

The Buddy Holly Story
“His story will have you singing, laughing, crying, cheering, and stomping your feet”
A chronicle of the rise and brief career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly, who aspires to play music the way he wants it to sound. Holly and his band, the Crickets, are first invited to record in Nashville, where they encounter creative differences with the producing staff. Later they play a major booking at the Apollo Theater, scheduled there under the mistaken assumption that they're a black band. Holly's career eventually goes solo -- until the tragic day the music dies.
Where to watch The Buddy Holly Story in United States
Click a service to open The Buddy Holly Story there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Buddy Holly Story streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | The Roku Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Rakuten TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | Hollywood Suite, Hollywood Suite Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Pluto TV | Amazon Video |
About The Buddy Holly Story
The Buddy Holly Story is a 1978 English-language drama and music film directed by Steve Rash. The cast is led by Gary Busey, Don Stroud, Charles Martin Smith. It has a runtime of 1h 54m. Viewers rate it 7.2/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on The Roku Channel.
The Buddy Holly Story was produced by Innovisions, Columbia Pictures, and Taurus Film and made in United States of America. It was released on May 18, 1978, and carries a PG certification. Made on a budget of about $1 million, it went on to gross $14 million worldwide.
- Director
- Steve Rash
- Writers
- Alan Swyer, Robert Gittler
- Release date
- May 18, 1978
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $1 million
- Box office
- $14 million
- Production
- Innovisions, Columbia Pictures, Taurus Film
The Buddy Holly Story cast & crew
The Buddy Holly Story was directed by Steve Rash and written by Alan Swyer and Robert Gittler.
The cast features Gary Busey as Buddy Holly, Don Stroud as Jesse Charles, Charles Martin Smith as Ray Bob Simmons, Conrad Janis as Ross Turner, William Jordan as Riley, and Maria Richwine as Maria Elena Holly.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Joe Renzetti and cinematography is by Stevan Larner.
Is The Buddy Holly Story worth watching?
The Buddy Holly Story holds an audience score of 7.2/10 from 129 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 54m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and music, The Buddy Holly Story is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Buddy Holly Story
In United States, you can stream The Buddy Holly Story on The Roku Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Buddy Holly Story

Gary Busey
Buddy Holly

Don Stroud
Jesse Charles

Charles Martin Smith
Ray Bob Simmons

Conrad Janis
Ross Turner

William Jordan
Riley

Maria Richwine
Maria Elena Holly
Amy Johnston
Cindy Lou

Dick O'Neill
Sol Gittler
Fred Travalena
Madman Mancuso

Neva Patterson
Mrs. Holly

Arch Johnson
Mr. Holly

John F. Goff
T.J.
The Buddy Holly Story — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Buddy Holly Story in United States?
The Buddy Holly Story is streaming on The Roku Channel in United States.
▸Is The Buddy Holly Story on The Roku Channel?
Yes — The Buddy Holly Story is currently available on The Roku Channel in United States.
▸What language is The Buddy Holly Story in?
The Buddy Holly Story is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Buddy Holly Story?
The Buddy Holly Story runs 1 hours 54 minutes (114 minutes).
▸What is The Buddy Holly Story rated?
The Buddy Holly Story is rated PG. It holds a 7.2/10 audience score from 129 ratings.











