The Sex Pistols Movies

When the Sex Pistols arrived on the British music scene in 1976, they were regarded by many as pariahs, a threat to both music and the culture at large, and they were banned from nearly every major venue in the U.K. by the time they broke up after a poorly-received American tour in early 1978. Three decades later, time and the very English habit of embracing misfits and underdogs had transformed the Sex Pistols from a national scandal to national heroes, and after a handful of reunion gigs, the group played a sold-out five night stand at London's Brixton Academy in November 2007 to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of their only studio album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols. Director Julian Temple, who had previously made two films about the band (The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle and The Filth and the Fury) brought a camera crew to one of the shows, and The Sex Pistols: There'll Always Be An England documents John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock roaring through the Pistols' best known song for a rowdy and wildly appreciative audience. Selections include "Anarchy In The U.K.", "God Save The Queen", "Pretty Vacant", "Holidays In The Sun", "Problems" and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Director Don Letts' documentary Punk: Attitude examines the politics, fashion, and music of this pop culture trend. He interviews and shares performance footage from a variety of famous musical acts including "Black Flag, Jello Biafra, Legs McNeil, The Ramones, and proto-punks The Stooges and New York Dolls. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

American and British hard-core punk bands are featured live in this first of three videos with clips from Black Flay, Honor, the Sex Pistols and the Toxic Reasons. ~ Rovi

Though principally a documentary of the Sex Pistols' 1978 American tour (the only one they did with Sid Vicious), Lech Kowalski's early-'80s film D.O.A. also covers the early punk scene as a whole. There is much footage of other early (and mostly British) punk bands, filmed far away from the Pistols' American tour, and interviews with other figures associated with the early punk scene. The Sex Pistols are seen performing much of their classic early repertoire in clubs and concert halls throughout the South, as well as at their final show in San Francisco. Other influential bands seen in the film include the Clash, the Dead Boys, the Rich Kids (with ex-Sex Pistol Glen Matlock), X-Ray Spex, Generation X, and Sham 69. There is extensive interview footage with Sid Vicious and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, shortly before their violent deaths, and scenes from the short life of failed British pub punk band Terry and the Idiots. Also included are interviews with members of the audience at the Sex Pistols shows, illustrating how reaction to the group ran the gamut from enthusiasm to venomous disapproval. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi

A documentary featuring the infamous Bill Grundy interview, plus live footage with songs: "God Save The Queen," "No Fun," and two versions of "Anarchy In The U.K." Also includes cameos by Siouxsie, Malcolm McLaren, Vivienne Westwood, Jordan and Shane McGowan. ~ Rovi

This music themed release offers some of the most memorable performances by the biggest figures in the landmark London punk scene in the 1970's. Some of the artists featured include The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Jam, The Boomtown Rats, and The X-Ray Specs. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi