How to watch and stream Becoming Madonna, the new Madonna documentary

One of pop’s enduring icons, Madonna‘s origin story is being retold in a new documentary that premieres today.

Becoming Madonna is a feature-length film that’s built around audio recorded early in her career. It focuses on her life from 1978, when she arrived in New York City with the aim of making it as a professional dancer, to 1992, when she had become one of the world’s best-known – and most controversial – popstars.

The documentary includes rare footage and previously unseen archive content, including photos and recordings of those who knew her best during this period. One of the voices you can hear in the trailer is that of Madonna’s brother Christopher Ciccone, who passed away just a couple of months ago.

madonna raises her right hand to her face and looks to the left of the photo frame — Peter Noble/Redferns – Getty Images

“She was our mother’s namesake,” he says. “That either crushes you or elevates you.”

Becoming Madonna also explores early personal loss in Madonna’s life, her feelings of being an “outsider” and her rise to global fame, including high-profile relationships such as her first marriage to Sean Penn. Here’s how you can tune in.

How to watch Becoming Madonna, the new Madonna documentary

Those of you who want to watch Becoming Madonna as it premieres tonight (Monday, December 30) can tune in from 9pm on Sky Documentaries or Sky Showcase. The documentary is exclusive to Sky in the UK, and both channels are paywalled so you will need a subscription.

Sky Documentaries viewers can enjoy a full evening of music-themed programming, with Ron Howard’s The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years airing at 7pm, and Asif Kapadia’s acclaimed Amy following Becoming Madonna at 11pm.

Additionally, you’ll be able to catch Becoming Madonna on demand after its premiere if you’re a Sky TV or NOW customer.

madonna holds on to a lamp post in a park with both hands as she stands behind it, looking towards the left of the camera frame — Vinnie Zuffante – Getty Images

Shop Sky Stream packages

Sky’s simplest membership is its streaming service, Sky Stream. Content is delivered via broadband rather than a satellite dish, and customers can choose from two programme packages and two contract options (24-month or 31-day rolling). You’ll just need a TV set with an HDMI port for the Sky Stream box.

In order to watch Sky Documentaries or Sky Showcase, new Sky Stream customers will need to purchase the more expensive Sky Ultimate TV package.

Starting at £22/month (usually £28/month) on a 24-month minimum term, or £25/month (usually £31/month) for a 31-day rolling agreement, Sky’s Ultimate TV package also includes the likes of Sky Max, Sky Comedy, Sky Crime and Sky Nature.

It also features all the channels included in the Sky Essential TV pack – that’s Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic, plenty of free-to-air channels, plus Netflix Standard with Ads and discovery+ basic membership.

Alternatively, NOW‘s Entertainment membership is available for £6.99 per month on a six-month saver subscription plan, or £9.99 per month for fully flexible, rolling membership.

Both of these plans are supported by adverts during programmes, and you’ll need to buy a Boost add-on if you want to reduce the number of ads that you see to the minimum (in “live channels and trailers promoting NOW content”).