Movies Similar to The Jam: Punk Icons

Manolo Kabezabolo(2023)

Documentary about Manuel Méndez, better known as Manolo Kabezabolo, a punk artist who in a somewhat implausible way has crossed time, space and fashions, without giving up his essences and principles.

Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution(2017)

A documentary on Queercore, the cultural and social movement that began as an offshoot of punk and was distinguished by its discontent with society's disapproval of the gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender communities.

The Punk of Natashquan(2025)

In 1981, an unusual person arrives in Natashquan, marking the beginning of an unlikely love story between this small Quebec village and the young man they call “The Punk”. Five years later, he vanishes without a trace, forever impacting the community.

Crass: The Sound of Free Speech (The Story of Reality Asylum)(2023)

The film dives into 1970's Britain; the birth of punk and the formation of Crass, with an in-depth look at their art, music and ethos.

Cavepeople(2024)

January 13th, 2024; Suffolk County's punk, grunge, and emo scenes are showcased through the more than a hundred attendees at Caveversary; an annual celebration of the independent basement venue, The Cave.

DIY: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Punk(2025)

D.I.Y. is an extrospective dissection of Pop-Punk; from the SoCal garages of the 80’s to the enduring impact the genre has had on music, fashion, and culture.

Gama Bomb - Survival Of The Fastest(2024)

When they hit the Billboard charts, Gama Bomb were trapped by lockdowns, missing a drummer, and unable to tour. Survival Of The Fastest is a new Irish take on classic music documentaries like Anvil or Spinal Tap with a sweet and charming portrait of male friendship during troubled times. Capturing Gama Bomb's quest to play for 10,000 people at Hellfest – the 'Glastonbury of Metal' – Kiran Acharya’s warm and wayward film surprised cinema audiences with a smart, sincere, and absurdly funny year in the life of dear friends trying to keep the show on the road. Packed full of Gama Bomb's trademark humour and pop culture references, the film reflects on their 20-year history in the absurd worlds of punk and metal and their earliest days during the first sparks of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland.

Grove Carnival(1981)

A kaleidoscopic celebration of the 1980 Notting Hill Carnival. Arts Council of Great Britain.

AngryGynoPhiles(2025)

A documentary about the Kent-based queercore band AngryGynoPhiles, documenting their band practices leading up to their first gig.

Moments Like This Never Last(2021)

Dash Snow rejected a life of privilege to make his own way as an artist on the streets of downtown New York City in the late 1990s. Developing from a notorious graffiti tagger into an international art star, he documented his drug- and alcohol-fueled nights with the surrogate family he formed with friends and fellow artists Ryan McGinley and Dan Colen before his death by heroin overdose in 2009. Drawing from Snow’s unforgettable body of work and involving archival footage, Cheryl Dunn’s exceptional portrait captures his all-too-brief life of reckless excess and creativity.

GG Allin & The Murder Junkies - Raw, Brutal, Rough & Bloody - The Best of 1991 Live(2004)

After spending 19 months in the Adrian, MI Correctional Facility, GG Allin was paroled in March 1991. Back in NYC, the Murder Junkies were ready to carry out GG's Rock & Roll Mission. In the Fall, GG Allin & The Murder Junkies set out on their first US Tour. This film ncludes 3 complete shows: San Diego 9/27/91, Chicago 10/10/91, and Atlanta 11/20/91.

YUNGBLUD: Are You Ready, Boy?(2025)

Ahead of releasing 'Idols', his most personal album to date, and before anyone had heard a note, Yungblud and his touring family travelled to Berlin, where he would perform and record these brand new songs live for the very first time. A personal journey of change, confidence and rock-and-roll chaos, set against a city that has always celebrated counterculture and creativity, 'YUNGBLUD: Are You Ready, Boy?' is a revealing and uncompromising documentary about a generational artist finding his own voice.

Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt(2025)

Follows the story of the groundbreaking Texas-based art-punk band founded by frontman Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary.

Moto que? MOTOSHORROS(2024)

The Year Of Punk(1978)

The summer of the Jubilee in 1977 was mentally dominated by another national anthem - "God Save the Queen" by The Sex Pistols. That same summer was also the summer of punk. Janet Street Porter Reviews The Year Of Punk, Featuring Early Classic Footage Of The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie And Others.

Crash 'n' Burn(1977)

Crash 'n' Burn is an experimental film shot in and named after Toronto, Ontario's first punk rock club. (Not to be confused with Peter Vronsky's similarly titled 1977 documentary on the Toronto punk scene made for the CBC television network.) The film, shot on 16mm black-and-white stock, features performances by Dead Boys, Teenage Head, The Boyfriends, and The Diodes".

Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel(2023)

A new documentary, exploring the Chelsea Hotel's role in the cultural and artistic movements of the 20th century, from the Beat Generation to the Punk Rock scene. Delving into the history of the hotel, as a home and gathering place for some of the most influential artists and cultural icons of the past century, including Mark Twain, Arthur Miller, Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Leonard Cohen, Madonna and a possible spirit or two. Including historical footage of some of the residents and regulars who made the glorious Chelsea Hotel so legendary.

The Best of GG Allin and The Murder Junkies(2009)

Documentary covering the wildest moments of GG Allin and The Murder Junkies.

ASK ALLSTON: A Documentary About Boston DIY

A documentary filmed between 2016 - 2018 about the Boston DIY music scene, and part of the community that keeps it going.

Schleimkeim - Otze und die DDR von unten(2024)

A punk documentary about the life and death of the GDR punk Dieter "Otze" Ehrlich and his band Schleimkeim aus dem Schweinestall. With the fall of the Wall, Otze loses not only his enemy images, but also his life at the price of freedom.