There’s a moment early in Dylan Southern’s new documentary, Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, where the camera lingers on a rain-slicked Manchester street. It’s a familiar image for anyone who has followed the Gallaghers’ saga - the grim, grey backdrop that somehow birthed one of the most bombastic rock bands of all time. But the film, which dropped on streaming this September after a limited theatrical run, isn't just another nostalgia trip. It arrives on the back of the impossible: the brothers, Liam and Noel, actually sharing a stage again for the Oasis Live ’25 reunion tour. That context gives every frame a jolt of electricity.
Southern, who has a knack for capturing the grit beneath the glamour, avoids the standard talking-heads trap. Instead, he leans heavily on rare archival footage - much of it previously unseen - to chart the meteoric rise from those council estates to the dizzying heights of Knebworth. The runtime sits at a tight 123 minutes, and it rarely drags. You get the spitting, snarling Liam of the early days, all parkas and attitude, juxtaposed against Noel’s quiet, calculating ambition. The film doesn't shy away from the violence of their rivalry, but it also doesn't wallow in it. It treats the tension as a creative fuel, not just a tabloid punchline.
Where the documentary truly earns its keep is in the new interviews, shot during the rehearsal period for the 2025 reunion. The cast list is a who’s who of the band’s fractured history. You’ve got the founding pillars, Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs and Andy Bell, along with Gem Archer and drummer Joey Waronker. Christian Madden and Anaïs Gallagher also appear, offering a bridge between the Britpop past and whatever this new chapter is. Liam and Noel are, of course, the centerpieces. They don't sit down together - that would be too much to ask - but their separate reflections create a fascinating dialogue. Liam is raw, funny, and surprisingly reflective. Noel is dry, sardonic, and guarded. The editing weaves their voices together so seamlessly that you almost forget they aren't in the same room.
The film’s title is a clever bit of irony. “Don’t look back in anger” is a lyric that has become a football terrace anthem, a song of resigned wisdom. But the documentary argues that Oasis was built on anger - a righteous, working-class fury that propelled them past the mediocre bands of their era. Southern shows how that anger turned inward, eventually destroying the original lineup. Yet, the final act, focusing on the Live ’25 preparations, suggests a cautious thaw. It’s not a fairytale reconciliation. You see the wariness in their eyes. But you also see the muscle memory of a band that, at its peak, was untouchable.
With a solid 7.5/10 rating on TMDb, audiences seem to agree this is more than a cash-grab concert film. It’s a proper documentary. It captures the absurdity of fame - the moment Noel realizes he’s written a generation’s anthem, the chaos of the Be Here Now sessions. It also captures the silence after the split. For longtime fans, the footage of the reunion rehearsals is the real draw. Watching Liam and Noel run through “Champagne Supernova” with a room full of session players, you can feel the history. There’s no fake bonhomie. Just two middle-aged men who used to be the biggest rock stars on the planet, trying to remember why they started.
OTT Stories was given early access, and the film feels tailor-made for the streaming age. It’s tight, emotionally resonant, and doesn't demand prior knowledge, though the faithful will get more out of it. It’s a Hollywood production with a distinctly British soul, but it never feels like it’s pandering to either market. It just tells the story.
Is it definitive? Probably not. The Gallagher saga is too messy for a single film. But Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger does something rare: it makes you feel the weight of the past without drowning in it. It’s a portrait of a band that burned bright, burned out, and then, against all odds, decided to strike a match one more time. Whether that match lasts is anyone’s guess. But for 123 minutes, you’ll believe it might.
