than 63% of films.

  • Is When You're Strange easy watching? Somewhat. More comforting than 62% of films.

  • Is When You're Strange scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 58% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

65/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Distinctly its own thing.

Rarity80

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise41

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love80

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Everything like When You're Strange, and what each one shares →

Like When You're Strange

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as When You're Strange

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like When You're Strange, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like When You're Strange, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like When You're Strange, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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