Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree (1999): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1999, Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree is a music and documentary film directed by Nuala O'Connor, running about 59 minutes.

What it’s about. Release in March 1987, U2's The Joshua Tree quickly became the fastest-selling album in British chart history, selling almost 250,000 copies within the first week of release. In the US, it was equally successful, topping the Billboard album chart for nine weeks, spending 58 weeks in the Top 40 there and earning a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The story of the making of The Joshua Tree is told here, via interview and archive film footage, with contributions from band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. U2’s long-time manager Paul McGuinness reveals how the album catapulted the band into the category of rock superstars, and there are contributions from Elvis Costello in the role of a major U2 fan, re-mix producer Steve Lillywhite, and of course co-producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. Packed with reminiscences and powerful performances, this is the story of one of the most famous and best records of the Eighties, a true Classic Album.

Who’s in it. Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree stars Bono as Self, The Edge as Self, Adam Clayton as Self and Larry Mullen Jr. as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on YouTube TV and Qello Concerts by Stingray Amazon Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree page.

If you liked it. Fans of Classic Albums: U2 - The Joshua Tree tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.