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The Buddy Holly Story

1978·Movie·PG·114 min·7.2(129)

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.

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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?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesThe Roku ChannelAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
United KingdomAmazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Rakuten TV, Amazon Prime Video Free with AdsApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
CanadaHollywood Suite, Hollywood Suite Amazon ChannelApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
GermanyAmazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Pluto TVAmazon 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
#rock 'n' roll#disc jockey#biography#rags to riches#affection#singer#airplane crash#price of fame#blizzard#1950s

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

Gary Busey

Buddy Holly

Don Stroud

Don Stroud

Jesse Charles

Charles Martin Smith

Charles Martin Smith

Ray Bob Simmons

Conrad Janis

Conrad Janis

Ross Turner

William Jordan

William Jordan

Riley

Maria Richwine

Maria Richwine

Maria Elena Holly

No photo

Amy Johnston

Cindy Lou

Dick O'Neill

Dick O'Neill

Sol Gittler

No photo

Fred Travalena

Madman Mancuso

Neva Patterson

Neva Patterson

Mrs. Holly

Arch Johnson

Arch Johnson

Mr. Holly

John F. Goff

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.

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