The live action film adaptation of the series, directed by Toshio Lee and written by Mika Ōmori, was released on August 23, 2008. It features performances by Kenichi Matsuyama, Rosa Kato, Rumi Hiiragi,Yasuko Matsuyuki and a cameo appearance by Gene Simmons. It has been watched by more than 1 million people. It has been reported that several offers have been made from United States and Hong Kong based companies to remake the film.^[1] Detroit Metal City was selected as a part of the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival's Midnight Madness Program on September 5, 2008. It was also shown for the first time in the United Kingdom on November 2008 in Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds. It was also shown as part of the 13th Japanese Film Festival in November and December in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia in 2009.

Soichi Negishi is a shy young musician who dreams of a career in pop. Dreams don't pay the bills, so he's ended up as the lead singer of a death metal band, "Detroit Metal City." In stage costume he is Johannes Krauser II, rumored to be a terrorist demon from hell, to have killed and raped his parents, to wield his giant death penis with abandon, etc. One of his songs suggests that his fans should murder everyone, in a comic parody of the genre. Negishi despises DMC and all that it stands for, but he can't walk away. As DMC's star rises Negishi tries to satisfy both worlds, but can't.

The series takes its name from the KISS single "Detroit Rock City".