It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley

He released just one studio album before drowning in the Wolf River in Memphis on May 29, 1997…at 30 years old.

But his hauntingly beautiful sounds seem to live on forever.

Trailer for “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley”

You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up

Jeff Buckley drowned fully clothed in the Wolf River in Memphis on May 29, 1997. This was just weeks after recording demos for his unfinished second album. No drugs in his system. He simply went for a spontaneous swim while a friend stayed on shore.
The film includes never-before-seen footage and private voice messages. In one, his mom, Mary Guibert, recalls him as a tiny boy holding her face and saying, “We’re going to be okay, mommy.” That bond becomes the emotional spine of the entire film.

Watch “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley”

You can stream “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” on HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video.

Ratings:

My Rating: 95/100
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 98/100 (Audience); 97/100 (Critics)

Release Date: 2025

Director’s Note: Amy Berg (who also directed “West of Memphis” and “Janis: Little Girl Blue”) has a gift for intimate music portraits. She leans heavily on archival footage here. Old camcorder clips, studio sessions, and voicemails instead of flashy reenactments.

My Review of “It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley”

The Setup

Jeff Buckley was the son of folk singer Tim Buckley, who died at 28 from a heroin overdose. Jeff barely knew him. That shadow hangs over this whole film.

After moving to New York in the early 1990s, Jeff built a cult following playing at tiny venues like Sin-é in the East Village. His 1994 album “Grace” sold modestly at first. Today it’s considered one of the greatest albums of the 1990s. His cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” didn’t even chart big at release. Now it’s iconic.

The doc walks us from those small club gigs to the pressure of making a second album in Memphis in 1997. You can feel the weight on him—label expectations, touring burnout, and the fear of being defined by just one record.

More Highlights from the Doc

Studio footage shows Jeff obsessing over tiny vocal takes, pushing for perfection. He’d record the same line over and over, chasing a feeling.
Mary Guibert emerges as the emotional anchor. She protected Jeff’s legacy after his death and helped release posthumous material like “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk.”
Ben Harper speaks about hearing Jeff sing live and feeling like he was witnessing something “not of this world.”
The Memphis chapter is heartbreaking. Jeff was experimenting with new sounds, looser and more electric than “Grace.” The demos hint at a major evolution that we’ll never fully hear.
The film carefully explains that his death was ruled an accidental drowning. No suicide note. No drugs. Just a strong current and a tragic choice to wade in at dusk.

Cameos – Lesser-Known Details from the Doc

Ben Harper appears and gets emotional describing Jeff’s range and stage presence.
Bandmate Michael Tighe shares raw details about those final Memphis sessions.
Ex-partner Joan Wasser opens up about their relationship and how Jeff balanced tenderness with restlessness.

Wrap Up

“It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley” is a love letter and a cautionary tale. If you’ve ever played “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” on repeat, this one will hit you hard—and remind you how much music the world lost in that river in 1997.

Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty Guest Writer, Daily Doc