Gallery: Destroy All Movies! Salutes Cinematic Punks
01road-warrior-uhoh
Break out your mohawk glue. New book Destroy All Movies! The Complete Guide to Punks on Film catalogs cinema's punk nightmares, from real rockers to post-apocalyptic sci-fi freaks. Editors Zack Carlson and Bryan Connolly watched more than 20,000 great and terrible movies in five years, boiling the results into an exhaustive, 600-page compilation from Fantagraphics that catches classics like The Road Warrior (above) and obscurities like Raymond Pettibon's Sir Drone in its sneering dragnet. Featuring interviews with luminaries like Repo Man director Alex Cox, Fugazi's Ian Mackaye and proto-punker Richard Hell, [Destroy All Movies!](http://www.punksonfilm.com), due in stores for $35 this month, is probably the last word on punks, and perhaps even post-punks, on the screen. Carlson and Connolly are setting off on a signing and screening tour, starting Tuesday in New Mexico and wrapping Nov. 19 in San Francisco. We've taken the liberty of showing off in this gallery a fistful of the most notorious entries, as well as flicks that Carlson and Connolly couldn't help but highlight. Got your own favorites? Spit them out in the comments section below. __Above:__ The Road Warrior (1981) ----------------------- Australian director George Miller's sequel to [Mad Max](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Max) made a superstar out of Mel Gibson, redefined DIY action cinema, and brought dystopian punks into the mainstream. A stone-cold sci-fi classic that still has very much to say about gas and the apocalypse, [The Road Warrior](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Warrior) sits atop crossover punk cinema.
02repo-man
Repo Man (1984) --------------- "'Ordinary fuckin' people," drawls Harry Dean Stanton in what is the finest punk film of all time. "I hate them." Iconoclastic director [Alex Cox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Cox) is without a doubt the king of punks on film, and [Repo Man](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repo_Man_%28film%29) is his undisputed masterpiece. A sci-fi and sociological satire set in seedy Los Angeles, it's packed with aliens, conspiracies, jokes, dumb consumerism and a soundtrack featuring some of the best hardcore acts of the period. If you only see one punk flick, see this one, which is repeatedly rewarding and infinitely quotable. Its econopocalyptic hijinks haven't aged a day.
03sid-and-nancy-tampons
Sid and Nancy (1986) -------------------- Director Alex Cox set aside the acid humor of Repo Man to make this jarring biopic on The Sex Pistols' doomed punk idol Sid Vicious and his wasted girlfriend, Nancy Spungen. Gary Oldman inhabited Vicious with sneering precision in [Sid and Nancy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_and_Nancy), and became a Hollywood big shot shortly after, while Chloe Webb played Nancy to the hilt with unrepentant whining. Cox unleashed his patented punk hilarity in his next film, the punk-Western Straight to Hell, which Quentin Tarantino robbed for Pulp Fiction. But its plotless hijinks and bullet-ridden chaos kept it out of *Destroy All Movies!*. Sacrilege!
04rock-n-roll-high-school-poster
Rock 'n' Roll High School (1979) -------------------------------- From its opening shots of stoners sharing an octopus bong to its rousing musical closer, producer Roger Corman and director Allan Arkush's [Rock 'n' Roll High School](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_%27n%27_Roll_High_School) brought punk pioneers [The Ramones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ramones) to the movie-going public. It was a successful crossover, empowered by The Ramones' greatest hits as well as tunes from artists as different as Devo and Paul McCartney. As for the movie's Corey Feldman-led 1991 sequel, [Rock 'N' Roll High School Forever](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_%27n%27_Roll_High_School_Forever)? Uh, pass that octo-bong, will you?
05return-of-the-living-dead-french-poster
Return of the Living Dead (1985) -------------------------------- After director George Romero and co-writer John Russo's 1968 horror classic [Night of the Living Dead](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Living_Dead) set the template for zombie terror, they split off to make their own undead experiments. Directed by sci-fi champ [Dan O'Bannon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_O%27Bannon), Russo's [The Return of the Living Dead](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_living_dead) was his first post-Romero zombie flick, and his best, thanks to unremitting humor, clueless punks and lots of "brainsss" jokes.
06urghfilmstills
Urgh! A Music War (1982) ------------------------ [Urgh! A Music War](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urgh!_A_Music_War) is probably the most well-known and wide-ranging punk and post-punk concert film. That's because director Derek Burbidge's 1982 classic features hardcore punks like The Dead Kennedys (above) and trashy vamps like The Cramps (also above) alongside art weirdos like Devo and even reggae lifers like Steel Pulse. Even The Police make the party, which is a crash course on the sonically expansive '80s.
07decline-of-western-civilation-gutterpunks
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) ------------------------------------------ Perhaps the most honest portrayal of punk subculture from the period, Penelope Spheeris' documentary [The Decline of Western Civilization](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_Of_Western_Civilization) is a sobering stare into the gutters where homeless, disaffected youth make their stand against a popular culture that has happily passed them by. Spheeris' spotlight on their stained plight also featured incendiary punk rock from Black Flag, Fear, X and more. Spheeris' documentary speaks to the broken hearts and burning souls of the time.
08classof1984-gang
Class of 1984 (1982) -------------------- A unofficial remake of the rock 'n' roll classic Blackboard Jungle, [Class of 1984](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_of_1984) followed the travails of a music teacher terrorized by a gang of punks doing their best to make everyone's lives a nightmare. Whereas hipster rockers turn the [Blackboard Jungle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackboard_Jungle) inside out, Class of 1984 featured Nazi punks tearing up America's educational system and the neighborhood. But it was a sloppy social critique, and the movie's most notable achievement was starring a then-unknown Michael J. Fox, who gained fame three years later in Back to the Future.
09valley-girl-posterart
Valley Girl (1983) ------------------ The film that brought Nicholas Cage to the big time, director Martha Coolidge's [Valley Girl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Girl_%28film%29) began as the cinematic spawn of [Frank Zappa's satirical tune](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_Girl_%28song%29) of the same name. Zappa was approached to adapt his song but refused, so Coolidge loosely based the film on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and watched happily as it became a major success in the class and style wars of the early '80s. Some who grew up during that period still swear by the comedy, whereas the rest of us want to gag ourselves with spoons.
10joysticks
Joysticks (1983) ---------------- "This film is the only evidence needed to prove that 1983 was mankind’s cultural apex," said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Zack Carlson in an e-mail to Wired.com. In [Joysticks](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085764/), "a garishly painted video arcade is a magnet to fun-seekers across the city, drawing valley girls, vatos, celebrity impersonators and, most impressively, new-wave–video victim King Vidiot ([Jon Gries](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0340973/)) and his Vidiot disciples, each a candy-colored spacepunk with a multihued bouffant and airbrushed makeup. "The king lords over them with absolute authority, gutter-regal in his studded jacket, boots, braces and blue/fuchsia hair. Their crew attacks the arcade daily under an unbreakable spell of gaming fever, dispersing to their favorite machines with vocally mimicked *Pac-Man* sounds. King Vidiot’s passions range beyond the digital when he desperately attempts to woo a man in failed drag. Rejected, he grabs his own crotch, howls like a shot dog and crumbles to the pavement in anguish."
11timessquare-cops
Times Square (1980) ------------------- "A heart-wrenching portrayal of post-adolescent, self-loathing rebellion," said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Zack Carlson about [Times Square](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square_%28film%29). "Two teen girls — one a politician's daughter and the other a quasi-homeless gutter rocker — form a new wave alliance that becomes the battle cry for every female adolescent in New York. Flawless!"
12get-crazy
Get Crazy (1983) ---------------- "Writer/director Alan Arkush’s follow-up to Rock 'n' Roll High School is — in his words — “a movie with 5,000 jokes and only 3,000 punchlines,” said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Zack Carlson. "But it’s also the most chaotic, spastic and deeply rewarding adventure you’ll ever have with your VCR." Much of [Get Crazy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Crazy)'s "unbridled power is provided by Piggy ([Lee Ving](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ving) of legendary punk band Fear), the chained manimal mascot of all-female new wave combo Nada. After the group has performed a few songs for a shrieking audience, they unleash Piggy, who flies into the crowd with savage rage and performs a hardcore rendition of blues standard 'Hoochie Coochie Man.'"
13ladies-and-gentlemen-the-fabulous-stains
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982) ------------------------------------------------ "Dare to witness the electrifyingly entertaining rise and fall of the world’s ultimate fictional female punk band" in [Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladies_and_Gentlemen,_The_Fabulous_Stains), said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Zack Carlson. "Teenage trio The Fabulous Stains (including a barely post-adolescent Diane Lane and Laura Dern) tear fists-first into the music industry in new-wave battlegear, letting nothing stand in the way of their revolutionary assault on a deflating, male-dominated record industry. Featuring raging footage of The Looters and Black Randy & The Metrosquad and performances from a young Ray Winstone and Fee Waybill of The Tubes, this legendary battle call to rockers, wavers and punks everywhere is a crucial and explosive experience, unstoppably enjoyable and often credited as being a fundamental inspiration to the historic [Riot Grrl](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Grrrl) musical/social movement."
14police-academy-2
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) ----------------------------------------------- "Even if it’s not an obscurity, it’s definitely an overlooked punk-laden classic," said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Bryan Connolly about [Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089822/) in an e-mail to Wired.com. "Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) goes undercover to fit into a punk biker gang led by out-of-control Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), a drooling, jittery maniac. The gang of colorful misfits start a riot at a street fair and eat all the concession food. If that ain't bad enough, they rough up the police chief (Howard Hesseman, above), spike his hair into a blue mohawk and spray-paint his clothes. The chief declares war on the punks, much to the excitement of his bumbling cops."
15sir-drone
Sir Drone (1989) ---------------- "Graphic artist [Raymond Pettibon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Pettibon)’s shot-on-VHS parody of the rabid non-innovators of punk," said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Bryan Connolly, describing *Sir Drone*. "[Minutemen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutemen_%28band%29) bassist [Mike Watt](http://www.hootpage.com) co-stars as a “teenager” desperate to form a punk band with his only friend (Mike Kelley). Watt and Kelley’s acting goes beyond talent and straight into genius. Their characters’ co-dependent, impotent hostility towards one another makes them the best comedy team of the ‘80s, even if their partnership lasted only one film."
16trancers
Trancers (1985) --------------- "Though far from entirely punk, this future-clash action film features an incredible moment in a chaotic bar," said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Bryan Connolly of *[Trancers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trancers)*. "Mohawks, devil locks, huge flat-tops, new wavers and skinheads slam to a band playing a sped-up version of 'Jingle Bells.' A man sporting a tattoo on his face asks Leena (Helen Hunt) why she doesn't call him anymore. He says she still has his cassettes. She assures him that she'll drop them off at his mom's house. Too rude!"
17madame-wangs
Madame Wang's (1981) -------------------- "A European spy livens up San Francisco’s nightlife underworld" in [Madame Wang's](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159544/), said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Bryan Connolly. He described the movie, directed by Paul Morrissey and produced by Andy Warhol, like this: "At a hot punk club, a band called Leroy and the Lifters kick out the jams. Leroy looks like the offspring of Iggy Pop and E.T. if it was hit by a fleet of buses ... twice. This hideous dude covers himself in oil and moans. He attempts to teach several obese, bearded gay men how to be punk and fails."
18family-reunion
Family Reunion (1989) --------------------- [Family Reunion](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0249506/) is "your typical family-stopping-off-at-a-ghost-town-and-is-fated-to-deal-with-the-resident-demonic-threat film," said *Destroy All Movies!* writer Bryan Connolly. "Brilliant character actor Daniel H. Friedman (aka Buddy Daniels) plays an imprisoned skinhead with tattoos on his cheeks. He berates the main villain for not having any money or 'butts.' He then asks the supernatural maniac if he ever heard of his favorite band, Rat's Ass. The answer is no."
