Dont Look Back (1967)

D.A. Pennebaker's portrait of Bob Dylan's 1965 UK tour did more than capture a star — it invented the modern music documentary, shot in cinema verité style with handheld cameras that reveal Dylan's combative brilliance in real time. At just 96 minutes, it is 75 minutes shorter than Hoop Dreams, yet packs more iconic moments per minute than most films in any genre, with a budget of just $500,000. Pennebaker's innovative style — letting scenes play out without narration — influenced every subsequent behind-the-scenes rock film, making his approach 40 years ahead of its time. It remains the definitive portrait of an artist at the peak of his powers, a template for direct cinema that still feels radically fresh.