The Decline of Western Civilization
“See it in a theater.... where you can't get hurt.”
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.
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Part of The Decline of Western Civilization Collection
3 films
Cast
48 people
Eugene Tatu
Self
Fear
Alice Bag
Self
Claude Bessy
Self
Dinah Cancer
Self
Exene Cervenka
Self
Also in
Salvation!
The Twilight Zone
Lorna Doom
Self
Also in
Media Blitz: The Germs Story
Darby Crash
Self
Also in
Media Blitz: The Germs Story
Don Bolles
Self
Also in
Blood Slaves of the Vampire Wolf
Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician
Philo Cramer
Self
Also in
American Pop
Get Crazy
John Doe
Self
Known for
Roswell
Great Balls of Fire!
Lee Ving
Self
Known for
Flashdance
Clue
Penelope Spheeris Director · Steve Conant Cinematographer Charlie Mullins Editor
Budget $100K · United States release July 1, 1981 · Produced in United States
Box office
Budget
$100,000
Production
Spheeris Films Inc.
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
United States · May 15, 1981
Premiere · Seattle International Film Festival
United States · July 1, 1981
Limited theatrical · New York City
Finland
August 24, 1996 · TV · TV1
October 17, 2025 · Limited theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.