The Punk Singer

Play trailer

The Punk Singer

2013

1h 21m

Documentary

Biography

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Filmmaker Sini Anderson explores the life and career of punk rocker Kathleen Hanna, the Bikini Kill frontwoman who became a pioneer of the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s.

Critics Consensus

It verges on hagiography, but given the deeply compelling nature of its subject's story, The Punk Singer can be forgiven its lack of objectivity.

Read Critics Reviews

Stef Schwartz

Autostraddle

What was most refreshing, though, was getting to see sides of Hanna's personality that aren't always immediately apparent from interviews and stage banter.

Jun 14, 2021

Full Review

Laina Dawes

Bitch Media

In terms of providing a historical narrative of the Riot Grrl scene, The Punk Singer does an adequate, yet rushed job within an 80-minute film.

Jan 15, 2021

Full Review

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

The Blue Lenses

While exciting for the sheer range of archival visual material it employs to tell Hanna's story, The Punk Singer is even more significant for capturing just how relevant the ideological pulse of Riot Grrrl is today.

Aug 25, 2018

Full Review

Brent McKnight

The Last Thing I See

What the "The Punk Singer" does best is capture the excitement, passion, and the conviction that is still evident on those records, and that you saw at those live shows.

Rated: A-

Jul 9, 2020

Full Review

Bernard Boo

Way Too Indie

Hanna is shining symbol of feminist activism, ungodly perseverance, and artistic originality, and The Punk Singer captures her life and career to this point terrifically.

Rated: 8.3/10

Apr 9, 2019

Full Review

Leigh Clark

CineVue

The Punk Singer is a rewarding and positive experience.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 21, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Georgan G

Not being a punk rock lover Kathleen Hanna was new to me. And what a woman! It was her feminism that really got me, however.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An intimate and fascinating documentary about Bikini Kill lead singer and feminist activist Kathleen Hanna.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Conventional documentary that's probably very interesting if you are aware of the singer, less so if not.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I had listened to Bikini Kill in the 90's but really didn't pay much attention. Hanna's story unfolds chronologically and gains momentum as it progresses. In the end you feel how stromg and beautiful she truly is.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very good documentary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Very interesting documentary of late 80s/90s punk singer Kathleen Hanna. It also sheds light on why she stopped performing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Sini Anderson

Director

Kathleen Hanna

Self

Corin Tucker

Self

Allison Victoria-Wolfe

Self

Ann Powers

Self

Carrie Brownstein

Self

Hit So Hard

66%

72%

Hit So Hard

Watchlist

Crossfire Hurricane

89%

85%

Crossfire Hurricane

Watchlist

Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage

90%

94%

Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage

Watchlist

A Band Called Death

94%

85%

A Band Called Death

Watchlist

Soul Boys of the Western World

71%

58%

Soul Boys of the Western World

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Now Streaming: Ride Along and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Interview: Kathleen Hanna on The Punk Singer, Sexism, Riot Grrrl and More

Critics Consensus: Frozen is Certified Fresh

View more photos

Synopsis

Filmmaker Sini Anderson explores the life and career of punk rocker Kathleen Hanna, the Bikini Kill frontwoman who became a pioneer of the "riot grrrl" movement of the 1990s.

Director: Sini Anderson
Producer: Sini Anderson, Gwen Bialic, Tamra Davis
Distributor: IFC Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 29, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $121.4K
Runtime: 1h 21m

Most Popular at Home Now