Punk Rock Movies. Oi! Oi! Oi!
Best Punk Movies
If you're looking for a list of great Punk Rock Films, you're in the right place.
Here are reviews of the best Punk Rock Movies. What you won't find here are Punk documentaries - that would be a much longer list for sure.
Why no documentaries?
Well, the main reason is because I've never watched one from beginning to end. These productions often feature interviews with middle aged relics from the 70s and 80s Punk scenes - the names are familiar but they're just not the same. They've lost their Punk Rock attitudes. That's not how I want to remember these people.
Even worse is the interviews of people on the fringe of the Punk Rock culture - managers... record producers... concert promoters... very unPunk-like!
The second reason that I haven't reviewed an documentaries is just the nature of a documentary. Documentaries are historical reviews. Doing a review of someone else's review just isn't something I wanted to do at this time.
Watch it "You Poser!"
SLC Punk
Directed by:
James Merendino
Starring:
Matthew Lillard
Michael A. Goorjian
Annabeth Gish
Jennifer Lien
Devon Sawa
Til Schweiger
James Duval
Summer Phoenix
SLC Punk - a "coming of age" Punk Rock film.
Steveo and Heroine Bob are the first Punk Rockers in very conservative SLC (Salt Lake City) in the 80s. As they age, they begin to realize that they're angry but, they're not really sure why. The Anarchy that they've been singing about isn't really going to come. Can they become normal and still stay Punk?
This film will be enjoyed by both Punk Rockers and non-enthusiats.
5 Anarchies out of 5 - Great Punk Rock Movie
Rock 'N' Roll High School
Directed by:
Allan Arkush
Starring:
P. J. Soles
Vincent Van Patten
Clint Howard
Dey Young
The Ramones come to town for a concert and then help the students take over their local high school.
If you like the Ramones, you'll like this movie... a lot! If you like "B" movies, you'll like this movie. If you like P. J. Soles, you'll like this movie. If you don't like any of these, then this is not the movie for you (but, then you probably would've hit your back-arrow key by now).
4 Anarchies out of 5 - Good Punk Rock Movie
Valley Girl
Directed by:
Martha Coolidge
Starring:
Nicolas Cage
Deborah Foreman
Elizabeth Daily
Michael Bowen
Cameron Dye
A pretty girl from the Valley meets a Punk Rocker from the wrong side of the tracks - of course they fall in love. What's the problem? Her friends, not to mention her ex-boyfriend, don't approve.
This truly is one of the movies that define the 80s. Nicolas Cage's first starring role.
4 Anarchies out of 5 - Good Punk Rock Movie
This Is England
Directed by:
Shane Meadows
Starring:
Thomas Turgoose
Jo Hartley
Andrew Shim
Vicky McClure
Joseph Gilgun
Rosamund Hanson
An socially awkward 12 year old boy is befriended by a group of Punks. As often happens in subcultures, these new friends quickly become closer than family.
Through powerful words about social change, a concept that Punk Rock has always embraced, these Punks becomes involved with a group of Skinheads. For the benefit of the uninitiated, Punks and Skinheads are not the same thing and they don't seek the same types of social change. Fortunately, most of the Punks realize that they have little more than shaved heads and Doc Martens in common with the Skinheads.
4 Anarchies out of 5 - Good Punk Rock Movie
Sid & Nancy
Directed by:
Alex Cox
Starring:
Gary Oldman
Chloe Webb
I didn't like Sid & Nancy. This movie is supposed to be a biographical account of the lives and relationship between Sex Pistols bassist - Sid Vicious and his girlfriend - Nancy Spungen.
Is it historically accurate? I don't know, nor do I care. Watching Sid self-implode might be somewhat interesting but why would anyone be interested in Nancy Whatshername? Would anyone even know that there was a Nancy where it not for this film?
I've heard that John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten - lead vocalist of the Sex pistols and later PIL, denounced this film. I don't think that Sid would've endorsed it, either.
1 Anarchy out of 5 - Bad Punk Rock Movie
The Filth and the Fury
A Sex Pistols Film
Yes, I said that I wasn't reviewing any documentaries - but, this is the Sex Pistols!
The Filth and the Fury - A Sex Pistols Film is just a little peek back at 1976. This documentary is presented from a clearly pro-Johnny Rotten / anti-Glen Matlock viewpoint.
This isn't something that you'll want to watch over-and-over, but it's much better than Sid and Nancy.
3 Anarchies out of 5 - OK Punk Rock Movie
Punk and Disorderly
THE Punk Event of the Year
Directed by:
MAD Tourbooking
Starring:
the Buzzcocks
Sham69
the Business
999
Chemical Chaos
many, many more...
Punk and Disorderly - THE Punk Concert of the Year
The Punk and Disorderly is the seminal Punk Rock concert of the year - and they film it! There's a new DVD released every year. PUNK AND DISORDERLY, VOL. 1 (2008) is more than 5 hours long. With the average Punk Rock song lasting less than 2 minutes, that's more than 150 great songs.
5 Anarchies out of 5 - Great Punk Rock Movie
Some People Like Documentaries!
American Hardcore - The History of Punk Rock 1980 - 1986
Sex Pistols - The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Punk's Not Dead
You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977-84
Punk in London
End of the Century - The Story of the Ramones
CBGB - Punk From The Bowery
Punk: Early Years
Rage - 20 Years of Punk Rock, West Coast Style
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains
Directed by: Lou Adler
Starring:
Diane Lane
Barry Ford
Marin Kanter
Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains is about a fictitious all-girl punk band's rise to fame. Sex, drugs and violence are themes, but they're not as in-your-face as might be expected from a Punk Rock movie. Still, this is not a kids' movie.
*Note: There is a Punk band called the Stains; this is not their story. The girls in this movie are much prettier than the guys of the real band.
4 Anarchies out of 5 - Good Punk Rock Movie
