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The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

Play trailer Poster for The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle Released Aug 1, 1990 1h 43m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Julien Temple chronicles the Sex Pistols' tumultuous rise to fame, as told by their manager, Malcolm McLaren.

Critics Reviews

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 3/5 Sep 13, 2007 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Nov 2, 2005 Full Review Bill Gibron DVDTalk.com [The Great Rock N Roll Swindle is] a document of a particular time and place, a rarified work of scrap art that creates as many myths as it debunks. Rated: 4/5 Aug 15, 2005 Full Review Keith Breese Filmcritic.com a delirious hodge-podge that makes The Filth and the Fury, Temple's later "documentary" about the band, look perfectly staid Rated: 4/5 May 18, 2005 Full Review Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Rated: 3/5 Jan 14, 2005 Full Review Shane Burridge rec.arts.movies.reviews A document that proves all the cynics right Jun 10, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A really strange time is to be had by watching this. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A very weird movie... it tries to be so punk and so different from other music films that it just alienates its audience and confuses you. There are a few amusing scenes, and it's full of famous punk rockers like Sid Vicious, so if you're really into punk music you may want to check this out. If not, stay away from it. For the most part it's pretty dull, but it's not a complete waste if, like I said, you enjoy punk styles and unconventional movies. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Unusual, entertaining documentary about the Sex Pistols. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review andy f Hadn't seen this for quite a few years. It really is the quintessential punk rock movie. Mclaren's manipulation of The Pistols, lovingly crafted by Julien Temple. Iconic scene after iconic scene. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member a tell all tale & mockumentary of England's legendary punk band with the exception of that gawd awful sick brit humor....and that's why i own a copy:) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member great documentary, awesome soundtrack! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

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Cast & Crew

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The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980) The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980) The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980) The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Julien Temple chronicles the Sex Pistols' tumultuous rise to fame, as told by their manager, Malcolm McLaren.
Director
Julien Temple
Screenwriter
Julien Temple
Distributor
Virgin Films
Production Co
Kendon Films, Matrixbest
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 1990, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
May 17, 2005
Runtime
1h 43m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)