Talking Heads’ ‘Stop Making Sense’ Returning to Theaters in 2023

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By Stu Kelly / March 17, 2023

As the 40th anniversary of the 1984 concert film and album for Stop Making Sense approaches, the Talking Heads have announced that they will rerelease the movie in theaters later this year. Fans will have to continue to hold their breath for a full band reunion but the news of the iconic concert performance being redistributed certainly gives fans a reason to rejoice.

Stop Making Sense was shot across three nights of live concerts at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre in December of 1983 and stars David Byrne alongside fellow Talking Heads members Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison in support of their fifth album, Speaking in Tongues. The concert film pioneered the use of 24-track digital recording, resulting in “extraordinarily clear” sound. The Talking Heads officially broke up in 1991 but the band reunited briefly at a 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. 

Directed by Jonathan Demme, the highly choreographed production, unlike anything ever seen in its time, is widely acclaimed as one of the best concert films of all time. A newly restored 4K version of the groundbreaking concert film is being released in theaters later this year courtesy of A24, which acquired the film’s global rights. 

In addition to the film returning to theaters, a new deluxe edition of its soundtrack is due out on August 18 via Rhino Records. Available digitally with a Dolby Atmos mix of the complete concert and as a 2xLP set, the reissue is mixed by Jerry Harrison and E.T. Thorngren. Notably, the reissue adds on two previously unreleased performances of “Cities” and “Big Business / I Zimbra,” as well as unseen photos and new liner notes from the band’s four members. Pre-orders are now open via the band’s official website.

Check out the teaser from A24 below where Byrne picks up his iconic oversized suit from a dry cleaner in New York City.