Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of

Regardless being a long time fan, I found this documentary very unique and special from other documentaries. They didn't focus on concerts but basically their private lives and secrets. Each member had a voice to speak out. It is a documentary that would make you love this boy band as they are and how successful they were. I felt sorry for Brian and what he was going through. It was interesting how they viewed each and everyone of them in a special way. The boys grew to be men and there had to be a change to be done! It would have been a 10 out of 10 documentary if they hadn't use so many bad words since there are young fans watching. Thumbs up!

This is truly a great insight to one of the biggest bands of my childhood - The Backstreet Boys. Soon you realize this is a heartbreaking story of a band that came out of only the members' talents and will to go on and keep singing great songs. It shows all the good and bad A.J., Brian, Howie, Nick and Kevin went through the passed 20 years. Finally we get to see the beginning of the group and the evolution of the band combined with group visiting their homes and sharing their secrets. Every true BSB fan should watch it and even people who aren't fans should definitely see it. There are also some Easter eggs of unfortunately unreleased songs, so all in all it is a must see. It is real, authentic, emotional and a bit nostalgic film to watch, especially if you are a kid from 90ties who has grown up in Europe, listening to the best vocal harmony group.

KTBSPA

Fan of 90s pop music or not, if you are a fan of music in general, this documentary is a must-watch. Behind the fancy dance moves and carefully crafted images we are given in the media, there are real people behind them. People that came from different backgrounds, personal experiences, tragedies, and successes.

For the Backstreet Boys, the road to fame was pre-Internet, hard work for years on the road. The documentary shows just how much blood, sweat, and tears went into building up a fan base and how much harder it was without Facebook and Twitter! They eventually experience grand success (over 130 million albums sold), but a glitch comes when they find out their financial backer was really a con-man, and they were betrayed personally and professionally.

The movie also takes viewers on a road trip with the guys where they show their childhood homes and talk about what led them to join the group...and how the group has affected them these past 22 years. It also shows the guys planning their first album without a major record label behind them. It fascinating to watch songs being created from scratch and how you write lyrics and find harmonies.

The movie really takes viewers through very intimate moments. There are screaming matches, tears, physical ailments, struggles with substance abuse...nothing is off-limits. Even long-time fans will learn things about their favorite band they've never known.

I cannot recommend this movie enough, for both fans of the band or just fans of music in general. There is a dark-side to fame, but if you can keep your head on straight and focus on the right things, you can find long lasting success. The Backstreet Boys are a rare breed in the music industry, lasting 22 years to date! Not many bands in any genre can say that.

As another reviewer has already pointed out: you don't have to be a fan to enjoy this movie. It's a really good documentary on how 5 boys came to fame and how they handled it. And yes there were many highs, but also quite a few lows. And it's refreshing to see them being honest about certain things (drug problems, manager problems, even "current" issues, at the time of shooting this, when they had a fight - two band members going at each other).

Having said, the songs are striking a chord, although of course they are all on the romantic side, so if you get pain rather than pleasure from that, certain aspects of the documentary will get you sick. Many boy-bands have come and gone and every one of them certainly has a story to tell (it's a nice touch, that we visit the former homes of the band members by the way), but this really strikes a chord - pun intended

As a longtime fan, this documentary was a must-see for me. And needless to say, I was not disappointed. Show 'Em What You're Made Of offers a very honest look at the roller-coaster life of a boy band whose longevity and success defied all expectations. No truth is sugar-coated in this film as the boys-turned-men give us a glimpse into their childhoods, their rise to superstardom and, ultimately, their fall and return into the spotlight. From AJ's drug and alcohol abuse to Brian's struggle with his singing voice and the band's conflicts with their first manager Lou Pearlman, the BSB hold nothing back as they recount their 20 year-long journey as one of the most successful recording groups of all time.

Tears are shed, hurtful words are exchanged during arguments, but ultimately, the bond between all the guys is stronger than ever. They're a group, but above all, they're brothers. And that's what makes the Backstreet Boys so special.