Due to their global dominance in showbiz, South Korean boy band BTS have enjoyed immense fame for a decade now. However, behind the glitz and glamour are stories of struggle, hard work and sheer tenacity to make it big in the entertainment industry. And what better way to understand one of the world’s biggest boy bands than through documentaries? Today we look at eight best BTS documentaries — in the order of the newest to the oldest — that poignantly capture the relentless efforts of the band to stay on top in the dynamic world of pop culture.
BTS documentaries offer their fans, aka ARMY, unprecedented access to the personal lives of the seven members of the group — Jungkook, V, Jimin, SUGA, RM, j-hope and Jin. In the 2018 hit Burn the Stage: The Movie, fans see clips from their Wings tour interspersed with throwback footage from their childhood and teenage years. Meanwhile, documentaries like Jimin’s Production Diary (2023) and SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ The Movie (2024) focus on the BTS members’ solo careers. Both the BTS solo documentaries include insights into how Jimin and SUGA’s solo albums and tours have been put together along with intimate behind-the-scenes moments of the artists with their loved ones.
SUGA’s Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ also makes for the highest-grossing concert movie of 2024 so far. One of the best BTS documentaries, it grossed over USD 10.16 million worldwide during its screenings from 10 to 14 April 2024, according to Billboard. Talking about the same, ticketing platform Trafalgar’s CEO Marc Allenby said in a statement, “We’re really excited with the phenomenal response to SUGA│Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE. It’s a true testament to SUGA’s artistry and not only speaks volumes about his power to motivate fans but also signifies the strong appetite for event cinema experiences worldwide.”
Not to forget Jungkook’s upcoming documentary I AM STILL, which follows the musical process from the singer’s pre-release single “Seven” to making his full-length debut solo album Golden. According to sources, I AM STILL is all set to hit the theatres on 18 September 2024.
Best BTS documentaries that offer a personal glimpse into the boy band’s journey
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SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ The Movie (2024)
IMDb rating: 8.1
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: SUGA, Jimin, RM, Jungkook
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 24 min.
Synopsis: SUGA becomes the first BTS member to go on a solo world tour with SUGA | Agust D TOUR D-DAY. The grand finale of this journey includes all the encore shows performed at Seoul’s KSPO Dome, along with behind-the-scenes and special duet stages featuring fellow band members Jimin, RM and Jungkook.
Trivia: The documentary offers raw insight into SUGA | Agust D TOUR D-DAY, which collected over USD 57.2 million and is the highest-grossing tour by a Korean soloist, as of 7 August 2024.
IMDb rating: 9
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: j-hope, Boogaloo Kin, Jungkook
Approx. duration: 3 hr. 10 min.
Synopsis: To make his 12th year in the industry special, j-hope, along with his former dance instructor Boogaloo Kin, explores the streets of Osaka, Seoul, Paris, New York and Gwangju in search of talented dancers. The duo meet multiple street dancers along the way and performs explosive dance routines that connect j-hope to his roots.
Jimin's Production Diary (2023)
IMDb rating: 8.4
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: Jimin, Pdogg, Jungkook, RM
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 7 min.
Synopsis: Jimin gears up for FACE, his first solo album, which also features the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Like Crazy.” The BTS member goes through multiple sleepless nights, recording sessions and self-doubt to make FACE a success story.
IMDb rating: 8.4
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: SUGA, Anderson Paak, Steve Aoki
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 20 min.
Synopsis: SUGA works on a new album, embarks on a musical journey, and travels the world in search of inspiration for his solo debut album D-Day — all the while interacting with artists from Seoul to Tokyo, Las Vegas and beyond.
IMDb rating: 8.5
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: j-hope, J. Cole, Becky G, Jimin
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 25 min.
Synopsis: For 200 days, j-hope hustles towards making his solo debut a success. The Korean rapper works on the production of his album Jack in the Box, arranges a listening party in South Korea and finally gets ready to make his debut in Lollapalooza.
IMDb rating: 8.4
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: Jungkook, V, Jimin, j-hope, SUGA, RM, Jin
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 30 min.
Synopsis: BTS members go through a 14-month-long journey for their Love Yourself World Tour. Throughout the tour, the seven singers illustrate how they separate themselves from their stage personas to keep themselves sane in showbiz.
IMDb rating: 8.4
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: Jungkook, V, Jimin, j-hope, SUGA, RM, Jin
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 45 min.
Synopsis: BTS performs in various cities as a part of their Love Yourself World Tour. The seven members also indulge in an emotional conversation about the band’s future on a rooftop in Paris following the end of the European leg of the tour.
Burn the Stage: The Movie (2018)
IMDb rating: 8.5
Directed by: Park Jun-soo
Cast: Jungkook, V, Jimin, j-hope, SUGA, RM, Jin
Approx. duration: 1 hr. 25 min.
Synopsis: BTS members wrap up their 2017 The Wings Tour, with the event recording more than half a million fans in 19 countries. While this feat puts them in the global limelight, the hardships and insecurities the members face along the way take a toll on them.
Trivia: The BTS documentary is an adaptation of the group’s 2018 YouTube docuseries Burn the Stage. After its release, the first episode of the series became the 10th most-watched non-music video on YouTube in Korea.
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy Weverse)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some of the highest grossing BTS documentaries are 'SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ The Movie', 'Burn the Stage: The Movie', 'Jimin's Production Diary' and 'HOPE ON THE STREET'.
The most awaited, upcoming BTS documentary is Jungkook’s 'I AM STILL', which follows the musical process from the singer's pre-release single “Seven” to making his full-length debut solo album 'Golden'. According to sources, 'I AM STILL' is all set to hit the theatres on 18 September 2024.
BTS documentaries which have had a theatrical release are 'SUGA | Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ The Movie', 'BREAK THE SILENCE: THE MOVIE' and 'BRING THE SOUL: THE MOVIE'.
The first official BTS documentary film is 'Burn the Stage: The Movie' (2018).
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Written by
Sushmita Mahanta
Digital Writer (Growth) - Entertainment
Sushmita is a writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative stories. An avid fan of K-pop and K-dramas, Sushmita mostly writes about Korean culture and entertainment. When not writing, you can find Sushmita dancing, reading, collecting books, learning about fashion, art, motion pictures, and appreciating BTS.
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