Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Decline of Western Civilization

  • 19811981
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
A look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
4 Photos
  • Documentary
  • History
  • Music

A look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.A look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.A look into the Los Angeles punk rock scene, that was largely ignored by the rock music press of the time.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Penelope Spheeris
  • Stars
    • Eugene Tatu
    • Alice Bag Band
    • Black Flag
Top credits
  • Director
    • Penelope Spheeris
  • Stars
    • Eugene Tatu
    • Alice Bag Band
    • Black Flag
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 35User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    Trailer

    Photos

    The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
    The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
    The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Eugene Tatu
    • Self - Light Bulb Kidas Self - Light Bulb Kid
    Alice Bag Band
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Black Flag
    Black Flag
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Catholic Discipline
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Circle Jerks
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Fear
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    The Germs
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    • (as Germs)
    X
    • Themselvesas Themselves
    Wayne Mayotte
    • Self - Owner - Club 88as Self - Owner - Club 88
    Brendan Mullen
    • Self - Owner - Masqueas Self - Owner - Masque
    Greg Ginn
    • Self - Black Flag (Guitar)as Self - Black Flag (Guitar)
    Chuck Dukowski
    • Self - Black Flag (Bass)as Self - Black Flag (Bass)
    • (as Gary McDaniel)
    Robo
    • Self - Black Flag (Drums)as Self - Black Flag (Drums)
    Ron Reyes
    Ron Reyes
    • Self - Black Flag (Vocals)as Self - Black Flag (Vocals)
    Nicole Panter
    • Self - Germs' Manageras Self - Germs' Manager
    • (as Nicole)
    Darby Crash
    • Self - Germs (Vocals)as Self - Germs (Vocals)
    Michelle Baer Ghaffari
    • Self - Darby Crash's Roommateas Self - Darby Crash's Roommate
    • (as Michelle)
    Pat Smear
    Pat Smear
    • Self - Germs (Guitar)as Self - Germs (Guitar)
    • (as Pat)
    • Director
      • Penelope Spheeris
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
    7.2
    The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
    The Decline of Western Civilization Part III
    7.1
    The Decline of Western Civilization Part III
    Suburbia
    6.9
    Suburbia
    American Hardcore
    7.3
    American Hardcore
    Salad Days
    7.0
    Salad Days
    1991: The Year Punk Broke
    7.3
    1991: The Year Punk Broke
    End of the Century
    7.9
    End of the Century
    We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll
    7.6
    We Sold Our Souls for Rock 'n Roll
    The Filth and the Fury
    7.6
    The Filth and the Fury
    Hollywierd
    6.0
    Hollywierd
    Dudes
    5.6
    Dudes
    Thunder and Mud
    5.2
    Thunder and Mud

    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Rich Swenson <swenson@haas.berkeley.edu>
    • national film registry
    • beer
    • self destructiveness
    • cult favorite
    • drug
    • 36 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • See it in a theater.... where you can't get hurt.
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • History
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to director Penelope Spheeris this film was financed by two businessmen who originally wanted to finance a porn film.
    • Quotes

      The Circle Jerks member: And at the bottom it says "Thank you." And you can tell 'em to fuck off.

    • Connections
      Featured in Prey for Rock & Roll (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Manimal
      Written by Darby Crash and Pat Smear

      Performed by The Germs

    User reviews35

    Review
    Top review
    just covers one sub-punk culture. . .
    Decline is an excellent movie, but we must keep in mind that it only showcases one of the many sub-cultures of punk rock in LA at the time. the Germs and Fear etc are all great bands and the shots of them don't do them justice. but the shots of the fans cast an almost negative light on punk rockers. this movie was made at a time when angry youth from orange county found their way into the LA punk scene. they made it violent, (it always sort of was, but it was never meant to take away from the music) they are shown moshing for the sake of hurting each other not for celebrating the music; like the punkers before them. Decline is an excellent glimpse into the punk scene of the 70s and 80s, but be wary when showing it to someone who only has this to base their opinions of Punk rock on.
    helpful•5
    1
    • wedgelvr
    • May 11, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1983 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Занепад західної цивілізації
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Spheeris Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $100,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Punk Vets Fear Continue ‘To Offend and Ignore’ With Massive ‘The Record’ Box Set
    Punk Vets Fear Continue ‘To Offend and Ignore’ With Massive ‘The Record’ Box Set
    Mar 1Rollingstone.com
    The Decline of Western Civilization: one of the great music documentaries
    The Decline of Western Civilization: one of the great music documentaries
    Feb 22The Guardian - Film News

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Decline of Western Civilization (1981) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.