Veteran punk outfit NOFX are opening the vault on four decades of chaos, excess and survival with a new feature-length documentary titled 40 Years of F**kin’ Up, which is currently in post-production.
The band revealed details of the project on Friday (Jan. 17), with founding member Fat Mike confirming the film’s status while appearing at The Punk Rock Museum’s NOFX exhibition. According to Fat Mike, the documentary does not shy away from the most extreme, uncomfortable or self-destructive chapters of the group’s history.
“Most people wouldn’t be OK with releasing a film that shows footage of getting whipped in their dungeon, or their drug use for the past 20 years, or dressing up like a rubber cheap whore, or the ambulance ride when they were naked while puking and shitting blood… I’m not like most people,” Fat Mike said.
Directed by James Buddy Day, 40 Years of F**kin’ Up traces NOFX’s evolution from teenage punks to one of the most influential and polarising bands in modern punk history. The documentary features extensive interviews with the band’s core lineup — guitarist Eric Melvin, lead guitarist El Hefe and drummer Erik Sandin — all of whom also serve as executive producers on the film.
Additional executive producers include Gary Ousdahl, Cisco Adler and Jon Nadeau, with the project produced through Pyramid Productions.
While the trailer leans heavily into the band’s infamous reputation — showcasing scenes of drug use, sexual provocation and medical emergencies — the filmmakers have positioned the documentary as a comprehensive portrait rather than a highlight reel of shock value.
According to Day, the film captures both the absurdity and the emotional toll of the band’s long-running self-destruction.
“Working with Fat Mike, the band, and the entire NOFX crew has been like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” Day said in a statement. “This is the punkest band ever — and their story is exactly as insane as you’d expect: hilarious, painful, reckless, and deeply human.”
He added: “Digging through decades of footage, I saw things I’ll never unsee — but that honesty is what makes this film essential.”
In keeping with NOFX’s anti-industry ethos, the documentary will also introduce new music from the band — though it won’t be released through traditional channels. Instead, the unreleased tracks will only be available to audiences attending screenings of the film.
Sneak-peek screenings of 40 Years of F**kin’ Up are scheduled to take place in Austin, Texas, from March 15–16 at Brushy Street Commons, before the documentary rolls out to select theatres worldwide beginning in April. Tickets are set to go on sale Feb. 20.
