DEVO

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DEVO

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1h 35m

Documentary

Music

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79%

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14 Reviews

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Directed by Chris Smith (American Movie, Fyre), the documentary is an in-depth, definitive look at DEVO's story, tracing how the group's origins at Kent State during a time of political upheaval shaped their radical philosophy of "de-evolution." Combining rare archival footage, interviews, and an unflinching look at the band's artistic and cultural impact, the documentary captures DEVO's rise, offering a timely reflection on art, rebellion, and the power of subversion in pop culture.

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Chase Hutchinson

TheWrap

It takes a group that bumped up against the boundaries and instead just operates within them. In the end, it was the documentary itself that embodies the idea of devolution in all the wrong ways that can’t quite be whipped into shape.

Feb 27, 2024

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Kyle Smith

Wall Street Journal

Another engaging offering... The band’s delightfully odd costumes and visual aesthetic were so lighthearted and silly that they came across as the antidote to politically infused rock.

Feb 2, 2024

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

“Devo” is a music doc that matches the tone and spirit of its subject, bursting with energy and creativity.

Jan 26, 2024

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Edward Douglas

The Weekend Warrior (Substack)

Devo is a fun doc, and I hope there’s some news soon about its distribution plans outside of festivals.

Nov 27, 2024

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Tom O'Brien

Next Best Picture

While “DEVO” provides an entertaining 90 minutes, it needed Smith to break out of the confines of the tropes of music docs and bring that same spirit of anarchy to his filmmaking as well.

Rated: 5/10

Oct 30, 2024

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A wonderful pic entertaining the notion of enlightenment through music.

Rated: A-

Feb 7, 2024

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Chris Smith

Director

Mark Mothersbaugh

Self

Bob Casale

Self

Gerald V. Casale

Self

DEVO

Self

Danny Gabai

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Synopsis

Directed by Chris Smith (American Movie, Fyre), the documentary is an in-depth, definitive look at DEVO's story, tracing how the group's origins at Kent State during a time of political upheaval shaped their radical philosophy of "de-evolution." Combining rare archival footage, interviews, and an unflinching look at the band's artistic and cultural impact, the documentary captures DEVO's rise, offering a timely reflection on art, rebellion, and the power of subversion in pop culture.

Director: Chris Smith
Producer: Danny Gabai, Chris Holmes, Anita Greenspan, David C. McCourt
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Fremantle
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 19, 2025
Runtime: 1h 35m