20 music documentaries you must watch if you liked A Star is Born

Gaga: Five Foot Two

Like Demi Lovato, Lady Gaga has also been fairly open about her struggles with everything from mental health to drugs. She has spoken candidly about sexual assault and getting clean, and yet, in Gaga: Five Foot Two, it was still the most open we’ve seen the singer.

The film debuted on Netflix in September 2017. It covers Gaga preparing the release of her fifth studio album, Joanne, her struggle with chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia, and her wildly successful Super Bowl halftime performance. Fans are used to seeing Gaga in wigs, elaborate costumes, and full makeup, so seeing her toned down so much was a bit of a shock.

Much of the movie follows Gaga to recording studios, in her home, and with family and friends. She seems so normal, despite being one of the biggest stars in the world. This toned-down aesthetic set the stage for the deeply personal Joanne, titled after her middle name — which pays homage to her late aunt, who Gaga never met but always felt a deep connection to. There’s one scene in Five Foot Two (a reference to the singer’s height) where she plays the song “Joanne” for her grandmother, who gets emotional hearing about the loss of her daughter from Gaga’s perspective.

Critics loved seeing this side of Gaga and so did fans. The film went on to win Best Music Documentary at the MTV Movie & TV Awards and Best Music Film at the NME Awards.