Film
Hired Gun
A documentary portrait of session and touring musicians—the virtuosos behind the curtain who make hit records and arena shows happen but rarely get the spotlight. Celebrates the craft, resilience, and quiet mastery of people who've played thousands of gigs in service of other people's visions. For anyone who's ever wondered who's actually playing that guitar solo, or believed that the work itself is the point.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you love the backstage craft of making records and shows, and get more excited by the people playing the drums or bass than by the name on the poster.
Skip it if you want a tight narrative or strong characters to follow, since this is a loose parade of session players talking about their trade rather than a story with stakes.
What it asks of you: It runs about an hour and a half and moves at a conversational pace, mostly interviews and studio footage, so it rewards patience more than sustained focus.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Sound City2013
Dave Grohl directs a love letter to the studio musicians and engineers who built rock history. Like Hired Gun, it's about the people in the background—but focused on one legendary studio and its legacy. Essential for understanding how records actually get made.
But Runs long at over two hours, and gets nostalgic about analog recording in ways that can feel a little precious if you're not already into studio culture.
20 Feet from Stardom2013
Oscar-winning documentary about session singers in soul, pop, and rock who shaped decades of hits from the shadows. Same spirit as Hired Gun: celebrating the invisible excellence that made the famous people sound great.
But Heavy on the wistfulness about what could have been—it's genuinely moving but carries real melancholy about missed opportunities.
Muscle Shoals2013
A Southern studio and its house band changed popular music forever. Focuses on the studio musicians, engineers, and producers who created the sound. Intimate, specific, and full of genuine surprise moments from the artists who recorded there.
But If you're not familiar with the artists and songs, some of the reverence might pass you by. Assumes some baseline music knowledge.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Hired Gun
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Once2007
Both celebrate musicians for the quality of their work and their commitment to craft rather than fame. Once lives inside the moment of creation; Hired Gun documents the lifetime of creation that few people ever witness.
A musician and a pianist meet in Dublin and write a song together over the course of a few days. It's not *about* hired musicians, but it lives in their world—the honesty of people making music because they have to, not because they're famous. The opposite of a behind-the-scenes documentary, but the same love for the work itself.
But If you're looking for a conventional narrative or character arcs, it won't satisfy. It's deliberately small and quiet. The music is great but the plot is gossamer.
More like this (4)
The Wrecking Crew2008
Documents the legendary LA session musicians who played on more hit records than you can name—without any of you knowing their faces. Incredible musicians doing extraordinary invisible work. This is the DNA of Hired Gun.
But A bit dated in its production style, and the soundtrack is necessarily a greatest-hits compilation rather than original score.
The Toys That Made Us2017
Each episode is a mini-documentary about how a beloved toy was designed, manufactured, and marketed. Same DNA as Hired Gun—celebrating the craftspeople and innovators whose names nobody knows but whose work shaped culture.
But The format is formulaic and occasionally feels more like a corporate puff piece than real investigation. Nostalgia can overshadow honesty.
High Score2020
A series about video game design and the programmers, artists, and sound designers who built the industry. Profiles the unsung creators behind iconic games. Shares Hired Gun's interest in how creative work actually gets made by teams of specialists.
But Jumps around chronologically and geographically, which can feel scattered. Some episodes are stronger than others depending on your interest in specific games.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil2008
Both documents musicians whose commitment to their work far exceeds any recognition they receive. Anvil is Hired Gun from the inside—what it feels like to be the people the documentary celebrates.
A cult metal band has been touring and recording for decades with almost no success or recognition. They're hired guns for their own band—working constantly, brilliantly, with zero commercial reward. Hilarious, heartbreaking, and absolutely honest about what it costs to commit to craft when the world doesn't care.
But It's a hard watch. The pathos is real and sometimes uncomfortable. If you find it maudlin or cringe-inducing, nothing here will change your mind.
People
Cast
Kenny AronoffSelf- Phil ChenSelf
Alice CooperSelf- Justin DerricoSelf
Liberty DeVittoSelf
David FosterSelf
Siedah GarrettSelf- Jay GraydonSelf
- Corky HaleSelf
- Derek St. HolmesSelf
- Jason HookSelf
Directing
- Fran StrineDirector
Writing
- Fran StrineWriter
- Tim CalandrelloWriter