The War on Disco
Directed by Lisa Quijano Wolfinger
The War on Disco explores the culture war that erupted over the spectacular rise of disco music. Originating in underground Black and gay clubs, disco had unseated rock as America’s most popular music by the late 1970s. But many diehard rock fans viewed disco, with its repetitive beat and culture that emphasized pleasure, as shallow and superficial. A story that’s about much more than music, The War on Disco explores how the powerful anti-disco backlash revealed a cultural divide that to some seemed to be driven by racism and homophobia. The hostility came to a head on July 12, 1979, when a riot broke out at “Disco Demolition Night” during a baseball game in Chicago.
Crew
Producer
Writer
Producer
Director of Photography
Producer
Studio ranking
See where The War on Disco lands among the top-ranked movies associated with American Experience Films.
Open best american experience films movies
Language ranking
See how The War on Disco compares with other top-ranked English documentary movies.
Open best english documentary movies
More like this
Explore public related-title picks for viewers looking for movies like The War on Disco.
Open movies like The War on Disco
Where to watch
Open the answer-first viewing guide for The War on Disco, including current streaming, rental, and purchase options.
Open where to watch The War on Disco