Quick Facts
| Title | Type | Genre | Release Date | Composer | Status (as of Aug 2026) | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Back to Black | Movie | Biographical Drama / Music | April 12, 2024 (UK); May 17, 2024 (US) | Score by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis (original score); soundtrack built around original Amy Winehouse recordings and new vocals by Marisa Abela | Released; available on digital, Blu-ray/DVD, and Netflix UK | Digital rental/purchase, Peacock (US), Netflix (UK, from September 2024) |
Back to Black is a 2024 biographical drama film directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and written by Matt Greenhalgh, based on the life of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. The film released in UK cinemas on April 12, 2024, and in US theaters via Focus Features on May 17, 2024 — so this is no longer an “upcoming” release, and we’ve updated this page with what actually happened since launch.
The film traces Winehouse’s life and music from her adolescence in North London through the creation of one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s, “Back to Black.” It stars Marisa Abela as Amy Winehouse, alongside Lesley Manville, Jack O’Connell, Eddie Marsan, Bronson Webb, Juliet Cowan, Ansu Kabia, Harley Bird, and Sam Buchanan.
Back to Black Soundtrack
One of the most notable facts about this film’s soundtrack: Marisa Abela performed the songs herself rather than lip-syncing to Amy Winehouse’s original recordings. In the film, Abela sings tracks like “I Heard Love Is Blind” live on set, a choice that drew significant press attention and was seen as central to her performance.
The official soundtrack album, released on Island Records on April 12, 2024, blends Abela’s in-film vocal performances with genuine archival Amy Winehouse recordings and the music that influenced her. It includes three original recordings from Winehouse’s 2003 debut album “Frank” (“What Is It About Men,” “Stronger Than Me,” and “Know You Now”), tracks from “Back to Black” itself, and songs by artists who shaped Winehouse’s sound, including The Shangri-Las, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Minnie Riperton & Sarah Vaughan. The soundtrack was released in two editions: a 12-track standard edition and a 26-track extended edition.
It’s available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
Beyond the song soundtrack, the film’s original score was composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, marking their first film collaboration with director Sam Taylor-Johnson. The pair underscored roughly 20 minutes of the film and also wrote and performed the original song “Song for Amy,” which plays over the end credits, with Giles Martin serving as music producer. A separate score album was released by Back Lot Music on April 12, 2024.
“Back to Black” marks the first feature biopic about Winehouse, whose most popular songs include “Valerie,” “Back to Black,” and “Rehab.” The film features many of Winehouse’s original songs through Universal Music Group and Sony Music Publishing, and is a British production from StudioCanal, Focus Features, and Monumental Pictures.
The music department included Iain Cooke, Estera Dabrowska, Michael Dore, Giles Martin, Ben Parry, Adam Sharp, Hilary Skewes, and Giles Thornton. The sound department included James Bishop, Will Frances, Billy Francis, Glenn Freemantle, Rashad Hall-Heinz, Miles Henry, Daniel Leigh, and Brendan Nicholson, among others.
Reception and Box Office
Since its release, Back to Black has had a mixed run. Critics were largely unimpressed — the film holds a “rotten” 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes from critics — but general audiences responded more warmly, giving it an 86% audience score and a B+ CinemaScore. Commercially, the film underperformed: it grossed roughly $39–51 million worldwide against a production budget of around $30 million (before prints and advertising), opening to under $3 million domestically in the US. It topped the UK box office in its opening weekend before falling off quickly. The film later became available on Peacock in the US and had its Netflix UK streaming premiere in September 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Marisa Abela sing the songs herself in Back to Black?
Yes. Marisa Abela performed Amy Winehouse’s songs live on set rather than lip-syncing to the original recordings, including her rendition of “I Heard Love Is Blind” in the film.
When was Back to Black released?
Back to Black opened in UK cinemas on April 12, 2024, and in US theaters via Focus Features on May 17, 2024.
Is the Back to Black soundtrack real Amy Winehouse recordings or covers?
Both. The soundtrack combines genuine archival Amy Winehouse recordings from her albums “Frank” and “Back to Black” with new in-film vocal performances by Marisa Abela, plus tracks by artists who influenced Winehouse’s sound.
How did Back to Black perform at the box office?
The film underperformed commercially, grossing an estimated $39–51 million worldwide against a roughly $30 million production budget, despite topping the UK box office in its opening weekend. Critical reviews were largely negative, though general audiences rated it more positively.
Who composed the score for Back to Black?
The original score was composed by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, in their first film collaboration with director Sam Taylor-Johnson. They also wrote and performed the original song “Song for Amy” for the end credits.
Where can I watch Back to Black now?
Back to Black is available for digital rental/purchase, streams on Peacock in the US, and premiered on Netflix in the UK in September 2024.
For more music biopic soundtracks, check out our movie soundtrack hub, browse our streaming guide, or see what’s on Prime Video.