The Decline of Western Civilization

Jul 1, 1981

1h 40m

★ 7.1

See it in a theater.... where you can't get hurt.

Overview

The Los Angeles punk music scene circa 1980 is the focus of this film. With Alice Bag Band, Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Fear, Germs, and X.

Genres

Documentary

Music

Production Companies

Spheeris Films Inc.

The Decline of Western Civilization Trailers

Cast

Self

Eugene Tatu

Self

Alice Bag

Self

Claude Bessy

Self

Dinah Cancer

Self

Exene Cervenka

Self

Lorna Doom

Self

Darby Crash

Self

Don Bolles

Self

Philo Cramer

Self

John Doe

Self

Lee Ving

Self

Greg Ginn

At the peak of her immense popularity in the 1920s, evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was drawing larger crowds to her revivals than those of P.T. Barnum or Harry Houdini. This chapter of "American Experience" paints a vivid portrait of the controversial and charismatic religious figure. Credited with mainstreaming religion in American culture, Sister Aimee created one of the country's first Christian radio stations, among other accomplishments.

9.0

Sub Pop Video Network Program 1

Jan 1, 1991

A compilation of all the Sub Pop videos from the grunge era. Tracks include Nirvana's 'In Bloom' and Mark Lanegan's 'Ugly Sunday'.

0.0

The Sunrise Storyteller

Apr 1, 2017

Kasha Sequoia Slavner, aka The Sunrise Storyteller, is an 18-year old filmmaker, photographer, entrepreneur, young global leader and peace advocate. As a concerned high school student, disillusioned and outraged by the negativity and powerlessness she felt as a consumer of mainstream media, Kasha was compelled to find an alternative narrative. On her 16th birthday on an ambitious mission to travel the world for six months with her mom, camera in hand and no clear road map, she finds herself intersecting with the lives of people determined to rise above adversity.

0.0

Wire on the Box: 1979

Feb 1, 1979

The first-ever official live document from brilliant 70s art-punks Wire is finally released on this CD/DVD set, which captures their 1979 performance on then-West Germany's "Rockpalast" show.

8.5

Una festa per la città - Venezia 1973

Jun 14, 2023

No overview available.

6.3

Persecution Blues: the Battle for the Tote!

Jul 28, 2011

In 2010, the iconic Tote Hotel – last bastion of Melbourne’s vibrant music counterculture – was forced to close by unfair laws. Filmed over 7 years, “Persecution Blues” depicts the struggle of more than 20,000 fans – and the bands who inspire them – to preserve their history and protect their future, and puts the audience on the front line of an epic-scale culture war.

0.0

The Art of Destruction

Mar 6, 2025

The unique music documentary about the legendary thrash metal band Destruction.

7.4

This Is Spinal Tap

Mar 2, 1984

"This Is Spinal Tap" shines a light on the self-contained universe of a metal band struggling to get back on the charts, including everything from its complicated history of ups and downs, gold albums, name changes and undersold concert dates, along with the full host of requisite groupies, promoters, hangers-on and historians, sessions, release events and those special behind-the-scenes moments that keep it all real.

No Image Available

9.0

The Story of Mothers & Daughters

Jan 1, 1997

This poignant documentary from directors Judith Leonard, Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg explores the rich complexity of mother-daughter relationships as told by women themselves in scores of candid interviews. Honoring the sometimes close, sometimes fractious, but always vital link moms share with their girls, this film celebrates how these relationships evolve in stages from birth through adulthood to the end of life.

0.0

Velorama

Jul 6, 2014

Documentary looking at a century of cycling. Commissioned to mark the arrival of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire, the film makes full use of stunning British Film Institute footage to transport the audience on a journey from the invention of the modern bike, through the rise of recreational cycling, to gruelling competitive races. Award-winning director Daisy Asquith artfully combines the richly-diverse archive with a hypnotic soundtrack from cult composer Bill Nelson in a joyful, absorbing watch for both cycling and archive fans.

0.0

Ritratti: Luigi Meneghello

Sep 1, 2002

Marco Paolini interviews Luigi Meneghello about growing up under fascism, his involvement with the Italian resistance movement, his later self-exile, acclaimed literary work and its relationship with dialect.

6.6

Bob Dylan: Shadow Kingdom

Jul 18, 2021

Witness Bob Dylan in an intimate setting as he performs songs from his extensive body of work.

6.0

The Order of Myths

Jul 25, 2008

In 2007 Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras is celebrated... and complicated. Following a cast of characters, parades, and parties across an enduring color line, we see that beneath the surface of pageantry lies something else altogether.

5.8

Eden

Nov 19, 2014

Paul, a teenager in the underground scene of early-nineties Paris, forms a DJ collective with his friends and together they plunge into the nightlife of sex, drugs, and endless music.

7.7

Vegan: Everyday Stories

Jun 4, 2016

A feature-length documentary that explores the lives of four remarkably different people who share a common thread - they're all vegan. The movie traces the personal journeys of an ultramarathon runner who has overcome addiction to compete in one hundred mile races, a cattle rancher's wife who creates the first cattle ranch turned farmed animal sanctuary in Texas, a food truck owner cooking up knee-buckling plant-based foods, and an 8-year-old girl who convinces her family of six to go vegan.

8.0

Diana: The Woman Inside

Aug 14, 2017

Diana The Woman Inside highlights Diana as a woman and mother, rather than just a tragic icon.

6.7

Peter & the Wolf

Sep 23, 2006

Peter is a slight lad, solitary, locked out of the woods by his protective grandfather, his only friend a duck. In town, he's bullied. When a wolf menaces the duck - as well as grandfather's fat cat and an ill-flying bird that Peter has befriended - Peter bravely tries to tree the wolf. Grandfather, the townspeople, and the hunters who have antagonized Peter figure in the dénouement.

No Image Available

0.0

Into Madness

Jul 6, 1989

Initially airing on HBO's "America Undercover" series, this riveting documentary focuses on three families shattered by the psychiatric disorder of schizophrenia. Subjects "Bob," "Missy" and "Steven" have lived for over a decade with schizophrenia. The film documents the difficult day-to-day existence of both those afflicted with this order and the families searching for answers to their loved ones' suffering. This film also shows the varied and variably successful treatment methods for each of the subjects—one is placed in a group home, one is placed in an institution, and one is cared for at home. The documentary was critically acclaimed for its compassionate treatment of mental illness.

4.0

Stormé: Lady of the Jewel Box

May 7, 1991

“It ain’t easy…being green” is the favorite expression of Stormé DeLarverie, a woman whose life flouted prescriptions of gender and race. During the 1950s and '60s she toured the black theater circuit as a mistress of ceremonies and the sole male impersonator of the legendary Jewel Box Revue, America’s first integrated female impersonation show and forerunner of La Cage aux Folles.

8.0

Don't Break Down: A Film About Jawbreaker

Aug 11, 2017

In 2007, 11 years after one of the most influential American punk bands, Jawbreaker, called it quits, the three members, Blake Schwarzenbach, Chris Bauermeister, and Adam Pfahler reconnect in a San Francisco recording studio to listen back to their albums, reminisce and even perform together one last time. Follow the band as they retell their "rags to riches to rags" story writhe with inner band turmoil, health issues, and the aftermath of signing to a major label. Featuring interviews with Billy Joe Armstrong, Steve Albini, Jessica Hopper, Graham Elliot, Chris Shifflet, Josh Caterer and more.