Air Guitar Nation (2006)

84% of critics liked it
(64 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(5,432 ratings)

In this documentary from filmmaker Alexandra Lipsitz, the cameras roll to capture the fierce competitive spirit that defined the first annual U.S. Air Guitar Championship. Staged in Finland and featuring some of the fastest-fingered shredders on the planet, the U.S. Air Guitar Championship would… More In this documentary from filmmaker Alexandra Lipsitz, the cameras roll to capture the fierce competitive spirit that defined the first annual U.S. Air Guitar Championship. Staged in Finland and featuring some of the fastest-fingered shredders on the planet, the U.S. Air Guitar Championship would bring a hobby once contained to the bedroom directly into the spotlight for all to enjoy. Featured jam sessions and interviews with both the performers and their "airhead" groupies offer a humorous look at an unlikely competition driven by pure showmanship. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: Alexandra Lipsitz
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Mar 9, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Aug 28, 2007
Studio: Shadow Distribution

Critic Reviews

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press
Sure, there is an infectious goofiness in watching a grown man in a red robe and Hello Kitty breastplate rock out on an imaginary ax. But the gag is spread pretty thin.
Justin Berton, San Francisco Chronicle
In this pitch-perfect documentary about the very real rise of air guitar competition in the United States, and two of its top performers, stony thoughts will arise as to whether one is suddenly trapped inside a satire that got wrapped in a reality.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
It's a limited movie, from the musical palette the performers choose, to the number of players the movie spends time with.
Janice Page, Boston Globe
The suggestion is that C-Diddy can be seen as a sort of ambassador for the 'make air, not war' sentiment. Why not? Even as real ambassadors go, we could do worse.
David Ansen, Newsweek
[A] jolly, oddly compelling and genuinely suspenseful documentary.
Jan Stuart, Newsday
A favorite on the film festival circuit, Alexandra Lipsitz's exuberantly funny documentary follows the triumphant path of an American air guitarist as he rises from U.S. East Coast champ to the top rankings of the international air guitar festival.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Put aside all of your preconceptions of air guitar as a hobby of shamelessly untalented wanna-be guitar players, and step into the world of competitive air guitar.
Keith H. Brown, Eye for Film
When a documentary is as entertaining as Air Guitar Nation, you have to ask if you really need it to have redeeming social value or to advance the art form in any way.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
This raucously entertaining documentary about one of the silliest competitions on the planet actually has a serious message about the power of "airness" to change the world. Well, maybe.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
There must be better, more useful ways of amusing themselves but obviously none which would allow them to strut the stage to the plaudits of a baying crowd like latter-day rock stars.
Sukhdev Sandhu, Daily Telegraph
Very funny.
Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]
Like most guitar solos, the film doesn't quite know when to quit.
, Sun Online
Originality 0.9, Presentation 2.3 and Silliness 5.2.
Kevin Maher, Times [UK]
Despite the film's admirable brevity it's still hard to maintain a wry ironic grin for a full 81 minutes.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
While quite possibly the stupidest thing you've ever seen in your life, this documentary exploring the world of air guitar enthusiasts is a riot from start to finish.
Saxon Bullock, Film4
A gloriously insane journey into the weirder reaches of rock, Air Guitar Nation is a funny, funky and oddly moving burst of lively factual entertainment.
Catherine Chambers, BBC
Shot in a raw, grungy style that lends the film a degree of authenticity, AGN is a riff-roaring experience that rarely hits a bum note.
Tom Hawker, Total Film
you will be entertained even if, in rock'n' roll terms, it's less satanic metal than cutesy chart pop.
David Jenkins, Time Out
A nuts-and-bolts document of the annual Air Guitar World Championships which take place in the rural outpost of Oulu in Finland.
Olly Richards, Empire Magazine
A delightfully surreal look at a bizarre performance art.

Read all 24 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Air Guitar Nation is insanely entertaining. Honestly, I put this movie off for a long time thinking that there was no way I was going to be entertained or at all care about air guitar. But it's really easy to like and actually dare I say respect what they are doing. C-Diddy and… More
Air Guitar Nation is insanely entertaining. Honestly, I put this movie off for a long time thinking that there was no way I was going to be entertained or at all care about air guitar. But it's really easy to like and actually dare I say respect what they are doing. C-Diddy and Bjorn Turoque are really likable in their own weird way and that's what makes the movie as they are the prime focus of the documentary. Some of the things the players say and so just make you laugh and then you see they aren't laughing and you think, "Wait, Are they serious?" To some extent they are, but the good thing is they only do it to have fun and I have to say it's a lot of fun to watch them.
Emily A

This is a really fun movie to watch. It starts with a ridiculous premise, but eventually wins you over with its exhuberance and, I hate to say it, skill. Some of the guys who compete are really quite accomplished in thier strange field and are pretty impressive to watch. This movie is… More
This is a really fun movie to watch. It starts with a ridiculous premise, but eventually wins you over with its exhuberance and, I hate to say it, skill. Some of the guys who compete are really quite accomplished in thier strange field and are pretty impressive to watch. This movie is like watching multiple love letters to rock music, if not guitar aptitude. It's too bad that Dan Crane kind of comes off as a bit desperate and pathetic. He's not too bad, but his tenacity makes him kind of a tragic character.
Steve K

Terrific and funny. Had me giggling the entire time.
Richard F

On a scale between 4.0 and 6.0, I give it a 5.8! What an interesting film! This "mockumentary" film ranks up there with "Murderball" and "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters", really defining this genre of movies at the top of the ranks. This is… More
On a scale between 4.0 and 6.0, I give it a 5.8! What an interesting film! This "mockumentary" film ranks up there with "Murderball" and "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters", really defining this genre of movies at the top of the ranks. This is top-notch entertainment, you can't script better characters. If you haven't seen "C-Diddy" perform, then you're just missing out.
Wu C

Entertaining and fun documentary on the air guitar championships of 2003.

Air Guitar Nation (2006)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Emily A

Steve K

Richard F

Wu C

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