The recent “We Are the World” documentary you’re looking for is called “The Greatest Night in Pop” , a 2024 feature-length film about the creation and one-night recording of the 1985 charity single “We Are the World.”
What the documentary is
“The Greatest Night in Pop” is a music documentary that revisits the January 28, 1985 session where dozens of major artists gathered in Los Angeles under the banner USA for Africa to record “We Are the World” to raise money for famine relief in Africa. It focuses on how the project came together creatively and logistically, including the songwriting by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and the producing role of Quincy Jones.
Key content and featured artists
The film combines archival studio footage with new interviews from participants such as Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick and others who sang on the track. It shows behind-the-scenes dynamics in the studio—rehearsals, solo takes, nerves, humor, and occasional tension—as stars like Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Ray Charles and Tina Turner work through their parts.
Themes and focus
A major theme is the humanitarian purpose of the song: raising funds and awareness for Ethiopian famine relief and highlighting entertainer Harry Belafonte’s role in sparking the idea of American artists mobilizing for Africa. The documentary also emphasizes creative collaboration, leadership and organization—how a large group of high-profile artists managed, in one night, to turn a chaotic gathering into a polished, globally successful charity single that went on to raise millions and win Grammy Awards.
Where to watch and related material
“The Greatest Night in Pop” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024 and is available to stream on Netflix in many regions. If you want even more background, there are also standalone behind-the-scenes videos from 1985 that show extended recording footage, which complement the modern documentary but are separate productions.
