SUNDANCE: ‘It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley’ (2025) Is The Perfect Tribute To An Icon

Jeff Buckley is an icon hard to encapsulate. The accomplished singer, who only saw one studio album completed during his lifetime, has a certain mystery around him that, until the new documentary It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley (2025), has never fully been broken. Using a wealth of never-before-seen and heard footage, the documentary lifts the curtain back on the lost voice of a generation, revealing someone who contained more multitudes than ever expected. In the process, director Amy Berg creates one of the most affecting music documentaries in recent history.

Like any music documentary worth its salt, It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley draws on interviews with those closest to him, with a particular focus on the women he loved. This includes his mother, Mary Guibert, and two significant others, Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser.

As Joan emphasizes, Buckley was a fierce protector of women, so these three key perspectives make sense. Through Guibert’s eyes, the audience learns of the deep hurt that sets Buckley’s story in motion: his brief relationship with his father, Tim Buckley. The elder Buckley had a minimal relationship with their son, passing away at only 28, just weeks after an attempt at connection with Jeff.

Even if Buckley had no musical talent, his magnetism is crystal clear.

Tim Buckley’s passing leaves a myriad of tributes from other musicians, yet little to no mention of his abandoned son, only the family he started afterward. This wounds Jeff, but as the film emphasizes, he inherited a vocal ability and understanding of music that rockets him to acclaim no one was prepared for.

He alternatively runs from and embraces what he inherited from his father, creating an interesting conflict that leaves a level of dramatic irony since savvy audience members know that his legacy would one day surpass his father’s.

Even if Buckley had no musical talent, his magnetism is crystal clear from the footage and interviews. Rebecca Moore describes Jeff as a gentle, compassionate soul whose lust for life was intoxicating. Buckley could find inspiration from anywhere and started incorporating those influences into his performances at the small venue Sin-é. The wealth of archival material from this era allows the audience to see a rougher, more unrefined version of Buckley.

Yet, even from this footage, where he would perform a wide variety of covers, including from unusual sources such as Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, one can see the audience held captive by the kind of talent they’ve never seen before.

It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley (2025) highlights the musician’s indomitable prowess.

In one of the most powerful moments of the documentary, Buckley introduces an original for one of the first time as he performs “Mojo Pin.” Across this footage, as the audience stands utterly still, mesmerized, it feels like witnessing the birth of a sort of a musical god. Berg charts this as the turning point, where creativity simply flowed out of the musician with no sign of stopping. The behind-the-scenes making-of footage of Buckley’s sole studio album, Grace, overtakes the film for a good stretch. It’s tough to describe the feeling of seeing this footage. It’s inspiring, it’s otherworldly, it’s like seeing the creation of the Heavens themselves.

The same can be said for the extensive live footage of Buckley on tour, where it’s clear that there’s never been, nor will be, anyone quite like him. His method of performance, almost pure possession by a vast reservoir of musical influence, could make for a documentary of its own. However, we see how the meteoric success of the musician as a curse just as much as a blessing.

It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley (2025) shows Jeff Buckley’s struggle with the praise he receives, a feeling of being an imposter. Buckley sees his inspiration dwindle as he tries to find something to hold onto. Amy Berg takes a tender, though unflinching look at the toll the depression Buckley faced head-on had on his relationships. Just as much It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley looks at his spiraling, it also shows Jeff’s resilience as he begins to piece back together his life and mature. That is, until his untimely death at the age of 30.

It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley (2025) is a perfect encapsulation of the man.

Respectfully, Amy Berg doesn’t dwell on the details of his accidental death. Instead, her film emphasizes the light he left behind. There’s an irreparable hole left in the hearts of those Buckley left, yet those affected by his loss can only smile at getting to know someone so kind and talented.

To audiences familiar with the musician or not, It’s Never Over Jeff Buckley (2025) is a perfect encapsulation of the man and the talent he possessed. Capturing a talent that will never be replicated, the documentary provides an insight that most music documentaries could only ever dream of.

With all of its archival material, meaningful interviews, and incorporation of Buckley’s music, it’s as good as audiences are ever going to get to see the man live in concert or get to know him on a personal level. It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley goes above and beyond, a flawless representation of the artist, the music, and the music documentary format. When people ask, “Who is Jeff Buckley?”, point them in this direction.

It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley is streaming now on HBO Max.