Billy Joel: And So It Goes is HBO’s two-part documentary about how the singer-songwriter’s personal history, relationships, choices and setbacks shaped his music and career. HBO scheduled each installment in a 2-hour-24-minute window, making the full film 4 hours 48 minutes—close enough to be described as five hours.
What is Billy Joel: And So It Goes about?
The documentary presents Joel’s life and work as intertwined: songs emerge alongside the experiences and conflicts that shaped them. HBO’s announced materials include interviews with Joel, archival performances, home movies, personal photographs and video clips. Its synopsis traces his Long Island childhood and absent father through early bands, relationships, collaborators, success, setbacks and music’s continuing place in his life. HBO specifically links “Just the Way You Are” to Joel’s first love and “Uptown Girl” to Christie Brinkley. HBO’s announcement and episode descriptions are the source for this account of the film’s scope.
How do the two parts tell the story?
Part one: childhood, early career and crisis
HBO’s episode summary begins with Joel’s childhood and early musical work, then follows his relationship with Elizabeth Weber, early songs and the business deal associated with “Piano Man.” It also covers his Columbia Records career, critical response, alcohol and personal turmoil, and a near-fatal motorcycle accident that affected his piano playing.
Part two: reinvention, family and legacy
The second installment moves through The Nylon Curtain, “Allentown” and “Goodnight Saigon,” Joel’s reunion with his father, and the story of his Jewish grandparents’ survival in Nazi Germany and its connection to “Vienna.” It also addresses his marriage to Brinkley and “Uptown Girl,” later reinventions, family life with Alexis Roderick Joel, classical music, Elton John and Joel’s Madison Square Garden residency. These are the documentary’s announced subjects, not independent verification of every biographical detail.
#1 Best Overall
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Why does the film focus on extremes?
In David Browne’s Rolling Stone review, the film is framed as more than a sequence of career milestones: Browne emphasizes Joel’s personality, psychological conflicts and the consequences of his choices. The review also points to contributions from musician friends and Howard Stern. That is one critic’s interpretation, rather than a claim of consensus, but it helps explain why the documentary’s personal material is central to its portrait of the music.
Who made the documentary, and who appears in it?
Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin directed and produced the film. HBO lists Emma Pildes as producer, with Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Todd Milliner, Sean Hayes and Steve Cohen as executive producers; Kris Liem, James Pilott and Steven Ross are editors. HBO Documentary Films presents the production.
Rank #2
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Among the participants named by HBO are Joel; friend and former collaborator Jon Small; former wife and manager Elizabeth Weber; former wives Christie Brinkley and Katie Lee; daughter Alexa Ray Joel; wife Alexis Roderick Joel; band members; and musicians Bruce Springsteen, Sting, John Mellencamp, Nas, Pink, Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney.
Lacy described the film’s intended reach in HBO’s March 26, 2025 announcement: “For those who think they know Joel’s story, as well as those who are not as familiar, I believe this two-part film is both a revelation and a surprise.”
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Rank #3
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How long is it, and when did it premiere?
HBO scheduled part one for July 18, 2025, and part two for July 25, 2025. Each broadcast window ran from 8:00 to 10:24 p.m. ET/PT, or 2 hours 24 minutes. Together, the announced windows total 4 hours 48 minutes. The “five-hour” description is rounded, not the exact combined duration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you watch it?
HBO’s 2025 release announcement said the documentary would be available to stream on HBO Max after its HBO premieres. That historical announcement does not establish whether it is currently in the catalog, or available in a particular country. Check the current local service listing rather than assuming the original streaming plan still applies.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
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