IMDb RATING
7.8/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Ed Sullivan broke barriers by booking Black artists on his Sunday night variety show. This documentary spotlights the TV pioneer's legacy of equality.Ed Sullivan broke barriers by booking Black artists on his Sunday night variety show. This documentary spotlights the TV pioneer's legacy of equality.Ed Sullivan broke barriers by booking Black artists on his Sunday night variety show. This documentary spotlights the TV pioneer's legacy of equality.
Ed Sullivan
- Self
- (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong
- Self
- (archive footage)
Peg Leg Bates
- Self
- (archive footage)
The Beatles
- Themselves
- (archive footage)
James Brown
- Self
- (archive footage)
Cab Calloway
- Self
- (archive footage)
Diahann Carroll
- Self
- (archive footage)
Johnny Carson
- Self
- (archive footage)
Ray Charles
- Self
- (archive footage)
Chubby Checker
- Self
- (archive footage)
Nat 'King' Cole
- Self
- (archive footage)
Walter Cronkite
- Self
- (archive footage)
Sammy Davis Jr.
- Self
- (archive footage)
Bo Diddley
- Self
- (archive footage)
Ella Fitzgerald
- Self
- (archive footage)
David Frost
- Self
- (archive footage)
7.81K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Featured reviews
"Ed Sullivan: More Than the Beatles & Elvis"
I'm too young to have experienced The Ed Sullivan Show when it aired, and like most people, when I think of Ed Sullivan, I picture the Beatles or Elvis Presley shaking up America's living rooms. But Sunday Best shines a light on another story-one I never knew about-his deliberate push to showcase Black artists at a time when TV was anything but inclusive. As someone who has worked in the entertainment industry for decades covering music and film, this was a genuine eye-opener. Through vivid interviews and archival gems, the film shows how Ed was ahead of his time-sometimes with his finger on the pulse, sometimes creating the very pulse that America would come to follow. And honestly? I didn't realize how cool Ed was. Turns out, he was OG cool.
Fabulous for everyone in the family !
Loved this!!! Beautiful , entertaining, interesting and rich with history and talent ! A must see especially for younger folks who might not know who Ed Sullivan was. Thank you to Netflix for offering a masterpiece that we can watch with our children. Kudos to the producer Margo Speciale for sharing this story with the world!
The quiet humanitarian...
How television's first presenter, Ed Sullivan, changed the very fabric of the USA by having Black musicians appear on his high rating show, opening doors nationwide for these artists during a time of segregation and injustice. There are great performances from James Brown, The Supremes, Jackie Wilson, plus a very young, Stevie Wonder, and even a much younger Michael Jackson with his older siblings. Every great music artist from the fifties and sixties made an impact on one of the greatest variety show. A well structured and uplifting documentary on an influential humanitarian who saw all humans as equal, and never took a step back...
Absolutely amazing!
This documentary should definitely be a 10/10! It never ceases to amaze me to see how the power of GOOD music can bring people together...a nation together! Thanks to Mr. Sullivan, the nation experienced the power of music of various genres by Black Americans, loved by people of all races and backgrounds. Beautiful!
powerful, joyful tribute - Sunday Best is a must-watch
Sunday Best is more than a music doc. It's a celebration of talent, resilience, and cultural history. It shines a light on how Ed Sullivan gave Black performers a national stage at a time when so few others did. The archival footage is incredible and the stories are deeply moving. It's beautifully done, thoughtfully edited, and full of heart. You walk away feeling both heartbroken by what these artists endured and grateful that their voices were seen and heard. The performances give you chills. The interviews and context stay with you. This film honors the past while making it feel urgent and alive. I honestly can't recommend it enough.
Did you know
- TriviaSunday Best producer Margo Precht Speciale is also the granddaughter of legendary TV host Ed Sullivan.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Sunday Best
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 30m(90 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content






