When You're Strange

This article is about the documentary film. For the Doors' song from which the film takes its name, see People Are Strange.
When You're Strange
Theatrical poster
Directed byTom DiCillo
Written byTom DiCillo
Produced by
Narrated byJohnny Depp
CinematographyPaul Ferrara
Edited by
  • Micky Blythe
  • Kevin Krasny
Music byThe Doors
Distributed byRhino Entertainment
Release dates
  • January 17, 2009 (2009-01-17) (Sundance)
  • April 9, 2010 (2010-04-09) (United States)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.2–$2.8 million[1][2]

When You're Strange is a 2009 music documentary film about the American rock band the Doors. It was written and directed by Tom DiCillo and narrated by Johnny Depp. The film covers the band's formation in 1965, its development over the next two years, the release of its debut album and subsequent albums, and vocalist Jim Morrison's extensive use of alcohol and drugs, which led to his death in Paris in July 1971. The film features archival footage of rehearsals, TV broadcasts and concert performances, private cine-film and the background to Morrison's arrest at a 1969 Miami concert and later trial.[3] It also includes the first public release of material from Morrison's 1969 featurette HWY: An American Pastoral.[4]

The Doors' keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who was not pleased with the 1991 biopic The Doors, stated prior to the film's release that "This will be the true story of the Doors ... the anti-Oliver Stone."[4][5]

  1. ^ When You're Strange at Box Office Mojo
  2. ^ "When You're Strange: A Film About the Doors (2010)". The Numbers. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  3. ^ David Gritten (July 1, 2010). "When You're Strange, review". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Cohen, Jonathan (December 18, 2008). "Doors Documentary Revisits 'Strange' Days". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008.
  5. ^ Prato, Greg (May 27, 2008). "Manzarek Eyes Doors Documentary, Other Projects". Billboard.com.