Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
When the 'Big Four' - Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax - shared a stage together on 22nd June 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria, the show was beamed live into over 550 theatres worldwide via satellite in a special HD cinematic event. The Big Four Live from Sofia includes full shows from all four bands as well as behind the scenes and interview footage. The legendary concert from the Sonisphere Festival was one of only 7 shows across Europe when the four monsters of metal shared a stage for the first time.
The Big Four Live in Sofia is a landmark event in heavy metal history — the first time Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax shared a stage together, making it genuinely singular and historically momentous (high Novelty). The cinematography captures the scale and energy of the Sofia festival competently in HD, with solid multi-camera work befitting a theatrical release. As a concert film, 'Plot' and 'Acting' are largely inapplicable categories, scoring modestly by default since there is no narrative arc or performance craft beyond musicianship. The ending — a historic jam of 'Am I Evil?' featuring all four bands together — is a genuinely thrilling capstone that elevates the closing. The high TMDB score reflects the immense fan significance of this one-of-a-kind gathering.