Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii, the groundbreaking 1972 Pink Floyd concert film, has been digitally remastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage with newly mixed and enhanced audio for a 2025 theatrical release, due to play in select cinemas and IMAX under the title Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII beginning on April 24th.
Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman amphitheater in Pompeii, Italy—which was eventually buried and uniquely preserved following the eruption of nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.—the Adrian Maben-directed film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience. Recorded in October 1971, the film pairs the music of the English prog-rock icons’ early years with breathtaking visuals of the amphitheater captured both during the daytime and at night. The film also includes rare behind-the-scenes glimpses of the band working on a new album at Abbey Road Studios—the album that would become Pink Floyd’s most recognizable work, 1973’s The Dark Side of the Moon.
[Still frame via Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii – Pink Floyd performs in Pompeii, October 1971]
Per a press release, the film has been meticulously hand-restored, frame-by-frame, from the original 35mm cut negative, which was discovered in five “dubiously labelled cans” within Pink Floyd’s own archives. Led by Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd, the team’s mission was to preserve the integrity and beauty of the original picture. After being scanned in 4K to ensure the finest, sharpest detail, the film’s colors were enhanced and every frame was reviewed and repaired, maintaining a natural and vivid appearance with minimal grain adjustments.
[Still frame via Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii – Pink Floyd in Pompeii, October 1971]
“Since 1994, I have searched for the elusive film rushes of Pink Floyd At Pompeii, so the recent discovery of the 1972 original 35mm cut negative was a very special moment. The newly restored version presents the first full 90-minute cut, combining the 60-minute source edit of the performance with the additional Abbey Road Studios documentary segments filmed shortly after,” said Topham.
[Still frame via Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii – Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters hits the gong, October 1971]
The meticulous restoration of Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII heading to theaters and IMAX in the spring of 2025 delivers “stunning image and sound quality …. Inspired by the golden warmth of Pompeii’s iconic setting, the remaster transforms this timeless piece into a masterpiece of sight and sound.” Watch a clip of “Echoes, Pt. 1” from the re-mastered film below.
Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII – “Echoes, Pt. 1” (2025 Mix Edit)
The film also features stunning sound quality with a new theatrical and home entertainment mix by Steven Wilson in 5.1 and Dolby Atmos that enhances the film’s depth and clarity, preserving the authenticity and spirit of the original 1972 release. Wilson’s aim was to remain faithful to how the band would have sounded on those scorching hot days in 1971. “I first saw Pompeii from a grainy print at a local cinema. It made an incredible impression on me with its untethered and exploratory rock music made by four musicians that seemed to epitomise the notion of intellectual cool,” said Wilson. “It was an honour to remix the soundtrack to accompany Lana Topham’s incredible restoration of the film, which looks like it could’ve been filmed yesterday.”
Tickets to the limited theatrical release, distributed by Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music, go on sale starting on March 5th at 6:00 a.m. PT / 9:00 a.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. GMT. For more information or to sign up for updates on screenings and ticketing, head here.
An accompanying album release will feature the performance presented as a full-length live record for the very first time. The 2025 Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII remix by Steven Wilson will become available on CD/LP/Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Audio/Dolby Atmos beginning on May 2nd. Click below to view the full album tracklist. Pre-order your copy here.
Pink Floyd At Pompeii – MCMLXXII – Official Trailer
