Movies Like The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)

The Decline of Western Civilization is a 1981 documentary, music film from Penelope Spheeris with a MovieMagicScore of 7.1/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years and The Decline of Western Civilization Part III.

Documentary Music

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

1988

An exploration of the heavy metal scene in Los Angeles, with particular emphasis on glam metal. It features concert footage and interviews of legendary heavy metal and hard rock bands and artists such as Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Megadeth, Motörhead, Ozzy Osbourne and W.A.S.P..

6.8

MagicScore

The Decline of Western Civilization Part III

1998

A musical study of Los Angeles in the late 90s, where homeless teens roam the streets and profess to live a punk lifestyle of music, drugs, and flouting authority.

6.9

MagicScore

American Hardcore

2006

Inspired by Steven Blush's book "American Hardcore: A tribal history" Paul Rachman's feature documentary debut is a chronicle of the underground hardcore punk years from 1979 to 1986. Interviews and rare live footage from artists such as Black Flag, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, SS Decontrol and the Dead Kennedys.

6.8

MagicScore

Punk's Not Dead

2007

On the edge of the 30th anniversary of punk rock, Punk's Not Dead takes you into the sweaty underground clubs, backyard parties, recording studios, shopping malls and stadiums where punk rock music and culture continue to thrive.

6.1

MagicScore

The Punk Singer

2013

A 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.

7.2

MagicScore

Persepolis

2007

In 1970s Iran, Marjane 'Marji' Satrapi watches events through her young eyes and her idealistic family of a long dream being fulfilled of the hated Shah's defeat in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. However as Marji grows up, she witnesses first hand how the new Iran, now ruled by Islamic fundamentalists, has become a repressive tyranny on its own.

7.9

MagicScore

1991: The Year Punk Broke

1992

David 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.

6.8

MagicScore

A Band Called Death

2013

Before Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols or even the Ramones, there was Death. Formed in the early '70s by three teenage brothers from Detroit, Death is credited as being the first black punk band, and the Hackney brothers, David, Bobby, and Dannis, are now considered pioneers in their field. But it wasn’t until recently — when a dusty 1974 demo tape made its way out of Bobby’s attic nearly 30 years after Death’s heyday — that anyone outside a small group of punk enthusiasts had even heard of them.

7.2

MagicScore

Punk: Attitude

2005

From London's 1970 mod scene to Sonic Youth, punk music has always been about attitude and anarchy. This comprehensive rockumentary traces the roots of punk, from The Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls to the Sex Pistols and The Clash.

7.0

MagicScore

#10

Instrument

1999

The band Fugazi is documented over a period of more than ten years (1987-1998) through performance footage and interviews with the band and their fans. Director Jem Cohen's relationship with band member Ian MacKaye extends back to the 1970s when the two met in high school in Washington, D.C.. The film takes its title from the Fugazi song of the same name, from their 1993 album, In on the Kill Taker. Editing of the film was done by both Cohen and the members of the band over the course of five years. It was shot from 1987 through 1998 on super 8, 16mm and video and is composed mainly of footage of concerts, interviews with the band members, practices, tours and time spent in the studio recording their 1995 album, Red Medicine. The film also includes portraits of fans as well as interviews with them at various Fugazi shows around the United States throughout the years.

6.9

MagicScore

#11

The Other F Word

2011

What 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 follows 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.

6.4

MagicScore

#12

Point Break

1991

In Los Angeles, a gang of bank robbers who call themselves The Ex-Presidents commit their crimes while wearing masks of Reagan, Carter, Nixon and Johnson. Believing that the members of the gang could be surfers, the F.B.I. sends young agent Johnny Utah to the beach undercover to mix with the surfers and gather information.

7.2

MagicScore

#13

Nana

2005

Two girls named Nana meet on a train to Tokyo. Nana K. aims to reunite with her boyfriend and Nana O. hopes to make it big in the music business. Despite their differences, the pair hit it off and become roommates.

6.7

MagicScore

#14

Hard Core Logo

1996

Bruce Macdonald follows punk bank Hard Core Logo on a harrowing last-gasp reunion tour throughout Western Canada. As magnetic lead-singer Joe Dick holds the whole magilla together through sheer force of will, all the tensions and pitfalls of life on the road come bubbling to the surface.

6.5

MagicScore

#15

Times Square

1980

When a 13-year-old girl befriends a defiant antisocial child of the streets, the mismatched runaways set off to the Big Apple to find their own adventure.

6.4

MagicScore

#16

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains

1982

Corrine Burns retreats far into plans for her band, The Fabulous Stains, after her mother's death.

6.2

MagicScore

#17

Sid and Nancy

1986

January 1978. After their success in England, the punk rock band Sex Pistols venture out on their tour of the southern United States. Temperamental bassist Sid Vicious is forced by his band mates to travel without his troubled girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, who will meet him in New York. When the band breaks up and Sid begins his solo career in a hostile city, the turbulent couple definitely falls into the depths of drug addiction.

6.7

MagicScore

#18

Green Room

2016

A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing an act of violence at a skinhead bar.

6.7

MagicScore

#19

The Driller Killer

1979

An artist slowly goes insane while struggling to pay his bills, work on his paintings, and care for his two female roommates, which leads him taking to the streets of New York after dark and randomly killing derelicts with a power drill.

5.2

MagicScore

#20

Bullet Ballet

1998

After his girlfriend commits suicide, a man becomes embroiled in gang warfare attempting to obtain a gun in hopes to kill himself.

6.9

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like The Decline of Western Civilization?

The top films similar to The Decline of Western Civilization by MovieMagicScore are The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (6.8), The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (6.9), American Hardcore (6.8). Each shares documentary/music themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is The Decline of Western Civilization worth watching?

The Decline of Western Civilization holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.1/10 from 108 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is The Decline of Western Civilization?

The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) is a documentary, music film directed by Penelope Spheeris, starring Eugene Tatu, Alice Bag, Claude Bessy.

Where can I find more recommendations like The Decline of Western Civilization?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more documentary recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years Movies like The Decline of Western Civilization Part III Movies like American Hardcore Movies like Punk's Not Dead Movies like The Punk Singer Movies like Persepolis

About movies like The Decline of Western Civilization

This ranked list pairs The Decline of Western Civilization (1981), a documentary and music film from Penelope Spheeris, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Eugene Tatu take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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