The outlaw biker film is a

film genre A film genre is a stylistic or thematic category for motion pictures based on similarities either in the narrative elements, aesthetic approach, or the emotional response to the film. Drawing heavily from the theories of literary-genre cri ...

that portrays its characters as motorcycle riding rebels. The characters are usually members of an

outlaw motorcycle club An outlaw motorcycle club is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, ...

History

Outlaw biker clubs formed in the late 1940s on the West Coast after the end of World War II. Their culture was first popularized in the Marlon Brando film ''

The Wild One ''The Wild One'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. The picture is most noted for the character of Johnny Strabler, portrayed by Marlon Brando, whose persona became a cultural icon of the 1 ...

'' (1953), which tells a story based very loosely on actual events. The film's success was followed by a string of low-budget

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

s aimed at a teenage audience such as ''

Motorcycle Gang An outlaw motorcycle club is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, ...

'' (1957) and ''

The Hot Angel ''The Hot Angel'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Joe Parker and written by Stanley Kallis. The film stars Jackie Loughery, Ed Kemmer, Mason Alan Dinehart, Emory Parnell, Lyle Talbot and Boyd Santell. It was released in December 1958 ...

'' (1958). But the genre really took off in the mid-1960s, after the

Hells Angels The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (HAMC) is a worldwide outlaw motorcycle club whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporati ...

motorcycle club became prominent in the media, in particular, after Hunter S. Thompson's book '' Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs'' (1966) was published.

Films of the 1960s

In 1965, director

Russ Meyer Russell Albion Meyer (March 21, 1922 – September 18, 2004) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor. He is known primarily for writing and directing a series of successful sexploitation films that fea ...

made '' Motorpsycho'' (aka ''Motor Psycho''), an obscure film about an evil motorcycle gang led by a disturbed Vietnam War veteran. In 1966,

American International Pictures American International Pictures (AIP) is an American motion picture production label of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing fi ...

(AIP) released ''

The Wild Angels ''The Wild Angels'' is a 1966 American outlaw biker film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Made on location in Southern California, ''The Wild Angels'' was the first film to associate actor Peter Fonda with Harley-Davidson motorcycles an ...

'' with Peter Fonda, Bruce Dern, and

Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer and actress. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato), and is best known for her 1966 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walkin'. Nancy Sinatr ...

. This film, aimed at the teenage drive-in crowd, was a surprise hit and a new

subgenre was born. AIP dominated the market and quickly released a semi-sequel '' Devil's Angels'' starring actor-director

John Cassavetes John Nicholas Cassavetes ( ; December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as a television and film actor, Cassavetes also helped pioneer American independent cinema, writing and direc ...

and '' The Glory Stompers'' with Dennis Hopper in 1967. In 1968, AIP produced '' The Mini-Skirt Mob'', '' Angels from Hell'', and '' The Savage Seven'' (the film debut of actress/director

Penny Marshall Carole Penny MarshallBorn Carole Penny Marshall in 1943, as per ''My Mother Was Nuts, a Memoir'', p. 10; . Copyright 2012 (October 15, 1943 – December 17, 2018) was an American actress, director and producer. She is known for her role as ...

). The company made five more biker gang films: '' Hell's Belles'' (1969), '' Hell's Angels '69'' (1969), '' Angel Unchained'' (1970), '' The Hard Ride'' (1971), and '' Chrome and Hot Leather'' (1971). AIP and Fanfare Films also co-produced ''

The Born Losers ''The Born Losers'' is a 1967 American outlaw biker film.Gary A. Smith, ''The American International Pictures Video Guide'', McFarland 2009 p 32 The film introduced Tom Laughlin as the half-Indian Green Beret Vietnam veteran Billy Jack. Since ...

'' (1967). Fanfare made '' Hells Angels on Wheels'' (1967) with

Jack Nicholson John Joseph Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is an American retired actor and filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. In many of his films, he played rebels against the social structure. He received numerous ...

, '' Run, Angel, Run!'' (1969), ''Wild Wheels'' (1969), and '' Nam's Angels'' (1970). Other small independent filmmakers went on to produce dozens of low-budget biker films until the trend dissipated in the early '70s. Crown International produced and/or distributed '' Wild Rebels'' (1967), '' The Hellcats'' (1968), ''

The Sidehackers : ''You may have been looking for Five the Hard Way (Prison Break episode)'' ''The Sidehackers'' (also known as ''Five the Hard Way'') is a 1969 American action film about motorcycle racing with a twist. Each motorcycle has a sidehack (a sidecar ...

'' (1969), ''Wild Riders'' (1971), and ''Pink Angels'' (1972). Independent-International Pictures Corp. produced three films in this genre directed by

Al Adamson Albert Victor Adamson Jr. (July 25, 1929 – June 21, 1995) was an American filmmaker and actor known as a prolific director of B-grade horror and exploitation films throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The son of silent film stars Victor Adamson a ...

– '' Satan's Sadists'' (1969), '' Hell's Bloody Devils'' (1970), and '' Angels' Wild Women'' (1972). ''

The Rebel Rousers ''The Rebel Rousers'' is a 1970 American independent outlaw biker film starring Cameron Mitchell, Jack Nicholson, Diane Ladd, Bruce Dern, and Harry Dean Stanton. Filmed in 1967, it did not receive a release until 1970 following the success of ''E ...

'' (filmed 1967, released 1970) featured Jack Nicholson, Bruce Dern, and

Harry Dean Stanton Harry Dean Stanton (July 14, 1926 – September 15, 2017) was an American actor, musician, and singer. In a career that spanned more than six decades, Stanton played supporting roles in films including ''Cool Hand Luke'' (1967), ''Kelly's Heroes ...

. Dern also starred as a sadistic gang leader in '' The Cycle Savages'' (1970). In 1969, Peter Fonda, Hopper, and Nicholson teamed up on the classic "hippie biker" movie, ''

Easy Rider ''Easy Rider'' is a 1969 American independent drug culture road drama film written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda, and directed by Hopper. Fonda and Hopper play two bikers who travel through the American So ...

'', the antithesis of the violent biker-gang genre. Sonny Barger, founder of the Oakland chapter of the Hells Angels, was a consultant on several films. He and other gang members appeared as extras in ''Hells Angels on Wheels'' and ''Hell's Angels '69''. The Hells Angels appeared as extras playing a gang called the Las Vegas Hotdoggers in the

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...

film ''

Naked Angels ''Naked Angels'' is a 1969 American outlaw biker film directed by Bruce D. Clark. Starring Michael Greene (actor), Michael Greene as Mother, Jennifer Gan as Marlene, and Richard Rust as Fingers, it provides an insider's perspective at the lifesty ...

'' (1969) starring Michael Greene.

''The Born Losers''

'' (1967) introduced

Tom Laughlin Thomas Robert Laughlin Jr. (August 10, 1931 – December 12, 2013) was an American actor, director, screenwriter, author, educator, and activist. Laughlin was best known for his series of ''Billy Jack'' films. He was married to actress D ...

's character Billy Jack. Unable to get his ''

Billy Jack ''Billy Jack'' is a 1971 American action drama independent film, the second of four films centering on a character of the same name which began with the movie ''The Born Losers'' (1967), played by Tom Laughlin, who directed and co-wrote the scri ...

'' script produced, Laughlin wrote and directed ''The Born Losers'' to capitalize on the current biker movie trend (which finally allowed him to make ''Billy Jack'' in 1971). The story was inspired by news reports of the Hells Angels terrorizing a California community. As a cost-saving measure, a stunt scene of a motorcycle crashing into a pond was taken from co-producer AIP's comedy '' The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'' (1966). ''The Born Losers'' is also significant for its social criticism and portrayal of the biker gang as a force of pure, unredeemable evil. Here, for the first time, a lone hero stands up to, and ultimately defeats, the gang. Prior to this, the majority of the films in this genre imitated ''The Wild One'' with a sympathetic gang member (the reluctant leader or a new member) who ultimately rejects the outlaw biker lifestyle. Prime examples are the Fonda character in ''

'', Jack Nicholson in '' Hells Angels on Wheels'' (1967), and Joe Namath in '' C.C. and Company'' (1970).

Jack Starrett Claude Ennis "Jack" Starrett Jr. (November 2, 1936 – March 27, 1989) was an American actor and film director.Staff report (March 29, 1989). Jack Starrett, 52; Adventure Film Actor, Director. ''Los Angeles Times'' Starrett is perhaps best k ...

has the role of a tough-talking police officer. He played essentially the same character in ''Hells Angels on Wheels'' and ''Angels from Hell'' (1968). Starrett was also in ''Hell's Bloody Devils'' (1970), and directed '' Run, Angel, Run'' (1969) . In '' Nam's Angels'' (1970) the bikers are portrayed as patriotic heroes sent on a rescue mission to Vietnam.

Novelty biker films

A number of novelty films were made featuring all-female biker gangs such as '' The Hellcats'' aka ''Biker Babes'' (1967), '' She-Devils on Wheels'' (1968), '' The Mini-Skirt Mob'' (from AIP) with

Sherry Jackson Sherry D. Jackson (born February 15, 1942) is an American retired actress and former child star. Early life Jackson was born in Wendell, Idaho, to Maurita (or Maurite) Kathleen Gilbert and Curtis Loys Jackson, Sr. on February 15, 1942, accordin ...

and

(1968), ''Sisters in Leather'' (1969) with Pat Barrington, '' Angels' Wild Women'' (1972), ''Cycle Vixens'' (1978), and ''Chrome Angels'' (2009). ''The Pink Angels'' (1971) is a somewhat campy film about a gang of homosexual bikers who head down the coast to attend a drag ball. ''

Bury Me an Angel ''Bury Me an Angel'' is a 1971 American biker film from female director Barbara Peeters, who was script supervisor on ''Angels Die Hard'' (1970). She was the first woman to direct a biker film. The film was acquired by Roger Corman's New World Pi ...

'' (1972) is a revenge story featuring a female biker (and female director). '' Angels' Wild Women'' (1972) centers around a group of tough female bikers who dominate men and eventually go a revenge-driven rampage. The story (and original ''Screaming Angels'' title) was changed after the producers found theaters were no longer interested in traditional biker films. Inspired by the popularity of

's ''

The Big Doll House ''The Big Doll House'' is a 1971 American women-in-prison film starring Pam Grier, Judy Brown, Roberta Collins, Brooke Mills, and Pat Woodell. The film follows six female inmates through daily life in a gritty, unidentified tropical prison. Late ...

'' (1971), a violent

women in prison film The women in prison film (or WiP film) is a subgenre of exploitation film that began in the early 20th century and continues to the present day. Their stories feature imprisoned women who are subjected to sexual and physical abuse, typically by ...

with

Pam Grier Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress and singer. Described by Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star (although, there are some who dispute that claim and believe Cheng Pei-pei actually holds that distinc ...

, new scenes were added featuring aggressive female bikers and a Pam Grier lookalike was added to the cast. The reworked and retitled film was a box office success. In Japan, female biker films became popular starting with '' Alleycat Rock: Female Boss'' (a.k.a. ''Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss'' or ''Female Juvenile Delinquent Leader: Alleycat Rock'' or ''Wildcat Rock'') (1970). This trend was part of the ''

sukeban is a Japanese term meaning "delinquent girl", and the female equivalent to the male in Japanese culture. The usage of the word refers to either the leader of a girl gang or the entire gang itself, and is not used to refer to any one member of a ...

'' (delinquent girl) subgenre of Toei's "Pinky violence" style of '' Pink film''. The series continued with '' Stray Cat Rock: Wild Jumbo'', '' Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter'', '' Stray Cat Rock: Machine Animal'' and ''Alleycat Rock: Crazy Riders '71''. Another similar series of exploitation films with female bikers includes '' Delinquent Girl Boss: Ballad of the Yokohama Hoods'' (1971), '' Girl Boss: Queen Bee Strikes Again'' (a.k.a. ''Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee’s Counterattack'') (1971), and '' Girl Boss Guerilla'' (1972).

The 1970s to the present

In 1970,

left AIP to form

New World Pictures New World Pictures (also known as New World Entertainment and New World Communications Group, Inc.) was an American independent production, distribution, and (in its final years as an autonomous entity) multimedia company. It was founded in 19 ...

which released '' Angels Die Hard'' (1970), '' Angels Hard as They Come'' (1971), and ''

'' (1971). As the trend began to lose momentum, filmmakers started to create horror hybrids such as '' Werewolves on Wheels'' (1971) and '' Blood Freak'' (1972). The British horror film ''

Psychomania ''Psychomania'' (originally released in the United States as ''The Death Wheelers'') is a 1973 British outlaw biker horror film starring Nicky Henson, Beryl Reid, George Sanders (in his final film) and Robert Hardy. Plot Tom Latham, an am ...

'' (1971) involves a biker gang that makes a pact with the devil to obtain immortality. Black motorcycle gangs appeared in a few blaxploitation films such as ''The Black Angels'' (1970) and ''

The Black Six ''The Black Six'' is a 1974 American blaxploitation and outlaw biker film written by George Theakos and directed by Matt Cimber. It starred several National Football League stars in the title roles. It was one of the first all-black biker films. ...

'' (1974). The biker gang ethos also featured strongly in the famed low budget Australian production ''

Mad Max ''Mad Max'' is an Australian post-apocalyptic action film series and media franchise created by George Miller and Byron Kennedy. It began in 1979 with '' Mad Max'', and was followed by three sequels: ''Mad Max 2'' (1981, released in the Unite ...

'' (1979, dir. George Miller, starring Mel Gibson), with the film spawning the real-life subculture of survival bikes. By the late 1980s, the once shocking and controversial genre became an object of campy humor in horror-comedies such as '' Chopper Chicks in Zombietown'' (1989), '' I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle'' (1990), and ''Biker Zombies'' (2001). '' Beyond the Law'' (1992) is based on a true story and centers on Dan Saxon (

Charlie Sheen Carlos Irwin Estévez (born September 3, 1965), known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor. He has appeared in films such as ''Platoon'' (1986), ''Wall Street'' (1987), '' Young Guns'' (1988), '' The Rookie'' (1990), ''The Thr ...

), an undercover cop who infiltrates a group of criminal outlaw bikers. Larry Ferguson wrote the screenplay after reading the article "Undercover Angel" by

Lawrence Linderman Lawrence Linderman is a writer who has written extensively for ''Playboy'' and ''Penthouse magazine, Penthouse'' magazines. He also helped Beverly Sills pen her autobiography. His article "Undercover Angel" in the July, 1981 issue of Playboy was th ...

in the July, 1981 issue of Playboy on an undercover agent named Dan Black. 2000 film '' Hochelaga'', a French-Canadian movie by Michel Jetté that depicts biker gang culture and activity in

Montréal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-p ...

, Québec during the Québec Biker War of the late 90s and early 2000s. 2003 film '' Biker Boyz'', starring

Laurence Fishburne Laurence John Fishburne III (born July 30, 1961) is an American actor. He is a three time Emmy Award and Tony Award winning actor known for his roles on stage and screen. He has been hailed for his forceful, militant, and authoritative charact ...

and

Djimon Hounsou Djimon Gaston Hounsou (; ; born April 24, 1964) is a Beninese-American actor and model. He began his career appearing in music videos. He made his film debut in '' Without You I'm Nothing'' (1990) and earned widespread recognition for his role as ...

, depicts illegal bike racing gangs, although neither are criminals. 2004 film ''

Torque In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...

'', which features Adam Scott,

Martin Henderson Martin Henderson (born 8 October 1974) is a New Zealand actor. He is known for his roles on the American medical drama series '' Off the Map'' as Dr. Ben Keeton (2011), the medical drama series ''Grey's Anatomy'' as Dr. Nathan Riggs (2015–201 ...

and Ice Cube, is about a biker who is faced by a rival gang leader for taking his bikes (which carry drugs), and is then framed for the murder of a member of a third gang.

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue, profanity, dark humor, non-linear storylines, cameos, ensembl ...

served as executive producer on ''

Hell Ride ''Hell Ride'' is a 2008 American action/neo-outlaw biker film written and directed by Larry Bishop and starring Bishop, Michael Madsen, Dennis Hopper, Eric Balfour, Vinnie Jones, Leonor Varela and David Carradine. It was released under the "Que ...

'' (2008) starring Dennis Hopper and Michael Madsen. This is an homage to the motorcycle gang films of the past. It was written and directed by

Larry Bishop Larry Bishop (born November 30, 1948) is an American actor, screenwriter and film director. He is the son of Sylvia Ruzga and comedian Joey Bishop. He has been featured in many Hollywood movies including '' Hell Ride''. Early life Bishop atte ...

, who acted in a number of biker films such as '' The Savage Seven'' (1968). Tarantino is a noted fan of the Australian biker movie,

Stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

(1974). '' Sons of Anarchy'' (2008-2014) is an American television drama series about a California motorcycle club. The series premiered on September 3, 2008, on cable network FX. The documentary ''Biker Mania'' (2009) includes a compilation of theater trailers and footage that tracks the history of the genre from the 1950s to the present. Edward Winterhalder is the subject of a feature-length documentary movie about the outlaw biker lifestyle that is being filmed in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Dubai.

Cultural references and parodies

After the release of ''The Wild One'' (1953), the image of the motorcycle gang, particularly the Marlon Brando character, inspired many imitators and satires in films and television shows.

Film

* From 1963 to 1966 American International Pictures produced a series of seven Beach party films. All but one featured

Harvey Lembeck Harvey Lembeck (April 15, 1923 – January 5, 1982) was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on ''The Phil Silvers Show'' (a.k.a. ''Sgt. Bilko'', a.k.a. ''You'll Never Get Rich'') in the late 1950s, and a ...

doing a Brando parody as Eric Von Zipper, inept leader of The Rat Pack motorcycle gang. These films are: ''

Beach Party ''Beach Party'' is a 1963 American film and the first of seven beach party films from American International Pictures (AIP) aimed at a teen audience.Smith, Gary A. Smith (2009) ''The American International Pictures Video Guide'', McFarland p.2 ...

'' (1963), ''

Bikini Beach ''Bikini Beach'' is a 1964 American teen film directed by William Asher and starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. The film belongs to the beach party genre of movies, popular in the 1960s. This is the third in the series of seven film ...

'' and '' Pajama Party'' (both 1964), '' Beach Blanket Bingo'' and ''

How to Stuff a Wild Bikini ''How to Stuff a Wild Bikini'' is a 1965 Pathécolor beach party film from American International Pictures. The sixth entry in a seven-film series, the movie features Mickey Rooney, Annette Funicello, Dwayne Hickman, Brian Donlevy, and Beverl ...

'' (both 1965), and '' The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini'' (1966). * '' The Horror of Party Beach'' (1964), a campy beach party-horror hybrid, includes a motorcycle gang most likely inspired by the popular American International beach movies. * ''

The Owl and the Pussycat "The Owl and the Pussy-cat" is a nonsense poem by Edward Lear, first published in 1870 in the American magazine '' Our Young Folks: an Illustrated Magazine for Boys and Girls'' and again the following year in Lear's own book ''Nonsense Songs, S ...

'' (1970); a would-be actress (

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

) makes an adult film, ''Cycle Sluts''. Photos of her and a biker gang posing in skimpy

BDSM BDSM is a variety of often erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged ...

-style leather gear appears on posters outside a theater. * ''

Every Which Way but Loose ''Every Which Way but Loose'' is a 1978 American action comedy film released by Warner Bros., produced by Robert Daley and directed by James Fargo. It stars Clint Eastwood in an uncharacteristic and offbeat comedy role as Philo Beddoe, a tr ...

'' (1978),

John Quade John William Saunders III (April 1, 1938 – August 9, 2009), better known by the stage name John Quade, was an American character actor who starred in film and in television. He was best known for his role as Cholla, the leader of the moto ...

plays Cholla, the leader of the inept Black Widows motorcycle gang who have frequent disastrous run-ins with Philo Beddoe (played by Clint Eastwood).

Music

* The girl group

The Shangri-Las The Shangri-Las were an American pop girl group of the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966 several hit songs of theirs documented teen tragedies and melodramas. They continue to be known for their hits "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", " Give Him a ...

scored a Number #1 hit single with their motorcycle gang pop song "

Leader of the Pack "Leader of the Pack" is a song written by George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich. It was a number one pop hit in 1964 for the American girl group the Shangri-Las. The single is one of the group's best known songs as well as ...

" (1964). * "Blue's Theme", an instrumental rock song that opens with the sound of a motorcycle engine, was featured on the soundtrack for ''The Wild Angels'' film. The song, written by Davie Allan and The Arrows, was a hit single in 1967.

Television

* ''

The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor, backwoods family f ...

'' ("The Clampetts Go Hollywood", 1963), inspired by ''The Wild One'', Jethro gets a motorcycle and imitates Marlon Brando's mannerisms and biker outfit. * ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'' (" Black Leather Jackets", 1964), a group of aliens disguised as a motorcycle gang takes up residence in a small American town. * ''

The Addams Family ''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over ...

'' ("The Addams Family Meets a Beatnik", 1965), a runaway rebel crashes his motorcycle in front of the Addams' house and stays with the family for a few days. Their non-judgmental acceptance of him leads to his reuniting with his estranged father. * ''

The Munsters ''The Munsters'' is an American sitcom depicting the home life of a family of benign monsters. The series starred Fred Gwynne as Frankenstein's monsterEpisodes referring to the fact that Herman is Frankenstein's monster include #55, "Just Anoth ...

'' ("Hot Rod Herman", 1965), drag-race story in which Herman dons a leather biker jacket and accessories and does a comedic impression of Brando from ''The Wild One''. * ''

The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Product ...

'' ("Br-rooom, Br-rooom", 1965), Rob (Van Dyke) buys a motorcycle and leather jacket, meets a biker gang at a hamburger stand, and almost gets arrested after the police arrive. * ''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

'' ("Trial by Treehouse", 1966), Kelley Robinson (

Robert Culp Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on ''I Spy'' (1965–1968), the espionage television se ...

) goes undercover as a Brando-esque leader of a motorcycle gang. Culp wears the same type of hat, sunglasses, and leather outfit and affects some of Brando's mannerisms. * ''

Lost In Space ''Lost in Space'' is an American science fiction television series, created and produced by Irwin Allen, which originally aired between 1965 and 1968 on CBS. The series was inspired by the 1812 novel ''The Swiss Family Robinson.'' The series fo ...

'' ("Collision of the Planets", 1967), the Robinsons contend with a gang of unruly interplanetary space bikers led by

Daniel J. Travanti Daniel J. Travanti (born Danielo Giovanni Travanti; March 7, 1940) is an American actor. He is best known for playing police captain Frank Furillo in the television drama series '' Hill Street Blues'' (1981–1987) for which he received a Gol ...

. * ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, an ...

'' ("The Mild Ones", 1967), a genre parody featuring The Purple Knights, a literate biker gang who see themselves as modern Arthurian knights. Max and 99 must pass as new gang members to rescue a kidnapped prime minister. * ''

The Monkees The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was con ...

'' ("The Wild Monkees", 1967), the guys pretend to be a biker gang to impress four tough female motorcyclists. Trouble ensues when the girls' boyfriends arrive, the Black Angels biker gang. * ''

Petticoat Junction ''Petticoat Junction'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from September 1963 to April 1970. The series takes place at the Shady Rest Hotel, which is run by Kate Bradley; her three daughters Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo, and ...

'' ("One of Our Chickens Is Missing", 1969); A pair of tough, surly bikers (

, Jack Bannon) who are suspected of poaching, intimidate mild-mannered game warden Orrin Pike. * ''

The Mod Squad ''The Mod Squad'' is an American crime drama series, originally broadcast for five seasons on ABC from September 24, 1968, to March 1, 1973. It starred Michael Cole as Peter "Pete" Cochran, Peggy Lipton as Julie Barnes, Clarence Williams III ...

'' ("A Town Called Sincere", 2:17, 1970), Pete and Linc stumble upon a motorcycle gang terrorizing a small Mexican town. * ''

The Partridge Family ''The Partridge Family'' is an American musical sitcom starring Shirley Jones and featuring David Cassidy. Jones plays a widowed mother, and Cassidy plays the oldest of her five children, in a family who embarks on a music career. It ran from S ...

'' ("A Man Called Snake", 1971), Laurie Partridge briefly dates Snake (

Rob Reiner Robert Norman Reiner (born March 6, 1947) is an American actor and filmmaker. As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence with the role of Michael "Meathead" Stivic on the CBS sitcom ''All in the Family'' (1971–1979), a performan ...

), a gruff but surprisingly sensitive member of The Rogues biker gang. In the 1972 episode "A Penny for His Thoughts", Snake (now played by

Stuart Margolin Stuart Margolin (January 31, 1940 – December 12, 2022) was an American film, theater, and television actor and director who won two Emmy Awards for playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin on the 1970s television series ''The Rockford Files''. In 1973, h ...

) makes a return appearance. * ''

'' ("The Thundermakers", 5:2, 1972), A youth joins a motorcycle gang that plans to pull off a robbery of his father's company. * '' Mannix'' ("A Way to Dusty Death", 7:2, 1973), Mannix is hired to find a missing teenager who gets mixed up with a motorcycle gang. * ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...

'' (Feb. 14, 1976),

John Belushi John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known for being one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). Throughout his c ...

and guest host Peter Boyle both dress up as Brando from ''The Wild One'' for a "Dueling Brandos" parody sketch. * ''

'' (Nov. 18, 1978), guest host

Carrie Fisher Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress and writer. She played Princess Leia in the ''Star Wars'' films (1977–1983). She reprised the role in'' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), ''The Last ...

was featured in a beach movie parody skit ("Beach Blanket Bimbo from Outer Space") in which

played Harvey Lembeck's leather-clad Eric Von Zipper character. * ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investiga ...

'' ("The Return of the Black Shadow", 1979), straightforward drama pays homage to classic '60s biker films. * ''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The seri ...

'' ("Satan's Angels", 4:7, 1980), Officer Bonnie Clark is kidnapped by a biker gang. * ''

'' (February 20, 1982), guest host and biker film veteran Bruce Dern appears in the parody sketch "The Mild One". He plays a thoughtful, Zen-inspired leader of a biker gang who uses philosophy instead of violence to terrorize people in a diner. * '' T.J. Hooker'' ("Hooker's War", 1982), Sergeant T.J. Hooker (

William Shatner William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, from his 1965 debut as the captain of the starship ''Enterpris ...

) pursues an outlaw motorcycle gang dealing in illegal guns. * ''

Miami Vice ''Miami Vice'' is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two M ...

'' ("Viking Bikers from Hell", 1987), revenge story about a violent biker gang.

References

{{film genres Film genres