Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy (2018): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2018, Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy is a music and documentary film directed by Mark Joffe, running about 104 minutes. “To understand the man, you must meet the boy.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. With nine #1 albums to his name, Jimmy Barnes is one of Australia’s greatest rock icons. But his success masked a life of hardship and abuse, where the music that once saved him from oblivion almost came back to destroy him. Before Jimmy Barnes was Jimmy Barnes, he was James Dixon Swan, a troubled kid from the mean streets of Glasgow – and the even meaner streets of North Adelaide – trying to survive against a backdrop of addiction, alcoholism, poverty and abuse. For Jimmy, escape was the only option and he found it with a band called Cold Chisel. But the rock’n’roll lifestyle has its own temptations and the scars of childhood are always waiting to take you home. Based on the bestselling memoir and directed by veteran Australian filmmaker Mark Joffe, Working Class Boy is both an inspiring story of rock and redemption told in Barnes’ own words and an unflinchingly honest reflection on fame, creativity and depression.

Who’s in it. Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy stars Jimmy Barnes as Himself, David Campbell as Himself, Mahalia Barnes as Herself and Jane Barnes as Herself, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video and Sky Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy page.

If you liked it. Fans of Jimmy Barnes: Working Class Boy tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.