Long Strange Trip

How does a band that does not have radio hits and gives away its music become America's highest-grossing concert act? This Scorsese-produced epic tells the story.

Through never-before-seen footage and interviews with surviving members, the film traces the Grateful Dead's 30-year journey from San Francisco's psychedelic underground to cultural phenomenon. At its center: Jerry Garcia, whose childhood trauma shaped his philosophy that life exists in successive moments—resulting in improvisational genius that turned concerts into spiritual experiences. Garcia's addiction and fame's toll are examined unflinchingly.

Even if you've never understood the appeal, understanding the Grateful Dead means understanding a piece of American counterculture.