CBGB is a 2013 biographical film that tells the story of Hilly Kristal and his iconic club in Manhattan's Lower East Side. Kristal, played by Alan Rickman, is portrayed as a struggling musician turned bar owner who wanted to create a space for country, bluegrass, and blues (hence the name CBGB) but instead found himself at the epicenter of the punk rock movement. The film chronicles the club's early days, its rise to fame as the home of punk, and its eventual demise in the late 1990s.
The movie includes portrayals of many punk rock icons such as Iggy Pop (Taylor Hawkins), The Ramones (Justin Bartha, Mickey Sumner, and others), Patti Smith (Mickey Sumner), and Debbie Harry (Malin Akerman). It also features original music by the likes of Alanis Morissette and Ryan Adams.
CBGB received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising Rickman's performance as Kristal but criticizing the film's uneven tone and lack of depth. Despite this, it offers an entertaining and nostalgic look back at one of the most important and influential eras in music history.