Six decades after their music shook the foundations of popular music, the story of The Zombies has finally come to theaters in Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary. Directed by Robert Schwartzman, the film captures the rise and reign of the massively influential outfit that merged rock, pop, rhythm & blues and psychedelia into a sound that took the world by storm and recordings consistently recognized among the greatest of all time. Its release marks the first-ever feature treatment of the band’s history and legacy, a long-overdue honor rectified by the depth of the filmmakers’ exploration and devotion to their subject.

“I can’t express how much I love The Zombies. After hearing their music as a teenager, I felt like I understood them musically, melodically and emotionally. Their clever arrangements and sophisticated songwriting gave me a musical foundation that helped me launch my own band, Rooney,” Schwartzman shared. “As a fan and fellow musician, to get the chance to make a film about their 60+ year journey is a dream-like moment and truly an honor. I believe The Zombies are one of the best bands in history and I can’t wait for people to see this film!”

Hung Up on a Dream looks back to the first encounters between Rod Argent, Paul Atkinson, Hugh Grundy, Colin Blunstone and Chris White in St Albans, England, then follows their dizzying ascent through the tempestuous evolving music industry that came after the success of their first single, 1964’s “She’s Not There.” In the three years that followed, The Zombies released 1965’s Begin Here and struggled to replicate the scale of their earliest hit, building to an overwhelming disillusionment that charged the production of their groundbreaking swansong sophomore album Odyssey and Oracle and the band’s split before its 1968 release.

That record, of course, soon grew from poor sales, to a sleeper, to an unforgettable hit project that contains such timeless tracks as “Time of the Season,” “Care of Cell 44,” “This Will Be Our Year” and more. In the decades since, the band has periodically reunited and enjoyed legend status, earning induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and inspiring countless performers to follow in their footsteps. Some of their most famous fans interviewed for the film include Dave Grohl, Portugal, the Man, Hayley Williams, Finneas, Paul Weller, Harry Styles and Haim, as well as Argent, Atkinson, Blunstone and White themselves.

Hung Up on a Dream was produced by Schwartzman and Russell Wayne Groves, with executive production from Tom Hanks, Rick Krim, Hugh Grundy, Helen Atkinson, Natalia Nastaskin, Larry Mestel, Cliff Burnstein, Gary Goetzman, Peter Mensch and the band (excepting Atkinson, who passed in 2004). It was released by Utopia in May and is currently screening in North America and the UK; find nearby theaters and upcoming showtimes here. 

Tomorrow, Blundstone and Rooney will participate in a special screening back in their St Albans stomping grounds, including an intimate Q&A and special unplugged performance of The Zombies’ hits. Learn more about the one-night-only event here.