We Are X is a 2016 documentary film about the Japanese rock band X Japan and its co-founder, drummer, pianist and leader Yoshiki.

The film contains interviews with all the current members of the band (Yoshiki, Toshi, guitarists Pata and Sugizo, and bassist Heath), plus interviews and contributions from Western musicians such as Gene Simmons (Kiss), Marilyn Manson, Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit), Richard Fortus (Guns N' Roses), Marc Benioff and George Martin (producer for The Beatles); famous fans such as comic book author Stan Lee; and Japanese musicians influenced by X Japan including Mucc, Ladies Room, Luna Sea, Dir En Grey and Glay.

[6] As an adult, he and Toshi moved to Tokyo and formed the band X Japan, which also resulted in the development of visual kei, a fashion and music movement featuring elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes.

[9] The film then looks at Yoshiki following the band's split, where he returned to classical music and composed a piece in honour of the 10th anniversary of the reign of the Emperor Akihito, then the band's reunion in 2007, Taiji's suicide in 2011 eleven months after performing with the group for the first time in 18 years after being arrested in an air rage incident, and their continuing attempts to achieve worldwide success.

[7][8] These include Stan Lee, who co-created a comic book with Yoshiki entitled Blood Red Dragon;[10] western musicians such as Gene Simmons, Wes Borland, Richard Fortus, Marilyn Manson and George Martin; and Japanese bands influenced by X Japan including Mucc, Ladies Room, Luna Sea, Dir En Grey and Glay.

[13] Despite not having listened to heavy metal since age 13 or 14 in favor of new wave, Kijak was immediately drawn to the band's music, surprised he had never heard it before.

[14] The director said that because Yoshiki had been documenting his life and X Japan for decades, the team had a lot of archival footage to dig through and use.

[13] Kijak revealed that upon thinking of Lynch's use of doppelgängers he was reminded of an interview where Yoshiki said he has two personalities, his public persona and a man wounded by the tragedies in his life.

They worked on the title design for months, syncing it to the song "Jade" the way that the images would pulsate to Yoshiki's drum beats.

When creating the background sequences, they used the band's slogan, Psychedelic Violence Crime of Visual Shock as an inspiration.

They used old photos of the band members, pairing them up with pulsating, moving, otherworldly backgrounds, for example they filmed floating fluorescent paint in a fish tank with a GoPro camera.

"[14] However, due to Pata being diagnosed with life-threatening diverticulitis and a severe blood clot in his portal vein the concert was postponed for almost a year, taking place on March 4, 2017.

[30] Positive comments mentioned the movie's uplifting nature, with Paula Mejia of Newsweek writing that it "forces us to grapple with difficult questions of purpose, the inevitable role of pain in art, and how music acts as a force for salvation, as much for the fans as for the musicians who thrash these songs into existence".

[31] Andy Webster of The New York Times wrote that We Are X was, "fascinating and assured documentary", but also mentioned what he thought was an unfair R-rating saying: "We Are X is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian) for — what?

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter said that while the film does cover the deaths of two X Japan members and the "brainwashing" of Toshi, it spends more time following the drummer at press and preparations for Madison Square Garden.

"[5] The movie was given ratings of 3 stars out of 5 by reviews in The Guardian, the New York Daily News and Time Out London with views range from the film being: "A watchable and interesting – if a tad worshipful",[33] "an accessible ride, if not a particularly unique one",[34] and that, "Kijak’s willingness to indulge the band’s rampant self-mythologising can get tiresome".

... All director Stephen Kijak's frustrated attempts at getting into Yoshiki's head leave little time for viewers to hear much of what X Japan's music actually sounds like.

"[36] We Are X was entered in Sundance's World Cinema Documentary Competition, winning the Special Jury Award for Best Editing.