Watch One Direction: All the Way to the Top

One Direction: All The Way to the Top is a documentary about the boy band and their quick rise to international success. The film combines interviews with the group and music industry experts, as well as musical performances. Before becoming One Direction members, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Niall Horan were each competing for a spot on Britain's X Factor TV show. When they individually failed to progress to the semi-finals, judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested they form a group and continue on the program in that form. In two short weeks, they formed One Direction, eventually placing third in the finals. Simon Cowell immediately signed the group to his Syco Records. The group began recording their debut album, only stopping to participate in the X Factor Live Tour. Their debut single What Makes You Beautiful opened at number one in September 2011 on the UK Singles Chart, and later released in the United States the following February and quickly climbed to the Billboard Top Ten. Then, their first album Up All Night earned a designation in the Guinness World Records as first British group to enter at number one in US chart history with a debut album. Their success has been credited with the reemergence of boy band popularity. One Direction won several awards, including MTV's Best New Artist at the Music Video Awards and were invited to perform at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance in front of Queen Elizabeth II and the closing ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in London. Their second album, Take Me Home, also hit the top ten charts around the world. This music documentary follows the young men as they transform from average guys into international superstars, and includes performances of their hit singles What Makes You Beautiful, One Thing, and Gotta Be You.