Pink Floyd’s 1972 Concert Film Live in Pompeii – MCMLXXII Returns to Theaters, Debuts in Box Office Top 10

Pink Floyd: Live in Pompeii – MCMLXXII has made an impressive return to cinemas, landing in the top 10 of the domestic box office more than five decades after its initial release. Originally filmed in 1971 and released in 1972, the concert film has been re-released by Trafalgar Releasing, now digitally remastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage and enhanced with newly upgraded audio.

The film, directed by Adrian Maben, showcases Pink Floyd—Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason—performing an intimate, audience-free concert set in the ancient Roman Amphitheater in Pompeii, Italy. The unique setting, captured in both daylight and under the stars, enhances the surreal and atmospheric quality of the band’s performance.

Pink Floyd: Live in Pompeii – MCMLXXII features timeless tracks such as “Echoes,” “A Saucerful of Secrets,” and “One of These Days.” In addition to the concert footage, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes moments of the band working on what would become one of their most iconic albums, The Dark Side of the Moon, at Abbey Road Studios.

In its opening weekend, the rereleased film earned nearly $2.6 million from 654 North American theaters, placing it at No. 10 in the domestic box office rankings. Coupled with $3.8 million from international markets, the film achieved a worldwide total of $6.4 million from Friday to Sunday.

Critics and audiences alike have responded positively to the rerelease. On Rotten Tomatoes, all eight published critic reviews have rated the film as “fresh.” Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph lauded the rerelease, calling it “a glorious record of a group at the height of their powers,” and suggesting it should be essential viewing for young musicians. Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com praised the immersive visuals and guitar close-ups, highlighting David Gilmour’s playing as a standout element. Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of The Financial Times noted the film captures Pink Floyd at a crucial transition from underground psych-rock to global prog-rock prominence.

Audiences appear equally enthusiastic, with more than 5,000 verified users contributing to a 96% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter.

Pink Floyd: Live in Pompeii – MCMLXXII continues a recent trend of classic rock concert films gaining traction on IMAX and standard theater screens, reflecting a growing appetite for immersive, high-fidelity musical experiences in cinemas.