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Milli Vanilli

  • 2023
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 46m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Milli Vanilli (2023)
The bizarre untold truth behind the greatest con in music history - Milli Vanilli.
Play trailer1:19
2 Videos
18 Photos
Music DocumentaryBiographyDocumentaryMusic

The bizarre untold truth behind the greatest con in music history - Milli Vanilli.The bizarre untold truth behind the greatest con in music history - Milli Vanilli.The bizarre untold truth behind the greatest con in music history - Milli Vanilli.

  • Director
    • Luke Korem
  • Stars
    • Rob Pilatus
    • Fabrice Morvan
    • Carmen Pilatus
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Luke Korem
    • Stars
      • Rob Pilatus
      • Fabrice Morvan
      • Carmen Pilatus
    • 28User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:19
    Official Trailer
    Milli Vanilli: Weight Of The Lie
    Clip 2:02
    Milli Vanilli: Weight Of The Lie
    Milli Vanilli: Weight Of The Lie
    Clip 2:02
    Milli Vanilli: Weight Of The Lie

    Photos18

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    + 12
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    Top cast52

    Edit
    Rob Pilatus
    Rob Pilatus
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Fabrice Morvan
    Fabrice Morvan
    • Self - Milli Vanilli
    Carmen Pilatus
    • Self - Rob's Adopted Sister
    Frank Farian
    • Self - Producer
    • (archive footage)
    Rob Sheffield
    • Self - Rolling Stone, Journalist
    Gil Kaufman
    • Self - Billboard, Sr. Writer
    Toby Gad
    Toby Gad
    • Self - Songwriter & Producer
    Ingrid Segieth
    • Self - Frank's Assistant
    • (as Ingrid 'Milli' Segieth)
    Brad Howell
    • Self - Lead Singer, Milli Vanilli
    Charles Shaw
    • Self - Lead Rapper, Milli Vanilli
    Linda Rocco
    • Self - Backing Vocalist, Milli Vanilli
    Jodie Rocco
    • Self - Backing Vocalist, Milli Vanilli
    Thomas Stein
    • Self - Ariola Records, Germany
    Downtown Julie Brown
    Downtown Julie Brown
    • Self - Club MTV, Host
    • (as "Downtown" Julie Brown)
    Timbaland
    Timbaland
    • Self - Music Producer
    Stephen Hill
    Stephen Hill
    • Self - BET, Programming President
    John Davis
    • Self - Rapper
    • (archive footage)
    Hanif Abdurraqib
    • Self - Music Cultural Critic
    • Director
      • Luke Korem
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    7.53.2K
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    Featured reviews

    9Foutainoflife

    Worth The Watch

    I really enjoyed this documentary. Milli Vanilli was part of my early teen years and I loved their music. The scandal that took them down has been one of the biggest controversies in music history. In all honesty, they were used to make a lot of wealthy people even more money and then they were used to cover and take all the heat off those same people. Rob Pilatus and Fabrice Morvan could not have done all they did without approval from the higher ups being in on all of it.

    I've always thought the ill treatment shown to Rob and Fab was a bit misplaced. We've seen how other artists have been treated by producers, managers and labels. They live to make money off of the talent of others. Their contracts, decisions and exploitation can be criminal.

    I don't doubt that Rob and Fab wanted to sing their own music but the contract made with their producer was signed before it was revealed that they would be lip syncing. Breach of contract and financial debt was the threat they faced for not complying with the producers plan. I understand why they did it and I understand that the intoxicating effects of fame, adoration and money kept them from coming clean.

    The powers that be did the musicians, backup singers, lead vocalists, Rob, Fab and the fans dirty.

    If you think you know the story or are just interested in learning about what happened, watch this. It is so worth the time. While Rob's death was tragic, I'm glad to see that Fab is still involved in music. Very good documentary.
    7paul-allaer

    Exposing the true villains once and for all

    As "Milli Vanilli" (2023 release; 106 min) opens, we are in today's "Amsterdam", and Fabrice "Fab" Morvan digs up pictures from the good ol' days (late 80s). We then go to "1986" when Robert "Rob" Pilatus and Fab meet in Munich, pretty much the only people of color in this conservative Bavarian city. They are in their early 20s and desperate to become "stars"... At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.

    Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from Luke Korem ("Dealt"). Here he reassesses the life and times of Rob and Fab, the front of Milli Vanilli whose lives were ostracized by the music industry and indeed the world at large when it turned out they had lip-synced all along. Thankfully Korem digs deeper and top executives of the record label Arista admit to knowing about it well before ti all came crashing down in 1990. Why is it that Rob and Fab were vilified but producer Frank Farian and label boss Clive Davis got off scot free? This documentary fills in the gaps very nicely, and it is long overdue to be honest.

    "Milli Vanilli" premiered at last year's Tribeca Festival to immediate critical acclaim. It is currently rated 100% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, if you can believe it. "Milli Vanilli" started streaming on Showtime (now part of Paramount+) last Fall and I just stumbled the other day on it after watching "Thriller 40" (also on SHO). If you are a fan of Milli Vanilli, or simply interested in a footnote in the history of the Grammys, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
    10NoelleTalks

    Excellent

    The Documentary was right on point, I remember it very well in my youth Milli Vanilli were good performers/entertainers and when the cat was let out the bag actually most fans could have cared less we still like Milli Vanilli even to this day most fans still speak positive about Rob & Fab, they had great stage presence, energy, fashion and dance.

    Milli Vanilli created a path for other music industry entertainers to have a great shot at riches & fame JLO I'm sure is thankful for the path they sacrificed and made. MV were great performers/entertainers I enjoyed their music very much They Rocked!
    7manTOman

    They all knew it, c´moon

    The document is good but mostly everyone there is lying their ass off to sugar coat the whole scam. I mean everybody knew before Milli Vanilli that only one person sang in Boney M and the male voice was Frank Farians own voice, I read about it in 1981 and I am just a consumer. And big bosses in Arista disint know about Boney M, Haloo!!! Also they all knew Frank Farian also and he was behind the massive success of Boney M. SO please DONT lie they just all wanted to make tons of money. These days with AI can make dog sing so these days this scam is more the rule, rather than the exception. And in those times there was already C+C Music Factory, Snap, Black Box, they all used model in video than showing who real singer was.

    But the whole music scene has change so much from these days so...
    9hazangel-89910

    FRAUDS

    I am NOT referring to Rob or Fab!!!

    Honestly who cares if they were lip syncing??? I was in my 20's when the scandal happened and I still bought their music! They weren't the best entertainers out there but they were unique, eye catching and had sex appeal.

    These record studios, execs, song writers etc knew exactly what was happening. If they didn't know in the beginning, they knew at some point. Everyone was about the money!! Just be honest! I guess they have their reputations to maintain but everyone knows record studios are vultures!!!

    Ingrid pissed me off. She was so dishonest and disrespectful towards Rob and Fab. All that laughing and dismissive hand gestures spoke volumes. Of course she needed alcohol to get through the interview...I wish Rob never trusted her!!!! I just have no sympathy for her. She contributed to Rob and Fab's demise with her boyfriend/boss.

    If you look closely at Fab's face during the Grammy picture taking portion of the documentary you can tell he did not look happy at all. Rob was just so happy to be loved and admired. But you could see the nervousness on Fab's face.

    Also the fake outrage of the media at that conference was ridiculous!!! I thought Rob and Fab handled it very well!!! No one can deny the racial undertones (or overtones) of this scandal.

    What this documentary did not say was that they only sold 2000 albums because the company that took a chance on them was already going out of business. So no one knows if they would have sold more records had they had a bigger machine behind them.

    Charles Shaw is bitter to say the least but you really cant blame him.

    Frank is somewhere living his best life with his millions. Hope it was all worth it....

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Connections
      Featured in The Project: Episode dated 25 October 2023 (2023)
    • Soundtracks
      Hot Girl
      performed by Sabrena Palermo

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 24, 2023 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Popmusikkens største fupnummer
    • Production companies
      • Keep On Running Pictures
      • Fulwell 73
      • MTV Entertainment Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      • 1h 46m(106 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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