24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British comedy-drama film that follows the life story of Tony Wilson, a music journalist turned entrepreneur who founded the innovative and influential record label Factory Records in Manchester. The movie is directed by Michael Winterbottom and stars Steve Coogan as Wilson.
The film depicts Wilson's early years as a television presenter and music journalist in the 1970s, covering the rise of punk and post-punk music in Manchester. Wilson becomes increasingly involved in the Manchester music scene and decides to start his own record label, Factory Records, with local businessman Alan Erasmus.
Factory Records quickly becomes a hub for influential bands like Joy Division, The Happy Mondays, and New Order. Wilson's eccentric and flamboyant personality and his unorthodox approach to running the label (including no binding contracts and free promotion for the bands) draw in a loyal following of fans and musicians.
As Factory Records grows in popularity, Wilson becomes a key figure in the cultural and social scene of Manchester, and the city becomes synonymous with the new wave of post-punk and dance music. However, Wilson's ambition and addiction to drugs and alcohol lead to tensions within the label and the ultimate collapse of the Factory empire.
The movie explores themes of music, art, youth culture, and entrepreneurship against the backdrop of the vibrant and chaotic music scene of Manchester in the late 1970s and 80s. It offers a humorous and irreverent take on the birth of a music movement that had a lasting impact on popular culture and continues to influence musicians today.