London Premiere Caps Whirlwind Week for Oasis Film
Liam and Noel Gallagher made a highly anticipated appearance at the U.K. premiere of their new documentary, Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger, on Monday evening at the Cineworld theater in Leicester Square. The brothers arrived fashionably late, but their entrance was anything but subdued: Liam pumped his fist in the air with an arm wrapped around Noel, who smiled at the fervent reaction from the crowd. The black carpet was otherwise empty by the time the rock legends arrived, save for a herd of photographers and screaming fans.
The event came just two nights after the film's historic debut at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday. Directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace and written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the two-hour movie combines concert footage, backstage documentary, and an unusually intimate portrait of the Gallaghers' famously volatile relationship. It follows the duo across 12 concerts on three continents during their Live '25 reunion tour, capturing previously unseen rehearsals, backstage moments, and onstage performances.
A Reunion 15 Years in the Making
The film arrives more than a year after Oasis announced their reunion tour in August 2024, bringing Liam and Noel together for the first time since their split in Paris in August 2009. The brothers had not spoken for 15 years, making the project a pivotal moment of reconciliation. According to co-director Will Lovelace, the film features the first joint interviews with Noel and Liam in more than 20 years. "We did an interview with them towards the end of the film, and they were incredibly candid and that surprised us," Lovelace said at the premiere. "I think how emotional they were, how candid they were in that interview… But they're who you hope they'd be as well. They're still Liam and Noel."
Lovelace also reflected on the significance of capturing the early rehearsals. "They'd been apart for a long time. That rehearsal section that started off last year was really important to capture – it was the first time they'd been in a room together. By the end of that, we still didn't really know exactly how that relationship was going to play out over the next few months."
Creative Team Whittled Down 4.5 Hours of Footage
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News at the London premiere, the directors revealed that their first cut ran four and a half hours, drawn from 41 gigs on the Oasis Live '25 tour. The final two-hour film opens with a rehearsal of the fan-favorite track "Columbia," which did not make the setlist for the actual shows. "We felt so privileged to hear that, because for about the first week that was in the set of songs that they were rehearsing," Southern said. "Our opinion was it should go in because it's a banger! … I'm not sure why they made the decision to cut it, but it just somehow didn't gel in the whole set."
The creative team hinted that the surplus footage could yield another spin-off film. For now, the two-hour cut is what audiences will see, and early reactions suggest it delivers an emotional punch. Knight, who introduced the film alongside the Gallaghers, said, "I hope that people watch this and maybe think about someone they haven't spoken to for a while. It's about the story of these two, the story of the band, but it's much more than that. … It's an emotional film. It's meant to be emotional."
A Message of Unity in Divided Times
The documentary also carries a broader social message. Knight told the Press Association that the film "sends a message completely opposite to what you're getting from all the social media and from the politicians who are trying to sow division all the time. This is about: we're all the same." The film focuses on working-class pride and the theme of escaping hardship, values shared by Knight and the Gallagher brothers.
What the Film Means for Oasis and Beyond
Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger is more than a concert film; it is a cultural document of one of the most celebrated reunions in rock history. The documentary captures not only the music but also the fragile process of two estranged brothers rebuilding their relationship. As the film heads to cinemas across the UK, it offers fans a rare glimpse into the private dynamics that shaped Oasis's past and present.
The premiere drew an eclectic mix of stars, from Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten to soccer figures, underscoring the band's enduring cultural reach. While the Gallaghers themselves remained largely silent during the introduction—bar Liam's quip about a faulty microphone—their presence spoke volumes. The film's release also coincides with ongoing speculation about future Oasis tour dates, including a possible 2027 run, though no official announcement has been made.
For now, the documentary stands as a testament to reconciliation and the power of shared history. As Knight put it, "Be prepared, it's really good."
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