Watching Movies with the Sound Off, Mac Miller’s second studio album, dropped on June 18, 2013, via Rostrum Records, marking a bold evolution in his sound that began with Macadelic. Miller crafted a deeply introspective and personal album, collaborating with artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Schoolboy Q, and Tyler, the Creator. He took control of much of the production under his alias Larry Fisherman, alongside contributions from Diplo, Pharrell Williams, The Alchemist, Flying Lotus, and others.

Inspired by his habit of creating music while watching films on mute, the album’s title reflects Miller’s creative process. The minimalist cover, designed by his brother Miller McCormick, features Miller sitting nude at a table with a "Parental Advisory" sticker strategically placed over Mac's family jewels.

During the album's creation, Miller recorded over 400 songs, mostly in his home studio in Los Angeles. He revealed the final tracklist in May 2013, featuring guest appearances from Jay Electronica, Vinny Radio, Niki Randa, and others. Jay Electronica’s verse arrived just two hours before the album was mastered, making it the last addition.

The singles "S.D.S.", "Watching Movies" and "Goosebumpz" charted well on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 102,000 copies in its first week. Critics praised the album’s psychedelic hip-hop sound and Miller’s growth in both lyricism and production.

With Watching Movies with the Sound Off, Miller reinvents himself as a more introspective artist, moving away from the playful rhymes of his earlier work. Songs like "The Star Room" and "Avian" reveal his wit and existential reflections on mortality and drugs. Collaborations with artists like Action Bronson and Jay Electronica solidify Miller’s evolution, showing he’s no longer the rapper delivering youthful bravado, but a more complex, philosophical voice in hip-hop.

2024 10th Anniversary Edition reissue pressed on double vinyl, released via Rostrum Records.

Tracklist:

Side A