If you’re looking for a movie celebrating Bruce Springsteen’s marathon concerts in mammoth arenas and choruses of audience members shouting “Bruce!,” this is not your movie. Rather, it’s a deeply introspective peek into the making of his follow-up to The River, a successful double album that reached Billboard’s number one spot. This stripped-down acoustic album, called Nebraska, was considered a disappointment to the executives on his label who were expecting another rock and roll blockbuster. However, the folk album with the dark themes has since become one of his most highly regarded and important works.
Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen has the charisma, the desperation, and the physicality that is both powerful and convincing. The demons Springsteen was wrestling with in the creation of Nebraska are born from a dysfunctional early life with an abusive father and a mother who tries to shield her son from the blows and the taunts. In one scene, the elder Springsteen tries to teach his son how to fight, only to turn it into a punishing and hard to watch exercise.
Central to the movie, and in the successful recording of the album, is Jon Landau, portrayed by Jeremy Strong. As Springsteen’s manager/producer, it’s Landau who also serves as counselor and confidante, trying to understand Springsteen’s vision in this new album and being the steady hand that keeps both the artist and the album on track.
It becomes clear that during the making of Nebraska, Springsteen is at a crossroad in his life. He’s on the cusp of stardom but seems unprepared for the leap. He shows up at The Stone Pony music club to play with the local bands, he takes his girlfriend to the local amusement park. There seems to be a hesitancy on his part to move on to the next level.
With the burden he carries from childhood scars, and the pressure to write the next album, he holds himself away in a New Jersey lakeside rental. He comes across the movie Badlands with Martin Sheen, a haunting movie from the 1970’s, which captures the songwriter’s attention. With only a simple tape recorder, and what he considers the perfect acoustic room in the place, the stripped-down recording is made.
There are many takeaways from the film: that genius and creativity do not come without a price to pay, that it may be necessary to reconcile the past in order to move forward, and what we see play out on the concert stage is a performance, the tip of the iceberg; there’s so much more going on underneath.
Both Jeremys – Allen White and Strong – give Oscar worthy performances. Audiences will feel they’re in the room when Nebraska is created and will witness the deep friendship and trust the two share as they shepherd the album along. As Springsteen’s parents, Gabby Hoffman gives quiet strength to Adele Springstreen, and Stephen Graham portrays the complex and troubled Douglas Springsteen who is fighting his own demons.
This movie is for Bruce Springsteen fans for sure, but also those who enjoy the behind-the-scenes look in how an important album was made, and a reminder that with fame and fortune comes a hefty price to pay.
Written and directed by Scott Cooper, the movie is based on the book Deliver Me from Nowhere by Warren Zanes. Springsteen reportedly gave his blessing for the movie, the casting choices, assisted in scouting locations, and offered support and feedback for the cast and crew.
Top Shutterstock Photo: LOS ANGELES, USA. October 22, 2025: Jeremy Allen White at the AFI FEST premiere for “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
