We Want the Funk!

We Want the Funk! is a documentary that explores the evolution of funk music. It traces the genre from its origins in jazz and African traditions to the urban sound of the 1970s. The film examines how the music reflected the spirit of the civil rights movement and the political unrest within American cities, serving as a symbol of identity and black pride. The narrative highlights the influence of key figures and groups, including James Brown, Fela Kuti, and Parliament-Funkadelic.

Directed by Stanley Nelson and Nicole London, the film follows Nelson's 2021 project Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy and precedes his 2026 work The Color of Cola. This co-production between the United Kingdom, United States, and France involved several organizations, including the BBC, PBS, and ARTE GEIE. The cast features appearances by Nona Hendryx, Questlove, George Clinton, Fred Wesley, Marcus Miller, and David Byrne, along with 22 other credited individuals. On TMDB, the film has a rating of 6.3/10 based on 17 votes.