The Wrecking Crew

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2:20

The Wrecking Crew

PG

2015

1h 42m

Documentary

Music

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

71 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

The son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco pays tribute to his late father and a core group of studio musicians who played on some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and '70s, including "California Girls" and "Mrs. Robinson."

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Critics Consensus

The Wrecking Crew may not achieve the greatness of the many classic songs its subjects helped bring to life, but it remains a heartfelt, overdue tribute to overshadowed brilliance.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

06/26/2015

3/5

The documentary makes fascinating connections between the fledgling high-showbiz days of rock 'n' roll and the rise of more versatile singer-songwriters in the 1970s.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

06/25/2015

4/5

It's a fascinating insight into how a classic song is crafted.

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Henry Barnes

Guardian

06/25/2015

3/5

Tedesco nails the point: that the beauty of pop music lies not with the prancing pop starlets, but in the hands of the average-looking, insanely talented artists behind the scenes.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

09/22/2023

... it's satisfying to learn the stories behind the songs that defined a decade and the musicians who never got their due credit for providing the soundtrack of a generation.

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Loren King

Newport This Week (RI)

12/06/2021

For the sheer joy of the music...

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Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

02/26/2021

In this fascinating, eclectic look at this musical period, The Wrecking Crew brings out the essential solidarity and practicality of the group.

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Fritz G

@RT22134423 Apr 14

Really well done one of the best docs I have seen of late.

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JM H

@JMH9999 Apr 6

What a great tribute from son to father, and what a fascinating look into the business end of early rock music.

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Katie F

@KatieFitz01 Jan 31

Perfect to stream on a Friday night for self-aware, nonstop stupid action, eye candy, great 1-liners, and "insider" jokes.

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Pete B

@RT37223507 03/25/2025

Never realized how many of my favorite songs were played by this one group of musicians. The sheer talent in this crew was crazy, and they barely got credit for it at the time. Amazing look at a piece of music history most people don’t even know about.

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James B

@JamesBass 12/13/2023

Great flick. Came here to say that it's available on YouTube and Peacock as well!.

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06/14/2022

The Wrecking Crew is best watched with your boomer parents, as it takes a nostalgic stroll through the birth of rock 'n roll, through the eyes of the musicians - not the singers, the studio session musicians - who brought the iconic albums to life, one track at a time.

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Denny Tedesco

Director

Denny Tedesco

Narrator

Brian Wilson

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The Wrecking Crew: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco pays tribute to his late father and a core group of studio musicians who played on some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and '70s, including "California Girls" and "Mrs. Robinson."

Director: Denny Tedesco
Producer: Denny Tedesco, Jon Leonoudakis, Suzie Tedesco, Claire Scanlon, Jon Leonudakis, Mitchell Linden, Damon Tedesco, Chris Hope
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Lunch Box Entertainment
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Smoking Images|Language)
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 13, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $800.5K
Runtime: 1h 42m