Wild in the Streets

Hotly discussed upon its release but often relegated to cult-movie status today, Barry Shear’s film raises galvanic questions about ageism, military conscription, civil rights, and drug culture, epitomizing the earthquake of youth culture typically assigned to the year 1968. Upstart pop-star-turned-politician Max Frost (Jones) builds a political platform on the grievances of America’s overlooked youth majority. While Max initially enjoys the backing of a smug ruling class, things take a Swiftian twist when he introduces a plan forcing all citizens over 35 to take LSD—and worse.

Featuring an introduction by writer Rick Perlstein