Stop Making Sense
“Why stop making sense? Why a movie? Why a big suit? Where do the odd movements come from? What will the band do next?”
A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.
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Cast
9 people
David Byrne
Self - Vocals, Guitar
Known for
True Stories
Lulu on the Bridge
Chris Frantz
Self - Drums, Vocals
Also in
100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s
True Stories
Jerry Harrison
Self - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Also in
True Stories
The Darwin Awards
Tina Weymouth
Self - Bass, Percussion, Vocals
Also in
100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s
True Stories
Ednah Holt
Self - Backing Vocals
Also in
China Girl
Lynn Mabry
Self - Backing Vocals
Also in
Ryuichi Sakamoto – Media Bahn Live
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Steven Scales
Self - Percussion
Also in
Philadelphia
Something Wild
Alex Weir
Self - Guitar, Vocals
Also in
The Greenskeeper
Bernie Worrell
Self - Keyboards
Known for
Ricki and the Flash
Jonathan Demme Director · David Byrne Composer Tina Weymouth Composer
Worldwide gross $12M · Budget $1.2M · United States release October 19, 1984
Box office
Budget
$1,200,000
Worldwide gross
$12,471,520
Gross vs. budget
10.4×
Production
Talking Heads Films
Production
Arnold Stiefel Company
Production
Palm Pictures
Production
Talking Heads
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · French
Release dates
United States · April 24, 1984
Premiere · San Francisco International Film Festival
United States · October 19, 1984
Theatrical
United States · October 13, 2009
Physical
United States
September 15, 1999 · Limited theatrical · Remastered re-release
September 22, 2023 · Limited theatrical · 4K restoration in IMAX
September 29, 2023 · Theatrical · 4K restoration
May 3, 2024 · Digital · Max
May 8, 2024 · Physical · 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray
October 2, 2024 · Limited theatrical · A24 x IMAX Presents
Australia
September 17, 2023 · Theatrical · 4K Restoration
Brazil
August 29, 2024 · Theatrical · Relançamento em 4K
Canada
September 11, 2023 · Premiere · Toronto International Film Festival (4K Restoration)
China
June 16, 2024 · Premiere · Shanghai International Film Festival (IMAX)
September 5, 2025 · Premiere · Aranya Waves Film Festival
Denmark
November 16, 1984 · Theatrical
Finland
November 16, 1984 · Limited theatrical
Germany
March 28, 2024 · Theatrical · Re-release
Ireland
November 8, 2014 · Digital
Italy
October 19, 2024 · Premiere · Festa del Cinema di Roma (4K Restoration)
November 11, 2024 · Limited theatrical · 4K Restoration
Japan
August 3, 1985 · Theatrical
February 2, 2024 · Theatrical · 4K Restoration & IMAX
Netherlands
April 4, 1985 · Theatrical
October 5, 2001 · Physical · DVD
January 1, 2009 · Physical · Blu ray
January 11, 2024 · Theatrical · re-release, 40th anniversary
Poland
December 25, 2024 · Limited theatrical
South Korea
August 13, 2025 · Theatrical
Sweden
November 16, 1984 · Limited theatrical
Taiwan
January 1, 2026 · Premiere · TFAI (4K Restoration)
United Kingdom
November 26, 1984 · Theatrical
November 16, 2015 · Physical · Blu-ray & DVD
September 22, 2023 · Theatrical · Re-Release
April 8, 2024 · Digital
June 21, 2024 · Physical · 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray Re-Issue
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Some details come from TheTVDB.