Jeremy Allen White plays rock legend Bruce Springsteen in the 1980s-set music drama "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere."

LOS ANGELES — Bruce Springsteen rocked the house during the final star-studded event honoring "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere" before the biopic hits theaters Friday, Oct. 24.

Springsteen, 76, was the semi-surprise guest at the American Film Institute Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, Oct. 22, to support the film, which he calls "an unconventional biopic." The rock musician known globally as "The Boss" walked the red carpet with wife Patti Scialfa and Jeremy Allen White, who plays Springsteen on screen.

Springsteen ended the evening at Hollywood's historic TCL Chinese Theater by performing two solo acoustic songs after the movie credits rolled, using the platform to continue to criticize President Donald Trump.

"Outside, all hell is breaking loose in the United States," said Springsteen. "For 250 years around the world, despite all the faults that we've had, the United States has served as a beacon of democracy and hope and freedom."

Springsteen said that no matter how "terribly damaged America has been recently, that country and those ideals remain worth fighting for."

Before playing "Land of Hope and Dreams," Springsteen made a personal dig at Trump by calling the song "a prayer for America, our community and no kings."

Springsteen thanks cast that 'honored' his 'life experiences' in film

Springsteen's first song was "Atlantic City," from 1982's "Nebraska" album, which plays a central role in the film’s story — a raw portrait of Springsteen's creative and personal isolation and turmoil as he recorded the album before his global breakthrough, 1984's "Born in the USA."

Springsteen paid respect to writer-director Scott Cooper and the "Deliver Me From Nowhere" cast – including White, Jeremy Strong, who plays his manager Jon Landau, and Paul Walter Hauser, who portrays Mike Batlan, Springsteen’s longtime guitar tech and friend.

"They really honored my work and my family and my life experiences," said Springsteen, adding, "This is my last night in the movie business – I'm sticking to music."

Cooper became visibly emotional when introducing his famous film subject, who opened his home after the devastating January California wildfires.

"So often they say, 'Don't meet your heroes, because they will disappoint you,'" said Cooper. "This gentleman far exceeded any expectations. He was there for me, day and night, for questions, regardless of the hour. And when, like many people, our home burned in the Pacific Palisades fire, this man took my family in. We're forever bonded by this movie."

Speaking on the red carpet, Cooper told USA TODAY that Springsteen and Landau both sat through a personal script reading before film production even began.

"I read the screenplay to just Bruce and Jon Landau, reading all the parts and the screen directions," Cooper said. "At the end, they both applauded and said, 'Let's make this.'"

Springsteen was an active collaborator and visitor on the set, attending multiple premiere events – starting with giving the film introduction at the Telluride Film Festival in August.

"Bruce has seen the film, by my last count, 11 or 12 times," said Cooper. "Jon Landau told me that Bruce has supported this movie more than his last five albums put together. That's a testament to the trust that Bruce had in us to tell this very painful chapter in his life."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruce Springsteen says 'all hell is breaking loose' in America, prays for 'no kings'

Reporting by Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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