Movies Similar to Black Wave

How Showbread Ruined My Life(2008)

Amateur documentary chronicling the first six years of Showbread's touring career. Previously available as the main feature of the independently released How Showbread Ruined My Life DVD.

0.0

The Death of Jack Astor(2023)

Documentation of the legendary all ages hardcore punk show held at a Jack Astor's Sports Bar & Grill during operating business hours in St. John's, Newfoundland. Featuring performances from local hardcore heavyweights Carnage, GlitterGlue, Buck 50'd, and the debut performance of Life Jolt.

0.0

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle(1980)

A rather incoherent post-breakup Sex Pistols "documentary", told from the point of view of Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, whose (arguable) position is that the Sex Pistols in particular and punk rock in general were an elaborate scam perpetrated by him in order to make "a million pounds."

6.4

The Decline of Western Civilization(1981)

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.

7.1

The Mentors: Kings of Sleaze Rockumentary(2017)

Documentary on the shock rock group "The Mentors".

6.8

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Art as a Weapon(2014)

Street art, creativity and revolution collide in this beautifully shot film about art’s ability to create change. The story opens on the politically charged Thailand/Burma border at the first school teaching street art as a form of non-violent struggle. The film follows two young girls (Romi & Yi-Yi) who have escaped 50 years of civil war in Burma to pursue an arts education in Thailand. Under the threat of imprisonment and torture, the girls use spray paint and stencils to create images in public spaces to let people know the truth behind Burma's transition toward "artificial democracy." Eighty-two hundred miles away, artist Shepard Fairey is painting a 30’ mural of a Burmese monk for the same reasons and in support of the students' struggle in Burma. As these stories are inter-cut, the film connects these seemingly unrelated characters around the concept of using art as a weapon for change.

6.0

Green Day: The Early Years(2017)

"Green Day: The Early Years" chronicles the rise of the world's most influential punk band, from their origins playing shows at Berkley's notorious Gilman Street venue in the late 80s, through the release of the platinum-selling Dookie in 1994.

8.0

Billy Idol: State Line(2023)

Join legendary punk icon Billy Idol as he makes history by playing the first ever live concert in front of the world famous Hoover Dam.

8.0

Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk(2017)

Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk spans over 30 years of the California Bay Area’s punk music history with a central focus on the emergence of the inspiring 924 Gilman Street collective. This diverse group of artists, writers, organizers and musicians created a do-it-yourself petri dish that changed the punk scene... and the world at large.

7.4

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

Buenos Aires Hardcore Punk(2009)

Documentary about the Argentine punk and hardcore scene, from the early 80s to the mid-2000s. It includes interviews with various people in the environment, both musicians, producers and journalists, as well as archive material.

0.0

The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of Mark E. Smith(2005)

A 1-hour Documentary looking at the Manchester post-punk group and its infamous leader Mark E Smith. The Film follows the current band recording their final Session for the John Peel Show (they were his favourite group and recorded more sessions than any other band) as well as chronicling the chaotic history of the band & its numerous line-up changes.

5.6

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

Urgh! A Music War(1981)

Urgh! A Music War is a British film released in 1982 featuring performances by punk rock, new wave, and post-punk acts, filmed in 1980. Among the artists featured in the movie are Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Magazine, The Go-Go's, Toyah Willcox, The Fleshtones, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, X, XTC, Devo, The Cramps, Oingo Boingo, Dead Kennedys, Gary Numan, Klaus Nomi, Wall of Voodoo, Pere Ubu, Steel Pulse, Surf Punks, 999, UB40, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Police. These were many of the most popular groups on the New Wave scene; in keeping with the spirit of the scene, the film also features several less famous acts, and one completely obscure group, Invisible Sex, in what appears to be their only public performance.

7.3

Chi Chi & Devo(2019)

Members of pioneering New Wave band Devo and golfing legend Chi Chi Rodríguez recall how their paths crossed when Devo used an image of Chi Chi for their debut album.

0.0

Life After Death from Above 1979(2014)

A documentary about the history and reformation of Toronto punk band Death from Above 1979.

8.7

This Is Canoas Not POA(2021)

Canoas is considered by many, especially by those who are not from there, as a commuter town. Cities from metropolitan areas are usually labeled like this because of the workforce that commutes out everyday to work in the capital. In this daily movement, many times, ideas are conceived and creativity flourishes. I believe that this is one of the reasons why those cities often have a lively cultural scene. The documentary "This is Canoas not POA" makes this very clear: Canoas has a lot to show in terms of a music scene that's independent, diverse, creative, and most important, united. Bands, night clubs, studios, producers, record shops. Everything a music scene needs to develop is very well documented here. Watch it and create your own scene, start your own band!

9.0

White Riot(2020)

Exploring how punk influenced politics in late-1970s Britain, when a group of artists united to take on the National Front, armed only with a fanzine and a love of music.

7.2

Ears, Eyes and Throats: Restored Classic and Lost Punk Films 1976-1981(2019)

This collection of short films represents a hint of the tectonic shift in the underground film world in connection with the punk rock “movement.” Restored from original negatives, it showcases the reasonably well-known alongside the extremely rare, from music shorts to impressionistic documentary.

6.8

There Is No Authority But Yourself(2006)

A Dutch documentary about the history of the anarchist punk band Crass. The film features archival footage of the band, and interviews with former members Steve Ignorant, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher.

5.8