The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
90%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: 1 win
The Decline of Western Civilization takes a frank, often funny look at the punk culture of the late ’70s and early ’80s
The Decline of Western Civilization is a wild ride through the punk rock scene in Los Angeles during the early 80s. The documentary is as stripped-down and brutal as the music it showcases, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hilarious. From the amusing and pathetic musicians and fans to the harrowing and hilarious images captured by director Penelope Spheeris, this film is a must-see for anyone interested in the punk rock scene. Plus, with no narration or pious experts, it’s pure testimony that will leave you feeling strangely exhilarated. So turn up the volume and get ready for a wild ride!
Production Company(ies)
2.4.7. Films, France 3 Cinéma The Kennedy Marshall Company,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1983
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.37 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jun 30, 2015
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, punk culture, Los Angeles, music, X, Black Flag, Fear, Germs, Catholic Discipline, Alice Bag Band, Penelope Spheeris, directed by Penelope Spheeris, produced by Penelope Spheeris, written by Penelope Spheeris, reviewed by Nathan Rabin, reviewed by Michael Anthony, reviewed by Scott Cain, reviewed by Eleanor Ringel Cater, reviewed by Lynn Van Matre, reviewed by Joe Pollack, reviewed by Rick Chatenever, reviewed by Robert W Butler, reviewed by Cameron Cohick, reviewed by Terry Orme, reviewed by Stephen Hunter, reviewed by George Williams, genre, box office performance, budget, MPAA rating, Alice Bag, Claude Bessey, Don Bolles, Exene Cervenka, Philo Cramer, Darby Crash
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Claude Bessey – self
Don Bolles – self
Exene Cervenka – self
Philo Cramer – self
Darby Crash – self
Director(s)
Penelope Spheeris
Writer(s)
Penelope Spheeris
Producer(s)
Penelope Spheeris
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (40)
The film’s style is as brutal, stripped-down and purposefully devoid of frills as the music of its subjects.
May 8, 2021
Nathan Rabin
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Spheeris’s film does have Its funny moments.
March 23, 2021
Michael Anthony
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
The musicians and their fans are both amusing and pathetic.
March 23, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Scott Cain
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Penelope Spheeris’ aptly and ironically titled documentary… is a disturbing, often hilarious, strangely exhilarating look at the punk rock scene in Los Angeles as it was during the first six months of 1980.
March 23, 2021
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
Producer and director Penelope Spheeris… lets the bands and fans speak for themselves; and it is their message, rather than the music, that makes “Decline” so fascinating.
March 23, 2021
Lynn Van Matre
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
I enjoyed the movie, but then, was luckier than most I got to see it with the volume turned way down.
March 23, 2021
Joe Pollack
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
Spheeris’ treatment goes out of its way to present a broad look at the subject that avoids easy generalizations in either direction.
May 8, 2021
Rick Chatenever
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Miss Spheeris has captured some harrowing and hilarious images with her camera and she shows a natural film maker’s instinct for editing, particularly in the way she crosscuts interview footage for humorous effect.
March 24, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star
What emerges is remarkable – not only a gripping documentary, but one of the funniest movies of the year.
March 24, 2021
Cameron Cohick
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Decline of Western Civilization is a crisply-edited, well-crafted documentary film which explores something which is often a topic of conversation, and also, that few people know much about.
March 24, 2021
Terry Orme
Salt Lake Tribune
[Penelope Spheeris] never preaches (the film has no narration; no pious experts are consulted; it’s pure testimony) and her message is the louder for it.
March 23, 2021
Stephen Hunter
Baltimore Sun
A primer on punk rock… Marvelous.
March 23, 2021
George Williams
Sacramento Bee…
Plot
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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast includes members of punk bands such as X, Black Flag, Fear, Germs, and Catholic Discipline.
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