The Punk Singer
An intimate portrait of Kathleen Hanna’s music, activism, illness, and transformative role in feminist punk culture.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- urgent
- intimate
- cathartic
- music discovery
- documentary night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary as an intimate, politically resonant portrait of Kathleen Hanna and her influence on feminist punk.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kathleen Hanna's career and the riot grrrl movement are presented as part of a broader feminist intervention in punk culture.
The film balances Hanna's status as a cultural icon with her personal struggles and illness.
The documentary traces Hanna's work with Bikini Kill through archival footage and testimony from collaborators and peers.
The subject's musical legacy is conveyed through documentary interviews alongside archival punk performances.
Films like The Punk Singer, and why
Janis: Little Girl Blue
music documentary portrait of a pioneering female artist confronting public identity and personal vulnerability
The Go-Go's
feminist music documentary centered on women reshaping a male-dominated punk scene
20 Feet from Stardom
intimate documentary about an influential musician whose work carries strong cultural and political significance
Movie Details
- Director
- Sini Anderson
- Release Date
- 2013-11-29
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (93)
Cast
- Kathleen Hanna
- Adam Horovitz
- Joan Jett
- Jennifer Baumgardner
- Johanna Fateman
- Carrie Brownstein
- JD Samson
- Corin Tucker
- Kim Gordon
- Tavi Gevinson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Punk Singer about?
- An intimate portrait of Kathleen Hanna’s music, activism, illness, and transformative role in feminist punk culture.
- What is The Punk Singer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Punk Singer as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Punk Singer violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Punk Singer.
- What did critics think of The Punk Singer?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary as an intimate, politically resonant portrait of Kathleen Hanna and her influence on feminist punk.
- Which films are like The Punk Singer?
- Films with a similar feel include Janis: Little Girl Blue, The Go-Go's, and 20 Feet from Stardom.
- How long is The Punk Singer?
- The Punk Singer runs 80 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Punk Singer?
- In United States, The Punk Singer streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Sundance Now.
