Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend

  • 2011
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
123
YOUR RATING
Official Poster
A UNESCO Award nominated film charting the rise of Bob Marley and The Wailers to international stardom made from footage shot in the early 1970s and lost for 30 years. 
TWITTER: twitter.com/BobMarleyFilm
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/BobMarleyFilm
TWITVID: twitvid.com/BobMarleyFilm
Play trailer3:01
1 Video
5 Photos
BiographyDocumentaryMusicalRomance

Based on footage shot in the early seventies and lost for more than thirty years, NAACP IMAGE AWARD winner Esther Anderson takes us on a journey to Jamaica and into 56 HOPE ROAD, Kingston, t... Read allBased on footage shot in the early seventies and lost for more than thirty years, NAACP IMAGE AWARD winner Esther Anderson takes us on a journey to Jamaica and into 56 HOPE ROAD, Kingston, to see and hear the young BOB MARLEY before he was famous. The film shows us the WAILERS' f... Read allBased on footage shot in the early seventies and lost for more than thirty years, NAACP IMAGE AWARD winner Esther Anderson takes us on a journey to Jamaica and into 56 HOPE ROAD, Kingston, to see and hear the young BOB MARLEY before he was famous. The film shows us the WAILERS' first rehearsal, when the idea of a Jamaican supergroup like the BEATLES or the STONES was ... Read all

  • Directors
    • Esther Anderson
    • Gian Godoy
  • Writers
    • Esther Anderson
    • Gian Godoy
  • Stars
    • Esther Anderson
    • Aston Barrett
    • Carlton Barrett
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    123
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Esther Anderson
      • Gian Godoy
    • Writers
      • Esther Anderson
      • Gian Godoy
    • Stars
      • Esther Anderson
      • Aston Barrett
      • Carlton Barrett
    • 23User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend
    Trailer 3:01
    Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend

    Photos4

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast12

    Edit
    Esther Anderson
    • Self
    Aston Barrett
    • Aston Barrett
    Carlton Barrett
    • Carlton Barrett
    Countryman
    • Countryman
    Nigel Fleary
    • Zigi
    • (credit only)
    Marcus Garvey
    Marcus Garvey
    • Marcus Garvey
    Earl Lindo
    • Wire Lindo
    Mother Macky
    • Mother Macky
    Bob Marley
    Bob Marley
    • Bob Marley
    Haile Selassie
    Haile Selassie
    • Haile Selassie
    Peter Tosh
    • Peter Tosh
    Bunny Wailer
    Bunny Wailer
    • Bunny Livingston
    • (as Bunny Livingston)
    • Directors
      • Esther Anderson
      • Gian Godoy
    • Writers
      • Esther Anderson
      • Gian Godoy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    6.7123
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10dongoodman6

    A Film About Courage And Perseverance!!!

    Blessed is Our Creator!!! As one of millions and millions of humans whose life was positively affected by the wisdom and music of Bob Marley it gives me great pleasure to recommend this movie. To see the yet to be international musician deal with coming to the fork in the road of his life and his interaction with Ms. Anderson will leave a great impression upon the viewer not to cave into the pressures of life and aim for the purpose for that which a human was placed upon this blessed earth. May this film 'Catch A Fire,' within the minds and hearts of those who merit to see it. One learns of the prejudice that Ms. Anderson and Bob experienced on proposed business trip to Haiti and how that served to ignite a desire from within Bob to 'Never give up the fight.' Interviews from those who knew both are very insightful and should empower us non-Jamaicans not only to better understand the cultural context of Reggae music stripped away from the commercial considerations of the future of the music which at times have benefited the Reggae music community and far too many times weakened it unfortunately as well. One more point that I wish to add!!! The movie captures a certain period of time but that by no means makes the information static which one can access to assist oneself where does one fit within the painting frame of creation-is one an image or a message-the the instruction which permeates this film is that one can find a happy medium of being an image and a message or messenger and not compromise one's vision of how to live life according to one's ambition to grow like a tree planted by the waters of expanding consciousness!!!
    10caribbeantalkshow

    Esther Anderson

    Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend by Esther Anderson I often say that Bob Marley success is not without Esther Anderson .We have a lot to be thankful to her for. At times I do not think we give her enough credit. Bob Marley the making of a legend make Bob more of the Legend he is ... because Anderson was able to capture the human side of this great reggae icon. I am encourage by the out-pouring of support of Bob Marley and reggae. Anderson films archived a significant piece of Jamaica's history in pictures and her personal stories... Thanks . CRS supports this great work of Esther Anderson . True history is the preservation of all facts whether it be good or bad .We do not the right to embellish or edit history because this would be a travesty and a dis-service to the next generation. This films delivers .
    10bongo-hifi

    Bob Marley Making Of A Legend

    Esther Anderson met Bob Marley in New York at the end of 1972 shortly after starring in A Warm December opposite Sidney Poitier at the time when Bob was still unknown. A minority shareholder and co - founder of Island Records, Esther helped to launch the international career of Jamaican artists like Millie Small and Jimmy Cliff from the early 1960's in London. Growing up with The Beatles and The Stones in swinging London, and in Hollywood with Marlon Brando, Esther was the right person to transform the career of The Wailers into the most successful Reggae band in the world.

    When Bob asked her to help him and the Wailers, and she listened to their revolutionary lyrics and rhythm with songs like Concrete Jungle, Slave Driver and 400 Years, Esther made a commitment to get them through the door. She returned to Jamaica to launch the band, rehearsing them, photographing them and filming their early development. A passionate artist, Esther immersed herself in the world of Reggae and the Rastafarian culture, becoming creatively and emotionally involved with Bob Marley, writing songs of protest and pioneering a historical social change in the struggle for equal rights and justice for the people of colour. This entire journey was recorded by Esther with a prototype Sony video camera and a super-8 film camera for a blue print film on the Wailers, Reggae music and the Rastafarian culture, and a Nikon camera for the promotion of their new image. Esther and Bob's first collaboration was the song Get up stand up for your Rights, followed by I Shot the Sheriff, Burnin' and Lootin', Talking Blues, Revolution, Easy Skanking, Road Block and War. Her photograph of Bob smoking a joint became the first iconic poster of Bob Marley and The Wailers and later the front cover of their album Catch a Fire. Her photographs on the gatefold Burnin' album, similar in concept to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album, created the union between Reggae and Rasta, which would become Bob Marley's image around the world. Seven years later, when Bob Marley passed away in 1981, his music spoke to all nations, and today he is the most popular artist in the world.......

    Beware some negative reviews of this film, which are ill informed and miss the point.This film makes available for the first time, Esther Andersons personal and intimate footage of Bob Marley & The Wailers. Don't expect polished cinematography, this is very much an earthly portrait of Bob and The Wailers from someone who was actually there. That is not to say that this is not a proffesionally produced and quality piece of filmaking,which it evidently is.

    Esther Anderson has been the subject of personal abuse and harassment by racists on her social media sites who are pursuing a hidden agenda to undermine the success of this film. This is a must see film for anyone interested in The Wailers,Reggae Music,Rastafari and its message of universal love and unity.

    Them tired fi see we face, but dem cant get us out of this race..
    10trenhorne-579-893635

    This is the real Bob Marley, a work of Art

    An extraordinary documentary about the real human being, Bob Marley before he became famous. A true work of art, very carefully crafted and with a stunning music soundtrack. It is not surprising that it has been invited to more than 30 film festivals. I have watched it several times now, and each time I find something new. This film is not formulaic like so many music documentaries which exploit the artist rather than exploring his or her essence. No, this is different. This is for real. The narrative is built around the first ever footage of Bob Marley and The Wailers at a time when they were trying to cross over internationally, showing Bob Marley, Esther Anderson and Peter Tosh talking intimately at 56 Hope Road. We are taken to a river fall where we see the union of Reggae and Rasta with Bob and Ras Daniel Hartman, the star of The Harder They Come. Throughout the film, Esther Anderson, talks about how she started to work with Bob and the Wailers, and how they wrote together songs like Get up Stand up and I Shot The Sheriff. Particularly emotional is to see The Wailers first rehearsal at Hope Road. This film, and Esther's point of view helped me truly understand many things about Rasta that nobody else had explained before. Congratulations and thanks for the inspiration. Blessed.
    10reggaerhythmsnow

    This Gem of A Time & A Place & Space in 1970's Jamaica with Bob Marley

    Seeing this film with lost footage is like a window or a portal into a time & place & space in 1970's Jamaica the coming of fame or birth of the king of reggae. Bob Marley before the fame! Even the camera Esther Anderson used was a prototype Sony video camera.

    I like learning motivation for songs and some gems are revealed here! I don't want to spoil the reveal! Enjoy riding in Esther's Land Rover with Bob Marley driving up and thru the Jamaican rolling countryside. Ever wonder what it would be like if you could have a spliff with the King of Reggae? Check it out here in the film as Esther does.

    The soundtrack is phenomenal and fresh and upbeat and yet reggae classic in vibes. I definitely recommend it!

    More like this

    Bob Marley: One Love
    6.2
    Bob Marley: One Love
    Marley
    7.9
    Marley
    Bob Marley: Legacy
    8.2
    Bob Marley: Legacy
    Bob Marley: Roots of the Man
    7.2
    Bob Marley: Roots of the Man
    Bob Marley
    8.5
    Bob Marley
    Caribbean Nights: The Bob Marley Story
    8.8
    Caribbean Nights: The Bob Marley Story
    ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff?
    6.9
    ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff?

    Storyline

    Edit

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Jamaica
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.