Piece by Piece (2024 film)

Piece by Piece
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
  • Morgan Neville
Produced by
StarringPharrell Williams
CinematographyChris Stover
Edited by
  • Jason Zeldes
  • Aaron Wickenden
  • Oscar Vazquez
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30) (Telluride)
  • October 11, 2024 (2024-10-11) (United States)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$16 million
Box office$10.7 million

Piece by Piece is a 2024 American animated biographical documentary comedy film co-written, co-produced, and directed by filmmaker Morgan Neville in his animated directorial debut. It follows the life and career of American musician Pharrell Williams, who stars in the film, through the lens of Lego animation, or brickfilm. Produced by The Lego Group, Neville's Tremolo Productions, and Williams' I Am Other, Piece by Piece marks the sixth theatrical Lego-based film and the first under Universal Pictures' run of their film rights. Alongside Williams and Neville, the film stars the voices of Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, and Snoop Dogg as Lego versions of themselves.

Williams had considered creating a film about his life since 2013; however, serious plans for a documentary in animated musical form started in 2019 following a discussion between Williams and Neville. Neville interviewed with Williams' associates remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later shot certain live-action scenes with him. The Lego Group created minifigure pieces that better represent the styles of African-American culture, as well as Williams's frequent collaborators, and designed new pieces for music equipment. Williams, who also produces, wrote five original songs for the film.

Piece by Piece premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2024, and was released theatrically in the United States and Canada on October 11 through Focus Features, with Universal handling international distribution. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, but was a box office failure, grossing $10.7 million against a $16 million budget.