Best Punk Rock Movies
Punk never died and will never. 70's 80's 90's 00's. All had their punk scenes. Check out the thrash grass/folk punk scene right now to see (they are playing at your local clubs) what they will be making movies about in the 20's Days n Daze, Blackbird Raum etc. the punk scene is still alive. Check it out and you can say you were there.
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- DirectorAlex CoxStarsGary OldmanChloe WebbDavid HaymanThe relationship between Sid Vicious, bassist for British punk group Sex Pistols, and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen is portrayed.A movie not really about John Ritchie and Nancy Spungen. Its about a Hollywood version of them, the acting and cinematography are brilliant enough to put it at the top of the list.
- DirectorPaul RachmanStarsGreg GinnIan MacKayeJames DrescherThe History of American Punk Rock 1980-1986In depth coverage across the country of the scene extensive interviews with H.R.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsChris PedersenBill CoyneJennifer ClayWhen household tensions and a sense of worthlessness overcome Evan, he finds escape when he clings with the orphans of a throw-away society.Everybody I knew wanted to get a pet rat after this movie came out. Flea is in it also.
- DirectorVladimir BlazevskiStarsJordan SimonovKamka TocinovskiToni MihajlovskiA group of crotchety codgers attempt to revive the punk-rock band they all played in 17 years earlier in "Punk Is Not Dead," from Macedonian scribe-helmerA Macedonian Punk Movie you have to seek this one out its good really good.
- DirectorScott CrawfordStarsFred ArmisenBrendan CantyDave Grohl"Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90)" examines the early DIY punk scene in the Nation's Capital. It was a decade when seminal bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Government Issue, Scream, Void, Faith, Rites of Spring, Marginal Man, Fugazi, and others released their own records and booked their own shows-without major record label constraints or mainstream media scrutiny. Contextually, it was a cultural watershed that predated the alternative music explosion of the 1990s (and the industry's subsequent implosion). Thirty years later, DC's original DIY punk spirit serves as a reminder of the hopefulness of youth, the power of community and the strength of conviction.Documentary focuses on the Washington DC Hardcore punk. They used to run into the ice cream store that Henry Rollins worked at when Rednecks used to hassle the Punk kids. The Rednecks would take one look at Henry and run away.
- DirectorJames MerendinoStarsMatthew LillardMichael A. GoorjianAnnabeth GishIn the early 1980s Stevo, and Heroin Bob are the only two dedicated punks in conservative Salt Lake City.I had a friend like Marshal There are many haters of this movie. Claiming that the movie is about posers. That is the point I think. Really there were not that many true punks during the day. This movie is closer to what it was for most kids than Suburbia was. Unless you went out like Sid/Darby/GG/Ian/Kurt or you are still on tour don't throw stones.
- DirectorAlex CoxStarsHarry Dean StantonEmilio EstevezTracey WalterA young punk, recruited by a car repo agency, finds himself in pursuit of a Chevrolet Malibu with a huge, $20,000 bounty--and something otherworldly stashed in its trunk.Miller: A lot o' people don't realize what's really going on. They view life as a bunch o' unconnected incidents 'n things. They don't realize that there's this, like, lattice o' coincidence that lays on top o' everything. Give you an example; show you what I mean: suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness.
Otto: You eat a lot of acid, Miller, back in the hippie days?
Miller: I'll give you another instance: you know how everybody's into weirdness right now?... - DirectorAnton CorbijnStarsSam RileySamantha MortonCraig ParkinsonA profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division whose personal, professional, and romantic troubles led him to die by suicide at the age of 23.We could have used him for a little while longer. We needed him to stick around. World didn't need New Order. This flick was written from his wife's view I think.. No sure how much was skewed, if they consult my wife for my biopic after I am gone; it will not paint me in a good light. But what it comes down to one of greatest tragedies in music was when Ian called it quits, forget Janis, Jim and Jimi. He and Curt could have had huge libraries of work.
- DirectorJulien TempleStarsPaul CookSteve JonesJohn LydonA film about the career of the notorious punk rock band, the Sex Pistols.When Mr. Lydon speaks of his relationship with Mr. Ritchie its really really hard not to be moved. This documentary is seriously well filmed, edited and never hits a boring note. Truly the best tale of the 2 and half years of these guys before they imploded.
- DirectorTim IrwinStarsMilo AukermanJoe BaizaKevin BarrettA feature-length documentary chronicling early 80's punk rock band the Minutemen, from their beginnings in San Pedro, California, to their demise after the death of singer D. Boon in 1985.We could have used D. Boon for a while longer too. Most of this documentary is filmed from the passenger seat of Mike's Van. You feel like you know him by the time its done.
- DirectorRodger GrossmanStarsShane WestRick GonzalezBijou PhillipsThe true-life story of Darby Crash, who became an L.A. punk icon after getting kicked out of high school and forming The Germs with a collection of friends who have little experience with their instruments or playing music.Shane West was good enough to go on tour with the Germs. More Mr. Crash would not have been a bad thing, either. He seems more of free spirited hippie than a punk. His music reflected this and so does this movie. Some people can feel too much,
- DirectorJames LathosStarsMark AndersenYana ChupenkoAnthony Countey"Finding Joseph I" is a feature documentary chronicling the eccentric life and struggles of punk rock reggae singer, Paul "HR" Hudson, a.k.a. Joseph I, legendary lead singer from Bad Brains.Poor guy this is not a documentary about Punk but a very talented man with an illness
- DirectorShaun Michael ColónStarsFat MikeErin BurkettJoey CapeThis feature length documentary film follows the early history of Fat Wreck Chords, from its founding by Fat Mike and his then wife Erin Burkett, through its cultural zenith in the late 1990's.Better than a NOFX documentary more interesting, his label has done more for punk than NOFX
- DirectorLech KowalskiStarsStiv BatorsTerry ChimesThe ClashDocumentary chronicaling the rise and fall of the punk movement with rare interview footage of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. Also concert and news footage.More focus on the Sex Pistols scene, Dead boys and the rich kids. Saw this one after some the higher ranked ones. Maybe it was timing, it felt like a retread. Nice to see Generation X as time seems to have forgotten them for Billy Idol.
- DirectorJai Al-attasStarsTim ArmstrongJoey CapeTim CurranDocumenting the birth, growth and explosion of punk rock during the 90's.Operation Ivy, really, Operation Ivy is mentioned one of the few documentaries to mention them. Before Rancid, Green Day, NOFX, Pennywise, and Offspring. A tad slow in one stretch but its better than most. Overall it could have spent a bit more time on random bands it lists at the end. A couple of names I didn't know, and seriously I know more punk bands than the next guy. So I could have learned something more from this documentary rather than googling them afterward. But overall not too bad.
- DirectorRoy WallaceStarsJon ActivePetesy BurnsFrancisco CarrenoThrough interviews with major players in the anarchist-punk movement, DAY THE COUNTRY DIED explores the evolution of a genre. Those sharing their views include Colin Jerwood of Conflict, Penny Rimbaud of Crass, Zillah Minx of Rubella Ballet, and more. The release also includes live concert material.
- DirectorAngela BoatwrightStarsJohn AlvaradoGary AlvarezNacho CorruptedLos Punks: We Are All We Have is an intimate documentary about the teens and young adults who find meaning in the thriving punk rock scene in the backyards of South Central and East Los Angeles.The Latino punk scene. One of the best named punk bands of all time are featured the Crusty Drunks. What we have seen before that Punk is everywhere. That its happening in Latino culture in LA is great. That this documentary is pretty freaking well filmed and the bands are the bomb, is also good. What is not good is there is a man who calls himself Nacho Corrupted.
- DirectorSusan DynnerStarsCraig AaronsonColin AbrahallAdriOn the edge of the 30th anniversary of punk rock, Punk's Not Dead takes you into the sweaty underground clubs, backyard parties, recording studios, and yes, shopping malls and stadium shows where punk rock music and culture continue to thrive. Thirty years after bands like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols infamously shocked the system with their hard, fast, status-quo-killing rock, the longest-running punk band in history is drawing bigger crowds than ever, "pop-punk" bands have found success on MTV, and kids too young to drive are forming bands that carry the torch for punk's raw, immediate sound. Meanwhile, "punk" has become a marketing concept to sell everything from cars to vodka, and dyed hair and piercings mark a rite of passage for thousands of kids. Can the true, nonconformist punk spirit still exist in today's corporatized culture? Featuring interviews, performances, and behind-the-scenes journeys with the bands, labels, fans, and press who keep punk alive, Punk's Not Dead dares to juxtapose pop-punk's music and lifestyle against the roots in the 70s and 80s, resulting in unexpected revelations. A DIY search for the soul of a subculture and a celebration of all things loud, fast, and spiked, Punk's Not Dead shows punk is stronger and more relevant today than it's ever been.The reason for this documentary as far as I can tell is showing the commercialization of Punk through Pop punk and Hot topic; not coming out in support or against it. Then they jump to the UK Subs still on tour which is cool and then even better goes into DIY. Then they go back to pop punk; AGAIN. Anyway last time I was in a Hot topic (almost ten years after this doc) there was not a Misfit/Black Flag shirt to be found.. So they might have been just riding the wave, rather than cannon balling into the pool. Over all though just a well made documentary,
- DirectorJames MerendinoStarsBen SchnetzerHannah MarksColson BakerA young punk's odyssey.Heroin Bob looking on from the after life at his nineteen year old of death obsessed son. Its a massively brilliant take on every thing touching the youth culture. Summing up all the fractions of punks and influences alienate our children into rebelling or its just a confused episodic movie. Could go either way depending upon your mood when you watch it. Ross was simply dumped by Shelly or its a representation of the loss of innocence when we come to an understanding our dreams are not going to come true. No matter how small they are. This movie is either really simple or really complex.
- DirectorMichael WinterbottomStarsSteve CooganLennie JamesJohn ThomsonIn 1976, Tony Wilson sets up Factory Records and brings Manchester's music to the world.Managers are scum bags in my humble opinion at least 99% of the time. But this guy in Manchester was part of the the 1%. The funeral scene for some reason, I will not forget. The contract scene is priceless.
- DirectorAdam SmallPeter StuartStarsM. Otis BeardDennis DanellBrent LilesA documentary following the 1982 tour of punk bands Youth Brigade and Social Distortion.Epic chronicle that is short and cheaply filmed padded with slam dance instructions. But damn wow are we right there with Social.
- DirectorJim FieldsMichael GramagliaStarsRick RubinTommy RamoneDee Dee RamoneThe story of the punk rock band The Ramones.Pretty much the best documentary about the Ramones.
- DirectorDon LettsStarsSoo CatwomanSteve StrangeRobin BanksDocumentary on the London punk-rock scene, circa '78.Great performances. The British scene will always have a place in my heart. Just after the the current folk punk one, the eighties hardcore, CBGB bands but before everything else. The pure British style of punk from this era had a sound that its own. It had its Clash, Sex Pistols, Generation X, Sham 69 and the Slits of course. If you are unfamiliar with bands like Marquee from Chelsea there is more to be heard.
- DirectorDan O'BannonStarsClu GulagerJames KarenDon CalfaWhen two bumbling employees at a medical supply warehouse accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, the vapors cause the dead to rise again as zombies.Really good Horror Comedy not so much really a Punk movie but it has punks in it.
Frank: Watch your tongue, boy, if you like this job!
Freddy: Like this job? - DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsEugene TatuAlice Bag BandBlack FlagA look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.Yeah Crash died before this one was released. John Doe interview made him sound a bit dim. If they had not made a sequel about Metal this one would have been higher.
- DirectorJeremy SaulnierStarsAnton YelchinImogen PootsAlia ShawkatA punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar.I could hear the pitch for this movie. You know that Dead Kennedy's song, what if? So this movie takes a simple idea and makes a decent movie from it. It is not really a Punk movie or would be ranked higher.
- DirectorChris FullerStarsKayla TabishTravis MaynardChris FullerAdolescents come to terms with their lives after the rebellions of 1996 St. Petersburg.A film featuring one of my all time favorite bands Leftover Crack live. That being said its a self consciously arty low budget frustratingly full of it self. Its St Petersburg after the riots in 1996. They used to make this type stuff on weekly basis in the seventies. Its not a bad movie its just not what it thinks it is. At least to me.
- DirectorAJ SchnackStarsKurt CobainEvan FortinNathan StreifelIn this visual essay style documentary, intimate audio of journalist Michael Azerrad's interviews with Kurt Cobain is played over more recently photographed footage of Cobain's Washington state homes and haunts.The most respectful of the documentaries made about him after he died.
- DirectorAlan ClarkeStarsRay WinstoneMick FordJulian FirthAn uncompromising story of life in a British juvenile offender institution in the '70s.
- DirectorPenelope SpheerisStarsFleaKeith MorrisEyeballThe Decline of Western Civilization III is a 1998 documentary film that follows the gutter punk lifestyle of homeless teenagers.Better than the 2nd one in the trilogy but not as good as the first one. Scope of the movie is only a small group of kids. The documentary than brings in Flea of all people. Flea may have started in the scene but the Red Hot Chili Peppers release Mother's Milk in 1989. I kind of think he was not leaving on the street. In 2018 he is worth $115 million. More Music would have helped this or just more kids in different areas.
- DirectorDon LettsStarsK.K. BarrettRoberta BayleyJello BiafraA documentary on the music, performers, attitude and distinctive look that made up punk rock.There are some of the greatest musicians interviewed in this documentary. A huge collection of names including Captain Sensible enough said,
- DirectorSteve TozziStarsH.R.Dean WeenJack IronsRiot on the Dance Floor: The story of Randy Now and City Gardens is a documentary from director Steve Tozzi, that features the stark and iconic photography of Thrasher Magazine's Ken Salerno. It is told through an oral history format of in-depth interviews and archival footage, bringing to life the gritty story of one of New Jersey's most infamous clubs and its larger than life promoter. City Gardens was a venue for underground music and during its time it traversed the entertainment spectrum; from the comedy of Henny Youngman to Nine Inch Nails, New Order to Nirvana. Riot on the Dance Floor is a journey of musical champions and underdogs and above all, the freedom and liberation of having complete creative control.New Jersey never would have thought they made a documentary on Punk there, but here you go. Yea /I know aside from the Misfits never thought too much about it. Focuses on a club in the day that had good music in the day. Similar to the others from the other cities. The stories are similar, this one has some good ones.
- DirectorBruce McDonaldStarsHugh DillonCallum Keith RennieJohn Pyper-FergusonA group of washed-up Canadian punk rockers get back together for a road trip in memory of a dear friend who was supposedly shot, or so rumors imply. As they travel, they ignore the underlying psychological darkness within each other.A punk Spinal Tap from Canada.
- DirectorDon LettsStarsTerry ChimesTerence DackombeTopper HeadonA career retrospective of British punk band The Clash, featuring exclusive interviews with the entire band.Best Clash documentary, Strummer one was too sad. The rise and fall too much fall so this one wins.
- DirectorKeith JonesDeon MaasStarsPaulo ChibangaMichael FleckIvan KadeyThree chords, three countries, one revolution...PUNK IN AFRICA is the story of the multiracial punk movement within the recent political and social upheavals experienced in three Southern African countries: South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.Jumps from very boring to incredibly interesting and informative in seconds. Some kind of strange pendulum of documentary making style. I can not believe they intended it to be that way. A very large scope is covered over the length of this film and it is one of the better of the international punk scene films.
- StarsBlack FlagHenry RollinsGreg GinnA record of the 1984 concert tour of the United Kingdom by the rock band Black Flag.Short concert shot during the Rollins days. Kira is there and so is Greg of course. Not a very energetic show but not bad.
- DirectorBen LoganMandy SteinStarsJulian CambridgeAnthony CounteyJames DrescherBad Brains are one of the most important and influential American bands still working today. They melded punk and reggae into an innovative style that has yet to be copied. Their impact and influence can be heard in groups like Beastie Boys, No Doubt, Nirvana, Jane's Addiction and countless more. Despite the troubles of an eccentric front man they have stayed together for 30 years without ever reaching the level of success so many think they deserve. Using rare archival footage and original comic illustrations the film re-constructs Bad Brains' rich and complicated history.Man these guys are great.
- DirectorShaun JeffordStarsLiu BaoNevin DomerShi Xu DongA film crew follows underground punks through Communist China in the year of the Olympics.Interesting a little uneven, some of the bands seem a bit glam or really I don't what to call them.
- DirectorDanny GarciaStarsRachel AmodeoNina AntoniaNite BobDocumentary about legendary rock n roll guitarist Johnny Thunders. The film looks at his time with the New York Dolls and the Heartbreakers and also details his solo career and tragic life.We lost a great talent when he died also. People forget him too quickly. IDK too much about the New York Dolls. To paraphrase Johansen in "Let it Ride" they peed it all away.
- DirectorDirk B.G. DriksenStarsKlaus FlourideDH PeligroEast Bay RayThe Dead Kennedys' performance, June 1984, marked the closing of San Francisco's DMPO's on Broadway Avant-garde Theatre and Nightclub.Best documentary about Jello and company.
- DirectorMike LernerMaxim PozdorovkinStarsNadezhda TolokonnikovaMariya AlyokhinaYekaterina SamutsevichFollows the court case of three members of the Russian feminist punk protest group Pussy Riot after their performance in a Russian Orthodox cathedral.Brave young Russian Punk women.
- DirectorJonathan KaplanStarsMatt DillonMichael Eric KramerPamela LudwigA group of bored teenagers rebel against authority in the community of New Granada after the death of one of their own.Criminal kid gangs as most movies from this time frame its a bit dated. A bit confusing and a bit too arty. I was drinking when I saw this last so I can't be sure.
- DirectorLou AdlerStarsPeter DonatDiane LaneMarin KanterThe media and disaffected teens mistake the acerbic rants of an obnoxious teenage punk rocker as a rallying cry for the women of America, launching her and her talentless group to national stardom.Underrated or overrated by the big music fan magazines. Saw it liked it never wanted to see it again. I think Rolling Stone has it in their top ten pretty high. Yeah whatever like I said it was good but it ain't no top ten. Underrated if your a punker, most generally that I know, think its a pile of carp ( the fish rotting in the sun).
- DirectorJames SpoonerStarsRalph DardenMatt DavisMaya GlickAfro-Punk explores race identity within the punk scene. More than your everyday "Behind the Music" or typical "black history month" documentary, this film tackles hard questions, covering issues such as exile, loneliness, inter-racial dating and black power. We follow the lives of four people who have dedicated themselves to the punk rock lifestyle. They find themselves in conflicting situations, living the dual life of a person of color in a mostly white community.A must see, clocking in at around a hour and featuring the Bad Brains. You cannot see enough Bad Brains. You cannot hear enough Bad Brains. That may sound sarcastic it ain't I been listening since the early days and love them. Even the reggae albums.
- DirectorDanny GarciaStarsSid ViciousNancy SpungenVictor ColicchioA new documentary about the painful and poignant final days of the tragic couple Sid Vicious and Nancy SpungenExtremely in depth focus on these 2 post Sex Pistols and their last days. Brings up the conspiracy alternate causes to her end including possible alternate suspects. A particular statement made about his mother by one of the people being interviewed should have been edited out. His life was tragic enough.
- DirectorMark Christopher CovinoJeff HowlettStarsBobby HackneyDavid HackneyDannis HackneyA documentary on the 1970s punk trio Death, and their new-found popularity decades after they disbanded.Ground breaking band, it gets the feeling of people so way ahead of their time that they couldn't succeed. They are the Big Star of Punk. Documentary sufferes from being made after the death of the main brother from Death and just a limit in the scope of the people they interviewed. More people during the time of the recording rather than people from 2012.
- DirectorJem CohenStarsBrendan CantyJoe LallyIan MacKayeA collaboration between filmmaker Jem Cohen and the Washington D.C. band Fugazi, covering the 10 year period of 1987-1996. Far from a traditional documentary, this is a musical document; a portrait of musicians at work. The project mixes sync-sound, 16mm.The band could have used a better filmed documentary, but this is what they got and this is what we get. Ian yelling at some guy who spit on him could have gotten cut out. I don't know if it is needed to remember this band. There was a video I saw once of the young Fugazi performing. They were so free of BS. Here they look like they have been around too long already.
- DirectorKoen MortierStarsDries VanhegenNorman BaertGunter LamootThree handicapped losers who form a band ask famous writer Dries to be their drummer. He joins the band and starts manipulating them.
- DirectorShane MeadowsStarsThomas TurgooseStephen GrahamJo HartleyA young boy becomes friends with a gang of skinheads. Friends soon become like family, and relationships will be pushed to the very limit.Skinheads gang in England in the eighties. Very well done movie.
- DirectorOmar MajeedStarsRiz AhmedArieb AzhurAmmar AzizThe word Taqwacore is a combination of hardcore, a genre of punk music, and taqwa, an Arabic word that translates as "piety" or "god-fearing." The first to use the term was writer, journalist, and Muslim convert Michael Muhammad Knight. His novel The Taqwacores, about a group of young Islamic punk rockers, received a storm of recognition among young American Muslims and prompted the formation of various Muslim punk bands.Similar to the other punk movies that focus on new punk movements in different regions of the world. This documentary puts more weight on the importance of its subject. They may have a point .
- DirectorTony KayeStarsEdward NortonEdward FurlongBeverly D'AngeloLiving a life marked by violence, neo-Nazi Derek finally goes to prison after killing two black youths. Upon his release, Derek vows to change; he hopes to prevent his brother, Danny, who idolizes Derek, from following in his footsteps.Nazi punks f off. Aside from a skrewdriver music video, you got to think this movie gets it right. That scene was driven out of my town in my youth the entire group got their butt kicked to Wisconsin.
- DirectorAllan MoyleStarsTim CurryTrini AlvaradoRobin JohnsonTwo ill-matched teenage girls form a punk band and soon have New York City by its ears.They feel a bit like hippies; good movie though.
- DirectorJoe LosurdoChristina TillmanStarsSteve AlbiniVic BondiScotty BrownYou Weren't There: a History of Chicago Punk 1977-1984 is a documentary that looks back on the impact that the Punk movement had on the Windy City. Though overlooked in the annals of Rock history (compared to media centric LA, NYC and London), Chicago served as an important early supporter of the Punk movement in America. "You Weren't There" talks to the DJ's, musicians, promoters, artists and fans who were pivotal in creating the Chicago Punk scene. It also showcases classic archival footage of great Chicago bands such as, Effigies, Naked Raygun, Strike Under, Articles of Faith, as well as lesser known greats like Silver Abuse, DA, The Subverts, Savage Beliefs, Negative Element, Rights of the Accused and many, many more.I was there you can see me right there that is me, yea that is me right there. Damn it rewind. Okay right there see the kid, that is me. Pause it, Yea I know it was over twenty years ago, but it is me. One of the slower moving of the regional punk documentaries. Scene was slower in Chicago but they focus on the New Wave stuff that ate the early scene. It ate like a chicago style hotdog. The hardcore movement was hard, good and mean. There is a true fringe of music that really never hit hit. It ain't LA nor New York
- DirectorFloria SigismondiStarsKristen StewartDakota FanningMichael ShannonA coming-of-age biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways. The relationship between band members Cherie Currie and Joan Jett is also explored.Good movie shame they could not have done it about all of them. Something feels a bit like a tv movie more than a movie perhaps there where budget issues. I don't know. Since this is my list and I have bad nightmares of 80s Lita Ford videos, oh the hair oh the hair. I rank this film so low in the list. Its my list. Oh and yea I saw Joan Jett live as an opening band and I didn't clap with her on "I love rock'nroll" so there cherry bomb. Cherie singing with Danzig was cool.
- DirectorGorman BechardStarsRobert VoedischTommy RamoneTom ArnoldFor some aging music fans and kids with a passion for musical history, The Replacements are rock and roll defined. This Minneapolis quartet took a teenage-punk attitude, threw it in a blender with classic and pop rock, and then poured it into a Middle American pint glass. Over the band's 12-year existence, its live sets were magical, a total mess, or both-depending on your mood and the members' respective blood alcohol levels. Gorman Bechard's remarkable history of the 'Mats takes us from their first show as the Impediments to their 1991 onstage breakup in Chicago, and everywhere in between. Bechard bravely eschews including the band's music, photos, and live footage, instead relying solely on the fans: their well-kept memories, hilarious anecdotes, and differing points of views about the foursome's wildly varied discography and infamous antics. Bechard has recruited an impressive roster of influential fans: musicians such as Husker Du, Babes in Toyland, The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, Archers of Loaf, Titus Andronicus, and Goo Goo Dolls; writers such as Jack Rabid, Legs McNeil, Robert Christgau, Jim DeRegotis, and Greg Kot; and actors such as George Wendt, Tom Arnold, and Dave Foley. Sprinkled in among that esteemed group are the more mainstream fans, who often give the most insightful and heartfelt perspectives of all. Follower or not, after taking in COLOR ME OBSESSED, you'll be ready to run home, gather some 'Mats albums, and design a perfect soundtrack of your own.Not one interview with someone from the band everything is from other bands or fans. Its amazing how good it is. They should make a movie about the MN scene.
- DirectorJonathan W.C. MillsStarsRikk AgnewTony AlvaJello BiafraA Documentary about the rise of west coast punk rock in the 1970s featuring concert clips from Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Circle Jerks and more.Good Stuff came out of that part of the US. TSOL, Vandals, Black Flag etc. Ranked lower as its TSOL and the Vandals. Black Flag was covered better in the other documentary, Which other? Any other.
- DirectorAllan ArkushJoe DanteStarsP.J. SolesVincent Van PattenClint HowardRamones fanatic and delinquent Riff Randell battles it out with the strict new principal of Vince Lombardi High School, Miss Togar, with help from the Ramones.I was never a fan of this movie. Feel free to hate me, I know many people do like it. It just seemed like the Ramones were in a Corman cheap movie. It was like they were selling out to the biggest scammer in movies. Scam the audience for the dollars capitalist movie making mogul. I like Corman more now but damn guys. Punk remember, or was it all some inside joke?
- DirectorColin BruntonPatrick LeeStarsTeenage HeadThe ViletonesThe UglyGrab some safety pins, practice your sneer and get ready to revisit Toronto's thriving punk scene. THE LAST POGO documents the raucous 1978 punk concert held in Toronto's legendary Horseshoe Tavern-a night of unhinged music and unbridled mayhem. On December 1, 1978, legendary Toronto concert promoters Gary Topp and Gary Cormier-better known as The Garys-presented The Last Pogo, a rollicking, riotous concert at the venerable Horseshoe Tavern. On the bill were seminal bands from Toronto's punk rock scene: The Scenics, The Cardboard Brains, The Secrets, The Mods, The Ugly, The Viletones and Teenage Head. During the concert, the frenetic energy of 800+ thrashing fans in the club boiled over and a near-riot ensued. Filmmaker Colin Brunton was there with a camera crew to capture it all, from the irreverent punk musicians and the slam-dancing audience to the police who tried to stop the show and the firefighters called in to escort people from the premises.Focuses on Canadian Punk of all things but good stuff.
- DirectorTim TangherliniStephen J. EpsteinA candid look at the burgeoning punk rock scene in South Korea, focusing on the club and the bands that started the movement.One of the dudes focused on is just plain weird. At times you wonder what the heck are you watching. Yes the guy likes Motorhead that is interesting; I guess. Reminded me of the documentary that followed the Mentors guy around for awhile.
- DirectorJack HazanDavid MingayStarsRay GangeJoe StrummerMick JonesA young British punk and roadie for The Clash navigates life in socially torn 1970s England.The Clash were not fans of this film from what I understand. It is what it is. You have to love the music. its difficult to follow a bit unprofessional and well don't waste your time watch one of the others on the Clash. I mean unless you don't want to get depressed.
- DirectorDeedle LacourMatt RiggleStarsBill StevensonMilo AukermanKarl AlvarezLong before punk inflicted its puncture wound on the mainstream, the Descendents were in a van brewing a potent concoction of pop, angst, love and coffee.The story of how the their Milo logo was created is priceless. It really all depends how big of a fan you are of the Descendants. Most band specific documentaries on this list are like that. They were ahead of the time with pop punk, but really is that something to be proud off.
- DirectorAlan ClarkeStarsTim RothTerry RichardsBill StewartAfter being sent to a detention center, a teenage skinhead clashes with the social workers, who want to conform him to the status quo.Nazi Punks F Off Tim Roth though.
- 200244mNot Rated7.0 (21)ShortDirectorJoe CarrollBen HoltzmanA strong time capsule about Long Island as a cornerstone and building block of DIY punk.We need a current version of the documentary but not about the New York scene.
- DirectorBill PerrineStarsGeorge AnthonyMilo AukermanBrendan Canty'It's Gonna Blow!!! - San Diego's Music Underground 1986-1996' chronicles a period when San Diego was touted as 'the next Seattle'. A motley community of musicians with a do it yourself ethos and an aversion to mainstream culture developed their idiosyncratic sounds in the isolation of San Diego but soon found themselves at the center of bidding wars and expense account lunches. What happened when the outcasts from the sticks became the next big thing?More than just the home of the Chargers and a zoo. They had their own scene also. San Diego spanned some great music if you are from that area and that time frame you know. If your not maybe you know who Rocket from the Crypt or any of the bands from the Casbar. (Their version of CGBG) This documentary focuses on the later punk explosion which makes it a little different than the other regional documentaries. San Diego hit a bit later. They mention the early eighties was just to violent for them. This is edited a bit too choppy. One sentence per talking head.
- 20071h 44mUnrated9.2 (16)VideoDirectorJeff PorembaStarsSteve AlbiniJon BabbinStefan BentelerWhat Poor Gods We Do Make: The Story and Music Behind Naked Raygun," the 2-disc DVD/CD focuses on the band's history and the development of their music from "Basement Screams" to "RaygunÉ Naked Raygun" through interviews with the band and many interviews, including Steve Albini, The Lawrence Arms, 88 Fingers Louie, Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers, The Effigies and many more. The film aspect also focuses on the history and influence of Chicago's independent and punk scene, even though it was often, and still, overlooked by punk historians and more recently, documentary filmmakers. The CD portion of the release will feature live highlights from their shows since Naked Raygun's reunion at Riot Fest 2006, and will include all of the songs most identified with Naked Raygun.Its awesome they made a documentary on these guys. They are not as well known as they should be. I know for a fact the lead singer was delivering water bottles not to long ago, which is sad. My friend told me that a bottle was delivered to a friends business. That is not really a fact I guess. I spaced out a bit watching this one. So it might be better I need to go back and watch again.
- DirectorKankurô KudôStarsAoi MiyazakiYûichi KimuraRyô KatsujiA record company office worker named Kanna Kurita discovers a punk rock band called Shonen Meriken Sakku / Brass Knuckle Boys through the internet and subsequently decides to represent them on behalf of her company. What Kanna did not know was that the Brass Knuckle Boys consists of all middle aged men.
- DirectorDavid MarkeyStarsSonic YouthKim GordonLee RanaldoDavid Markey's documentary of life on the road with Sonic Youth and Nirvana during their tour of Europe in late 1991. Also featuring live performances by Dinosaur Jr, Babes In Toyland, The Ramones and Gumball.No that was earlier; I got in a fight with a kid about Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation. I recall it as being a silly reason to fight and both of us got hurt pretty bad. The point being, I guess, is Sonic Youth is not for everyone. I won the fight. Sonic Youth marched on to their success. Nirvana marched on to greater success. Here is this movie which seemed to forget what it was recording was timeless.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsGG AllinMerle AllinBrian Unk HunterDocumentary about notorious punk rock performer GG Allin.I don't think Allin had more to give to us before he died. He left nothing out of every show.
- DirectorAlexander OeyStarsSteve IgnorantEve LibertinePenny RimbaudThese guys had musical balls and they lived and live the life style. Green day is not fit to be considered in the same style of music. Well I liked early Green day. I meant Avril Lavigne not them. She is not really considered punk though. Damn it what is my point, Yea Crass is cool.
- DirectorDrew StoneStarsJonathan AnastasCurtis CasellaChris CorkumA documentary film that explores the early Boston Hardcore music scene from the years 1981 through 1984. Unlike earlier films that were centered on the members of the bands, this film delves into the social and communal aspects of that particular era. The community, culture, straight edge and DIY (do it yourself) ethic of the time are all explored in the film. Never before seen archival footage, photographs, interviews and dramatizations make up the body of the film.I was not a big fan of the bands out of Boston. If you are you might like this better. Really there ain't too much to be said about the home of Gang Green unless you are from this part of the country.
- DirectorDavid MarkeyStarsGreg HetsonLucky LehrerKeith MorrisFrom the beginning, LA punk band the Circle Jerks were rooted in controversy. Formed by ex members of Black Flag and Red Cross (now Redd Kross) in late 1979, Filmmaker David Markey (1991: The Year Punk Broke, The Slog Movie) mixes in-depth interviews, rare live footage and historical perspective to illustrate the story of one of the most influential bands in the American underground.I have spent a lifetime as a jerk. Was never a huge fan of these guys, I would pick up the records listen once and that was about it. I kept waiting for them to turn the corner. Years later they are legends but I still was never a huge fan. I like Morris from the Black Flags days better and I like Off!. So if you were a fan you might like this documentary better.
- DirectorRichard OretskyStarsBad BrainsH.R.Earl HudsonThis is a musical program/documentary about the Bad Brains who are a well known black punk hardcore band performing at CBGBs for 4 nights over Christmas in 1982 It was shot at a whim and kept in vault from 1982 till 2006.Great Band there is, I guess, no need to move the camera ever.
- DirectorJulien TempleStarsJoe StrummerSteve JonesMick JonesAs the front man of the Clash from 1977, Joe Strummer changed people's lives forever. Four years after his death, his influence reaches out around the world, more strongly now than ever before.Very hard to watch, he will be missed.
- DirectorLiz NordStarsUseless I.D.Chaos RabakVa'adat KishutMohawks, stage diving, fists flying. Homemade band t-shirts, circle pits, singalongs. These scenes are not unfamiliar; They have flooded pop culture imagery for over 25 years. The punk rock ethos gains new relevance in Israel, however, when band members' choices are often between picking up a guitar or picking up a gun. Like the country itself, the punk rock music scene in Israel is young, small, and passionate. The bands have differing political views, but they share a struggle for freedom in a country where they feel restricted by religious laws, mandatory military service and an explosive political situation. Looking at the present situation in Israel through the eyes of punk rockers is not a common vantage point, but the voices of these young people will illuminate the thoughts of a generation of disillusioned Israelis who yearn for an end to the bleak politics of war, so that they might live out their dreams.I am waiting for the documentary on punk in Madagascar featuring the Lemurs. Sorry for the flip remark, troubled areas are bad for kids. Strict areas are bad for kids. Bad situations lead to kids rebelling. Rebelling leads to Punk music. Punk music leads to a documentary. So if things get bad in Madagascar just wait man you will learn the same lesson and get to hear some more punk. Between the scenes of punk bands you will have your angry teens (usually looking too old) mentioning they like Motorhead.
- DirectorLukas MoodyssonStarsMira BarkhammarMira GrosinLiv LeMoyneThree girls in 1980s Stockholm decide to form a punk band -- despite not having any instruments and being told by everyone that punk is dead.Swedish punk rock girls, I think the people who made this movie thought they were making a deeper point than they do. Hopefully it will be Hollywood rebooted with James Bond.
- DirectorDavid FincherStarsBrad PittEdward NortonMeat LoafAn insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that evolves into much more.Some argue that there is no truer punk movie out there, well the ending seemed to me not so much. Since this is a list of Punk Films its rated lower while being a good movie. Putting this along side of "In Heaven There is No Beer" seems like a crime but it kind of fits in my twisted list. Its not a punk movie. Its a movie in which the main character has some punk tendencies. You might even say its a metaphor or its about the whole movement. The ending screws with that. If it was a true punk movie it would have stared only Norton.
- DirectorDavid PalamaroStarsBang Sugar BangCarla BetzChris BlackThe story of the Los Angeles 'Kiss or Kill' music scene (2002-2007). Fed up with the wretched Sunset Strip pay-for-play policies, 'too cool for school' trendiness of the Silverlake scene and apathetic crowds, the bands that made up Kiss or Kill forged their own scene based on great music, cheap booze, low cover, and a mid-western sense of community and friendship. At it's peak, Kiss or Kill had more than 60 bands in its roster and over 1,000 local L.A. fans. But as Kiss or Kill grew and became more popular, it fell victim to the same 'venue-isms' of other L.A. clubs and eventually became the very thing it was fighting against.Neither is there in hell. I had not heard of one of these bands before I watched the documentary. Seems to be more of California thing. A club surrounded scene like CBGB. Anyway we get more than a bit boring here and there. Really do we need to hear one frequent going fan repeat almost exactly what the other was saying. Edit guys Edit
- DirectorKenneth van SchootenStarsHannah AlvezWattie BuchanJohn BurnsThe 'King of Punk' documentary includes interviews with members of legendary Punk bands like the Ramones, Adicts, Exploited, Avengers, Dead Boys, UK Subs, Zeros, Wayne County & the Electric Chairs and many other artists who were involved in the Punk scene between 1976 and 1982. It also profiles OBGYN, an all-girl punk band based in Fayetteville, N.C., and Patrick Clement, owner of FNS Records. The film's title, which is based on one of OBGYN's song titles, doesn't refer to any one person. That's the whole idea of punk, is that there's no idolizing. Anybody can do it. . . everybody is the King of Punk.Really really good bands like the Adicts! and then really really really bad bands who were flash in pans at the time. Too much time on the fluff. Maybe the people who made this didn't know what good music was or they just wanted to show as many bands as possible.
- DirectorNatasha FissiakStarsMariya AlyokhinaDiana ArbeninaArtour AristakisianPussy Riot - The Movement briefly reviews the events that led to the harsh two-year sentences of Pussy Riot members for singing a punk rock song in Moscow's most important cathedral. Their message about the growing repression in Russia by Putin's regime caught the world's attention like no other dissidents before them and turned the avant garde feminist collective into a worldwide symbol of freedom. The film goes beyond the trial, to the women's prison experiences. The film crew is embedded in a violent demonstration that produces stunning footage. Included are exclusive interviews with Katia Samutsevich, the Pussy Riot member who was released; families of the women; famed Russian journalist, Masha Gessen; artists; and dissidents. Also included is a trip to the penal colony where Nadia Tolokonnikova was being held. Pussy Riot - The Movement explores the questions: Where are the freedoms guaranteed in the Russian Constitution? Is Putin writing his own "amendments" to the Constitution? Why doesn't the Constitution work?" Has Pussy Riot had a lasting impact on the fight for freedom in Russia? Can they start a movement?Brave young Russian Punk women. Prayer is better.
- DirectorKatrin GebbeStarsJulius FeldmeierSascha Alexander GersakAnnika KuhlInspired by horrifying true events, Nothing Bad Can Happen follows Tore, a young lost soul involved with an underground Christian punk movement who falls in with a dysfunctional family who test his seemingly unwavering faith.Yes it can this movie is not for the faint of heart.
- DirectorBrian GibsonStarsPhil DanielsHazel O'ConnorJon FinchA rock singer is determined to rise to the top of the profession, letting nothing stand in the way of that goal.A bit dated and a bit too arty. This gem got dated the day after they filmed it.
- DirectorDanny BoyleStarsEwan McGregorEwen BremnerJonny Lee MillerRenton, deeply immersed in the Edinburgh drug scene, tries to clean up and get out despite the allure of drugs and the influence of friends.Well I'm a wild one oh yeah I am a wild one. I don't give a damn about Junkies. That being said Drugstore cowboy was way more punk. Panic in needle Park was more punk. Sid and Nancy were the king and queen of Junkies of course and their movie reflected it in the vomit. Rollins said it best. "Get away from me you junkie"
- DirectorCindy MarabitoA punk band from Texas whose music and persona was extreme and political and the supporters who've followed and loved them for over 35 years.Yes there have been a few from that state. Worth checking out; they were really not my thing. If they were yours more power to ya.
- DirectorAlla OsipovaStarsAnni-Kristiina JuusoViktor BychkovVille HaapasaloClockwork Orange County is better covers this and more.
- DirectorSini AndersonStarsKathleen HannaCarrie BrownsteinKim GordonA look at the life of activist, musician, and cultural icon Kathleen Hanna, who formed the punk band Bikini Kill and pioneered the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s.Sorry she got sick and it took so long to find out what was wrong with her. I think its horrible, but I thought I was going to watch a documentary about a riot girrrl.
- DirectorAlex ProyasStarsKick GurryMaya StangePia MirandaThe story of a young garage band in Sydney, Australia trying to make it big.Kangaroo Punk.
- DirectorKristofer SteenStarsJon BrännströmDennis LyxzénRefusedI loved the Refused and they came back from the dead. So the title is a lie. Points off for that one. Being a really short video another point off. Sound and stuff is all good. Filming angles is a bit odd. Really just a long form Music Video. There are people out there who swear by Swedish music. If its metal or through back stoner rock some people cannot get enough of the Swedish scene. I loved the Refused like I said but Sweden just doesn't do it for me.
- DirectorW.T. MorganStarsJohn DoeExene CervenkaBilly ZoomThis film is a documentary about the personalities in, and the music of, the early 1980's Los Angeles punk band X. There are studio and live performances by the band and interviews with band members; all nicely interspersed with footage of area DJs, record stores, old TV shows and commercials.I liked these two + Zoom better when the stopped being punk and started being arty. Some of their later stuff is just incredible. Interview clips wrap songs in music video format, just jamming, or recorded live. Interview bits sometimes are played over the jamming stuff which is a shame. Like the band there is an arty feel to this documentary sometimes its good other times its not so good. I like this documentary when its raw and not arty.
- DirectorMark L. LesterStarsPerry KingMerrie Lynn RossTimothy Van PattenA new teacher at a troubled inner-city high school soon ends up clashing with a delinquent punk posse who run the institute with an iron fist.These kids, one of them from the White Shadow, act more sociopath serial killers then Punk rockers. The star of this movie went on to the television lame Riptide. The lead bad kid went on to direct episodes of the great Sopranos. So goes to show you who will inherit the earth, if the want it. Saw this opus at theater when it came out. if you had asked me what the movie was about the week after I saw I would not have remembered. Did actually commit the movie to memory a few years ago. It does not stay in memory so much.
- DirectorJukka KärkkäinenJ-P PassiStarsPertti KurikkaKari AaltoSami HelleA Finnish punk-rock band formed by four mentally disabled guys.Finnish punk. Its not a "Syndrome". The Tea party is a "Syndrome" Trump is a "Syndrome"
- DirectorShari Springer BermanRobert PulciniStarsEthan HawkeAsa ButterfieldHailee SteinfeldSet in the 1980s, a teenager from Vermont moves to New York City to live with his father in East Village.REM is played during a punk stage diving montage. At least its early REM but REM. Anyway they mention the Misfits and kids are trying to be straight edge. The movie overall thinks it knows what was happening but it wasn't like that for everyone. I didn't know any Krishna Punkers. Is this movie trying to show the counter culture or gawk at it. The botanist's girlfriend is from England of course. Just how many English people are there in America?
- DirectorMatthew BeauchesneStarsChris CoteBrandon ParkhurstMicah MattsonIn the summer of 2002, blink-182 invited the little-known band Kut U Up to accompany them on The Pop Disaster Tour. Kut U Up is not known primarily for their music. They are however, worshipped for their innate ability to cause havoc, concern authorities, and leave destruction and laughter in their wake. Along with their instruments and several gallons of booze, Kut U Up packed a few cameras in their new van which resulted in: RIDING IN VANS WITH BOYS: THE DOCUMENTARY. RIDING IN VANS WITH BOYS is unfettered, s*#$-faced, start-to-finish hilarity mixed with real-life drama. This film is an uncensored look at four friends as they live their rock star dreams and trash everything in their path. Unbreakable bonds of friendship are formed and lifetimes of emotions are lived in two months. This documentary is a must-see for anyone who has ever been to a rock show and wondered, "what really goes on backstage?" RIDING IN VANS WITH BOYS also features great music -- live performances from: blink-182, Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, and Kut U Up! From the people that brought you blink-182's "The Urethra Chronicles 2 Harder, Faster. Faster, Harder.," RIDING IN VANS WITH BOYS is a film that will make you laugh, cry, vomit, go to an AA meeting, swear off drugs and pray that the four members of Kut U Up never end up at your houseBetter than you would think it was.
- DirectorAndrea Blaugrund NevinsStarsTony AdolescentArt AlexakisTony CadenaWhat happens when a generation's ultimate anti-authoritarians -- punk rockers-- become society's ultimate authorities -- dads? With a large chorus of Punk Rock's leading men - Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, Rise Against's Tim McIlrath - The Other F Word follow, Jim Lindberg, 20-year veteran of skate punk band Pennywise, on his hysterical and moving journey from belting his band's anthem, 'Fuck Authority', to embracing his ultimately pivotal authoritarian role in mid-life, fatherhood.Many musicians are fathers; you can't stretch this for as long as this documentary tries to. Heavy metal bite the heads of things are fathers also. It happens the duality of man thing. Carl Jung wrote about it. I am not sure who would enjoy this movie. People who think Punk rockers are inhuman aliens? People who are not parents and being a parent is an alien thing? Really this is not interesting to anyone.
- DirectorDanny GarciaStarsViv AlbertineJesús AriasTerry ChimesThe definitive biography of the group's fall from grace after they made it to SHEA Stadium USA and were on their way being a smashing success in the world! This story is one of the most shocking of the music industry of the 1980s. The story has never been told before: The Collapse of The Clash unravels as the ultimate rock 'n' roll tragedy.Sad To Much Fall Too Little Rise To make this in 2012 is offensive, its been to many years. Whatever happened in the end happened. They almost got back together but Joe died. If I ever meet these people who made this documentary in an alley; I will hit them. Repeatedly with a garbage can lid.
- DirectorJoe ReeseStarsJello BiafraKlaus FlourideJedAn overview of the early years--late 1970s, early 1980s--of San Francisco punk band Dead Kennedys, with clips from some of their live concerts and footage of landmark San Francisco locations of the punk music scene.Nine songs their original line up. Would be ranked higher except its only nine songs. 9.
- DirectorBen RedingDominik RedingStarsSascha BackhausSimon GoertsSandra BorgmannThe film (the third of the Reding brothers) is about a German teenager following his identity crisis. The boy, transformed by the usual down-trodden socio-economic conditions of contemporary Europe, becomes a skin head, following the first one's lead. On the other side he befriends with a leftist (a punk) who is gay. This causes more and more conflicts which eventually leads to an atrocious end for the punk. The film offers scenes of homophobic violence by skinheads, and the whole relationship between the skinhead and gay movements (in Germany gay skinheads represent a substantial subculture).
- DirectorMichael BishopScott JacobyStarsK.K. BarrettJello BiafraRodney Bingenheimer20 Years in one hour my ass. Everybody who is in this is in better documentaries.
- DirectorAlex CoxStarsEd HarrisRichard MasurRene AuberjonoisAn unconventional retelling of the life of William Walker, a 19th century American mercenary leader who became the president of Nicaragua.Heavy handed and silly at the end; it makes it point then won't stop making it over and over again. At the end it goes even further to make it so clear that it just becomes a waste. Yeah okay so this whole time you meant that oh okay Alex.
- DirectorJeff AlulisRyan HarlinStarsAaron AbeytaFat MikeNOFXPunk legends NOFX travel all over South America as they attempt to make up several canceled shows from a previous world tour. Their success at keeping their word to their fans depends on their success at navigating drunken arguments, shady promoters, riot police, and a tsunami.Devoted fans only as a wise beyond her years punker told me there are just too many bands out there to listen to and who has time for NOFX. Well years later there aren't and they are still around. They are just not interesting 13 albums the few I purchased I don't think I listened to more than once. So maybe you have time for them I don't. Their stuff just ain't original or just not that good.
- DirectorAllan MoyleStarsChristian SlaterSamantha MathisAnthony Luke LuceroMark runs a pirate radio station and causes an uproar when he speaks his mind and enthralls fellow teens.Heathers is better of the two; this boils down to rambling Slater.