Villa Park is roaring, the throne is waiting, and the man everyone came to see is about to sing to his hometown for the last time. Ozzy & Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning captures the day Birmingham said goodbye to its most famous son, and on a cinema screen it hits harder than anyone might expect.
Filmed at the July 2025 farewell show, just 17 days before Ozzy Osbourne’s death, this concert film opened in cinemas worldwide on Wednesday 28 October for a limited run.
Ozzy digs deeper than seems possible, and the whole of heavy metal turns up to thank him.
Movie at a Glance
- UK release: In cinemas from Wednesday 28 October 2026, for a limited time
- US release: Special cinema engagement from 28 October 2026
- Distributor: Trafalgar Releasing
- Featuring: Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Pantera, Tool, Alice in Chains, Gojira, Mastodon, Halestorm and Yungblud
- Runtime: 146 minutes
- Certificate: 15 (UK)
- Genre: Concert film
Viewer Match
- Best for: Every Black Sabbath and Ozzy fan, metalheads of all ages, and anyone who was there on the day.
- Maybe skip if: You want a full documentary about Ozzy’s life with lots of archive footage and context.
- Mood and pace: Loud, celebratory and euphoric, with waves of real emotion.
- Cinema or streaming? Cinema, without question. This needs a big screen and big speakers.
- Spoiler level: Spoiler-free: it is a concert, and we only talk about who plays.
One Last Day in Birmingham
The show was an all-day salute to Ozzy and Sabbath, staged in the city where the band began. The film condenses that marathon into two and a half hours: covers and tributes from an astonishing supporting bill, short reflections from the musicians the band inspired, and then the main event, Ozzy’s own set followed by the original Black Sabbath line-up of Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
Knowing what happened next gives the whole thing a weight that the day itself did not have. But the overwhelming feeling is not sadness. It is gratitude, and the joy of seeing a legend get the send-off he deserved.
The Supporting Cast
The guest performances are a treat, and many work even better on screen than they did in the stadium. Mastodon tear through Supernaut, Yungblud delivers a heartfelt Changes, Gojira bring their own mechanical force, and Ozzy’s former guitarist Jake E. Lee returns to the stage. Metallica and Guns N’ Roses, rarely seen as support acts, play like fans. A drum-off between Travis Barker, Chad Smith and Danny Carey is a highlight, as much for the faces of the players as the playing.
Tom Morello, the day’s musical director, and a parade of rock stars share short memories between sets. They are fond and often funny, and they never outstay their welcome.
The Man on the Throne
And then there is Ozzy. Seated on his throne, visibly battling his health, he gives everything he has, and the camera lets you see every ounce of the effort. His voice is stronger than anyone could have hoped. When Sabbath take the stage, they play only a handful of songs, but that restraint keeps the moment precious. It is moving to watch, and the crowd reaction says the rest.
The edit is not perfect. Squeezing ten hours into a feature means some sets are cut short, and the order of events can feel a little jumbled. This is a concert film rather than a biography, so newcomers will get little background. Fans will not mind at all.
A Night Out to Remember
It is a limited release, so catch it while you can. For the rest of this week’s cinema choices, see our latest Weekly Cinema Pack, and for how the big screen is doing, read our latest US/UK Weekend Box Office.
Spoiler-Free Verdict
Back to the Beginning is a thunderous, joyous and deeply moving farewell. The edit is a little ragged, but as a final bow for Ozzy and the band that invented heavy metal, it is unmissable for fans.
- Performances: 9/10
- Direction: 7.5/10
- Screenplay: 6.5/10
- Score: 9.5/10
- Cinematography: 8/10
- Entertainment Value: 9/10
- Overall score: 8.5/10
Star rating: 4.5/5
Verdict badge: Worth Seeing
One-line verdict: The greatest send-off in metal history, and a reason to turn the cinema speakers up.
Watch the Official Trailer
Return to Villa Park with the official trailer.
Which performance from Back to the Beginning would you most want to see on the big screen? Share your spoiler-free reaction.