Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations follows Terri Hooley, a stubborn organizer who bets everything on Belfast's rising punk scene. In the late 1970s, he opens a tiny shop called Good Vibrations, a place where teenagers swap records and strangers become comrades. Hooley soon turns the shop into a makeshift label, releasing records by local bands such as The Undertones, Rudi, and The Outcasts. The film charts how a DIY impulse and a fearless belief in music can bloom amid strife, turning a handful of kids into a thriving community. It portrays the grit of the city, the risk of rebellion, and the stubborn optimism that fuels a scene that refuses to die. Music becomes a lifeline.

Directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa, the film focuses on Terri Hooley's real life in Belfast during the late punk era. It draws on the origin of the Good Vibrations shop and label. It respects the era's spirit.

The movie captures how a homegrown network of fans and venues kept Belfast music alive amid conflict. It highlights a grassroots ethic that helped local bands gain attention beyond the city, influencing later depictions of Northern Irish culture in cinema. The period detail and kinetic energy give the scenes bite.

Critics praised the film for its energetic zest and its portrait of a stubborn optimist who believes in the power of music to unite people. Its themes include DIY tenacity, community resilience, and how art can endure even when life in a troubled city feels precarious. It also speaks resilience.

On the awards front the title found traction in independent film circles, earning nominations for acting and direction at various ceremonies. The achievements reflect its craft and its depiction of Belfast's punk legacy. The performances, especially Dormer as Hooley, ground the film in detail while the city itself feels alive.