green day music videos ranked
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Green Day music videos ranked in order of greatness

Green Day are a famed punk-rock band who’ve been around for decades—from breaking out on MTV with their 1994 hit album Dookie to the mainstream success of 2004’s American Idiot.

The band recently released their 13th full-length, Father Of All Motherfuckers, adding even more visuals to their insane catalog. To celebrate, we’ve ranked every Green Day music video ever, from good to greatest. Check out our full list below!

52. “Redundant”

1997’s Nimrod was Green Day’s fifth full-length, which produced four videos on this list, including “Redundant.” Inspired by the short film Tango, “Redundant” features people completing mundane tasks—as its title indicates—while the band perform. Although it’s a great Green Day song, it doesn’t hold our attention for long (and that’s most assuredly the point). 

51. “East Jesus Nowhere”

“East Jesus Nowhere” comes from Green Day’s eighth full-length, 21st Century Breakdown. Originally called “March Of The Dogs” until vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong found out Sum 41 already used the title, this track got its name from a line spoken in the 2007 film Juno. The “East Jesus Nowhere” music video sees live concert footage and images from the group’s 21st Centruy Breakdown world tour.

50. “21st Century Breakdown”

“21st Century Breakdown” is the second track off Green Day’s 2009 album of the same name. This music video sets the graffiti-painted tone as it opens with the man and woman from the album’s art. The animated imagery flows throughout until the last 30 seconds fade into the real-life band performing on a rooftop. The simplicity of this vibrant song’s video lands “21st Century Breakdown” at No. 50. 

49. “Cigarettes And Valentines”

“Cigarettes And Valentines” was originally supposed to be on an album of the same name that would’ve followed 2000’s Warning, but the recordings were allegedly stolen from the studio. Instead of simply rerecording the album, the band decided to start over and wrote American Idiot. The lost album’s title track  was first heard during the band’s 21st Century Breakdown world tour. Green Day thankfully recorded their set in Saitama, Japan, for the band’s live DVD. The rest of the world got to experience this previously unreleased track on their live album, Awesome As Fuck, as well as through the concert-inspired music video. 

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48. “Brutal Love”

“Brutal Love” can be found on the final album of the ¡Uno! trilogy, ¡Tré!, from 2012. The black-and-gray music video paints a heartbroken Armstrong like never before. Although it’s a heavy topic, the video is a little too tame to really captivate us compared to others in their back catalog.

47. “Kill The DJ”

Taken from their ninth full-length, ¡Uno!, “Kill The DJ” shows a dancier side to the punk trio than ever before. The music video begins with a black-and-white scene of the band members riding through the desert on motorcycles before they find themselves in a modern club, where they take the stage to perform the song.

46. “Stay The Night”

“Stay The Night” is another song on their ninth album, ¡Uno! The straightforward music video features Green Day performing the track in an empty room and feels pretty uninspired compared to what they’re capable of creating.

45. “Hitchin’ A Ride”

This Nimrod hit from 1997 features the director Green Day used throughout their Dookie and Insomniac run, Mark Kohr. Offering a throwback lens with the band playing the song onstage during a prohibition-era state, the unique spin on their performance was good, but there are a few others that did it a little better.

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44. “Nuclear Family”

This ¡Uno! song came wrapped with a music video that sees Green Day performing “Nuclear Family” in the same location as “Stay The Night.” But, like the latter, it’s rather predictable.

43. “Oh Love”

This ¡Uno! track debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart, which was the second time they landed the spot (the first being 2009’s “Know Your Enemy”). The trio brought their American Idiot video director Samuel Bayer back for the “Oh Love” visual. The video shows the stereotypical idea of the rock star lifestyle that some only dream of.

42. “Working Class Hero”

Green Day covered this John Lennon classic for charity comp Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur in 2007. The black-and-white video spotlights Sudan citizens expressing a desire for peace while often cutting to Green Day performing the cover.

41. “The Forgotten”

“The Forgotten” first appeared on Green Day’s album ¡Tré! before hitting the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 soundtrack. The video montages the film’s imagery as Armstrong’s vocals paint a rather uneventful story compared to others that lay ahead.

Read more: Green Day close out 2019 with classic track at ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ set

40. “Still Breathing”

This song from Green Day’s 12th full-length, Revolution Radio, peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs for the third time in the band’s history. The gloomy “Still Breathing” video follows Armstrong in a motionless car, a boy on the run and various other characters and wildlife shots. Naturally, the video eventually gets to Green Day performing the song in an abandoned building as the story continues throughout, much like other videos on this list.

39. “Fire, Ready, Aim”

“Fire, Ready, Aim” can be found on Green Day’s latest album, Father Of All Motherfuckers. In partnership with the NHL, the band premiered the song before the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils last fall. The fiery track’s performance video is in the center of a hockey rink at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

38. “Last Ride In”

This Nimrod single is an instrumental track that came with a VHS-style music video with random old Green Day footage. It’s a must-see for any fan, but it’s probably a little less interesting to a random viewer. 

37. “2000 Light Years Away”

“2000 Light Years Away” came out in 1991 on Green Day’s second album, Kerplunk!, but the music video didn’t surface until 26 years later. The video shows old footage of the band performing on a static-filled television. However, the long-awaited video is like most other Green Day videos, which causes it to fall here on the list.

Read more: Billie Joe Armstrong reveals Green Day song that’s “too hard” to play live

36. “Maria”

“Maria” was originally released as a B-side, but it was rerecorded for the International Superhits! compilation released in 2001. The music video has a performance in a black-and-white setting, but this concept appears several times throughout our list. 

35. “Poprocks & Coke”

“Poprocks & Coke” was a previously unreleased track that found its way onto International Superhits! as well. The short behind-the-scenes video would appeal to massive fans rather than just anyone who comes across the music video.

34. “Macy’s Day Parade”

This Warning track paints a black-and-white picture with its music video as Armstrong finds his way through unwanted machinery. The frontman wonders around until he meets up with the rest of his band, where the trio can then be seen performing.

33. “Nightlife”

“Nightlife” is the 11th track on Green Day’s 10th full-length, ¡Dos!. The song hears a feature from Lady Cobra, who’s portrayed in the music video getting rowdy at what looks like an unforgettable night at a club while the band perform. 

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32. “Stuck With Me”

“Stuck With Me” can be found on 1995’s Insomniac and features a black-and-white-inspired music video. It mostly sees them performing the song, with Winston Smith artwork bleeding in that he animated specifically for the album. 

31. “Troublemaker”

“Troublemaker” can also be found on 2012’s ¡Uno! The music video for this insane track shows footage from onstage, inside the studio and behind the scenes while “Troublemaker” blares. This unique angle helps land this ¡Uno! classic at No. 31.

30. “Troubled Times”

This Revolution Radio track features Armstrong singing “Troubled Times” before the screen is split into troubling events happening throughout, symbolizing the political stance that Green Day became known for years ago. The throwback feel helps “Troubled Times” land at No. 30.

29. “Waiting”

The Marc Webb-directed video sees Green Day performing at a house party that we all wish we had been invited to. The attendees can be seen dancing, partying and overall just having fun in this down-to-earth Green Day music video that has us missing the recklessness of our youth.

Read more: ‘American Idiot’ turns 15, but the Green Day punk opera still prevails

28. “Whatshername”

This American Idiot track fills in the Jesus of Suburbia puzzle with an unusual video split down Whatshername’s face, showing two sides to the star. The video mysteriously made its way onto the internet even though it was never officially released by the band. This fresh video idea for Green Day helped it land at No. 28.

27. “Back In The USA”

“Back In The USA” made its debut as an unreleased song on Green Day’s Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band in 2017. The music video sees a black-and-gray Green Day living the great American Dream, whose corrupt blindness is interrupted when their rose-colored glasses are replaced with ones that let people see the truth happening in their country. This politically-charged video throws Green Day back to their roots, landing “Back In The USA” at No. 27 on our list.

26. “Last Of The American Girls”

“Last Of The American Girls” is another incredible track from 21st Century Breakdown that peaked at No. 34 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart. The music video was also directed by Webb and shows the female protagonist from the album, Gloria, who also appears in “21 Guns.” The continued story of the album’s main characters lands this video at No. 26.

25. “Revolution Radio”

“Revolution Radio” can be found on the 2016 Green Day album of the same name. The video sees the band performing it with flashes of old Green Day concerts appearing throughout, giving a new taste to a band who’ve been around for generations.

Read more: QUIZ: Which nostalgic pop punk song are you?

24. “Bang Bang”

2016’s Revolution Radio gave us the political-packed “Bang Bang.” Inspired by the mass-shooting epidemic in the United States, the track was written from the perspective of a mass shooter. The music video, however, follows three gunmen robbing a bank wearing masks that strongly resemble each member of Green Day before attending a house party that the band are playing at. The video was directed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong, who makes a cameo as a member of the party. 

23. “Stray Heart”

The music video for “Stray Heart” sees a man shopping for Green Day records, but when he takes them to his girlfriend later, she notices a massive hole in his chest where his heart should be. After searching, the man finds it with another woman before his heart runs away from him again. The classic tale of cat and mouse with a unique spin puts “Stray Heart” as No. 23 on our list.

22. “Meet Me On The Roof”

“Meet Me On The Roof” is the latest video from Green Day for Father Of All Motherfuckers. The clip sees Stranger ThingsGaten Matarazzo starring in a schoolyard love story centered around Green Day performing the track. The Stranger Things nod and incredible wardrobe puts “Meet Me On The Roof” at No. 22. 

21. “Oh Yeah!”

The “Oh Yeah!” visual begins with drummer Tré Cool showing us how to play the drums for the song. While a man watches the YouTube tutorial on his smartphone while driving, he hits Armstrong with his car and then starts recording the famous musician. The video pokes fun at a world controlled by social media, and this clever, new-age spin puts “Oh Yeah!” at No. 21. 

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20. “When I Come Around”

This track from Green Day’s third full-length, Dookie, was the highest-charting single the band had ever released until “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” came out a decade later. The “When I Come Around” video follows the band walking around while mundane things are happening in both the buildings and lives they pass. It’s a simple Green Day music concept but a classic nonetheless.

19. “Jesus Of Suburbia”

Green Day’s second-longest song of all time “Jesus Of Suburbia” can be found on the group’s timeless record American Idiot that follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia throughout its 13 tracks. The single’s music video was directed by Samuel Bayer, who some may know as the man behind the Nirvana music video “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Lou Taylor Pucci (who went on to star in American Horror Story: 1984 and Netflix’s You) portrays the protagonist throughout this music video. “Jesus Of Suburbia” gifted us with two music videos. One is complete with a plot and dialogue, while the other is a director’s cut. Both versions contain a nod to “1979” by the Smashing Pumpkins as well as Jesus’ love interest (Whatsername) played by Kelli Garner. The creativity and crossovers land this visual at No. 19.

18. “Welcome To Paradise”

Green Day’s second full-length, Kerplunk!, first gave the world the classic hit “Welcome To Paradise” in 1991, which Green Day just performed at the 2019 Game Awards. Three years later, they released Dookie with a rerecorded version of the song. The music video shows the band playing a live show to an energetic audience, with their Dookie version of “Welcome To Paradise” being heard throughout. Although it’s a simple concept for a music video, the classic storyline of a punk show with an enthusiastic audience always gets us wanting to be at a concert.

17. “Let Yourself Go”

The “Let Yourself Go” music video sees footage that was recorded live at Red 7 in Austin, Texas, Nov. 17, 2011. The black-and-white visual reminds us of fond memories spent in a pit with complete strangers who felt like family, making it a video that we continuously love to revisit.

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16. “Father Of All…”

“Father Of All…” is the first track on Green Day’s latest album, Father Of All Motherfuckers, that already had its live debut and has been calleda unicorn falling out of the sky” by the act’s frontman. The music video pays homage to the “Guitar Man” portion of the 1968 comeback special by Elvis Presley, as the band perform in front of dancers on the big red backdrop. Clips of people dancing are intertwined throughout, giving the “Father Of All…” music video a hip-shaking feeling we didn’t see coming.

15. “Minority”

“Minority” was introduced to the world as the lead single from 2000’s Warning. The music video was directed by Evan Bernard, who the trio had previously drafted for their “Nice Guys Finish Last” video. “Minority” sees the band performing on a parade float that’s traveling on an route before the trio destroys the float in typical Green Day fashion.

14. “Walking Contradictions”

“Walking Contradictions” was the final single and last song off 1995’s Insomniac. The music video was directed by Roman Coppola, who was later nominated for Best Original Screenplay with co-writer Wes Anderson for the 2012 film Moonrise Kingdom. The video sees Green Day in a Mr. Magoo-inspired video that was nominated for Best Music Video at the 1997 Grammys, which helped it receive the No. 14 spot on our list.

13. “Know Your Enemy”

“Know Your Enemy” can be found on 2009’s 21st Century Breakdown. The certified gold song came with a music video that sees Green Day performing on a stage in a field at night, with a barbed-wire fence keeping their enemy out. The politically charged video also features helicopters and surveillance cameras throughout before a fire breaks out behind each band member onstage. The blatant message the trio were sharing in a still war-hungry economy places this ever-relevant video at No. 13.

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12. “21 Guns”

The “21 Guns” music video was another one directed by Webb, and it won Best Rock Video, Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. It shows the band, along with the rock opera’s two protagonists, hiding in a room following a bank robbery. After a rain of bullets and Green Day performing the song in shots, the duo kiss in relief, forming the album cover from 21st Century Breakdown. This rare angle alone catapults “21 Guns” to No. 12 on our list.

11. “Nice Guys Finish Last”

This Nimrod track came with a sporty music video that sees the punk trio being coached through a performance on a high school football field. The song was featured on the 1999 famed film Varsity Blues, which earned it a nomination for an MTV Movie Award for Best Song From A Film later that year. Drizzled in a classic ’90s vibe and topped with a Varsity Blues cherry earns this visual the No. 11 spot on our list.

10. “Warning”

The punk trio enlisted Francis Lawrence to direct the “Warning” video, the man who went on to helm three of the four Hunger Games films. The video sees Green Day performing the song in a man’s bedroom as he races to get ready for his day. The band continue to play in his room while he goes about his day. This Green Day video takes the No 10 on our list due to the simplicity and “Green Day playing in a random place” theme that they’ve established for decades.

9. “Wake Me Up When September Ends”

This American Idiot track was written about the death of Armstrong’s father when the singer was 10 years old. Also directed by Bayer, “Wake Me Up When September Ends” is packed full of anti-war themes in a country that’s been at war for years. The gut-wrenching video leaves us stuck between wanting more and wanting it to end, putting this video at No. 9.

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8. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”

“Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” is a classic ballad, and some say this track and album helped set the course for Green Day 20-plus years ago. This Nimrod track came with a music video that went on to earn Green Day their first MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video, placing this song at No. 8 on our list.

7. “Geek Stink Breath”

“Geek Stink Breath” originally appeared on the live EP Foot In Mouth that was only released in Japan. The rest of the world was introduced to the amazing track on 1995’s Insomniac. The “Geek Stink Breath” music video came with Green Day playing the song while other events are happening. This time, a dentist visit and a deep dive into a geek’s stink breath are the focus points intertwined with the band playing the track. The clever angle of the music video that’s combined with one of our favorite Insomniac tracks lands this visual at No. 7. 

6. “Holiday”

“Holiday” was one of several hits off American Idiot. This track was a prelude to “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” and was aimed at then-President George W. Bush. The political-infused music video sees the punk trio in a 1968 Mercury convertible partying down the Las Vegas strip before hitting a bar where each band member plays multiple different characters. The visual ends when the car comes to a stop in a field where the “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” music video begins.

5. “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”

“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” is an American Idiot track that, as of right now, is the only song to ever win both the Grammy for Record Of The year and MTV Video Music Award for Video Of The Year. The music video for the remarkable song picks up right where the “Holiday” music video left off. After their car that they used to party down the Las Vegas strip breaks down, the band begin a sobering walk down a dust road. The “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” video won six awards at the MTV Video Music Awards, including Video Of The Year, Best Group Video, Best Rock Video, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Direction. That, combined with the cleverness of a continued story through a series of music videos, places this one at No. 5 on our list. 

Read more: Post Malone teaches Billie Joe Armstrong beer pong skills

4. “Brain Stew/Jaded”

“Brain Stew/Jaded” also came from Insomniac, but the two tracklist neighboring songs were released as a joint single, so naturally the music video is cut into two parts. The “Brain Stew” portion of the video sees Green Day lying on a couch while being dragged through a landfill behind a bulldozer, complete with hula dancers, an old lip-syncing woman, horses rolling in dirt and more. The band find their way into the “Jaded” portion of the video, where they’re portrayed in a different light with their classic music video performance portion. The idea to combine the two tracks into one single and produce a music video reflecting that with opposing ideas mirrored throughout was genius, and that’s why “Brain Stew/Jaded” comes in at No. 4 on our list. 

3. “American Idiot”

The title track from the band’s punk-rock-opera-album-turned-musical that follows the Jesus of Suburbia earned Green Day nominations for four Grammys in 2005, including Best Rock Song, Best Music Video, Record Of The Year and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. The “Best Music Video” nominee sees them performing the track in a warehouse in front of a green American flag that later loses its color as the flag bleeds onto the floor. The symbolism-packed album for the state of America at the time introduced a new generation to the politically charged punk band, with “American Idiot” paving the path. That and its versatile lyrics catapults this video to No. 3 on our list. 

2. “Basket Case”

Dookie is still the best-selling Green Day album to date, and part of that may be due to the popularity of their hit anxiety-filled track, “Basket Case,” which the band just performed at the 2019 American Music Awards. The music video was filmed in an actual abandoned mental institution, Agnews Developmental Center, in Santa Clara County, California. It was actually shot in black and white, with color later added for effect. The insane song paired with a unique and inspiring video unlike any other earned Green Day nine MTV Video Music Award nominations and the No. 2 spot on our list.

1. “Longview”

Set in a dim basement in a broken down house where the band used to live in Oakland, California, the video was the first one from the trio. It sees Armstrong on a couch singing the song while watching an old-school television. A monkey can be seen joining him on the couch that the frontman later destroys. This unique yet classic ’90s video that threw Green Day into the spotlight and took us away to paradise grabs the first place spot due to creativity and its importance to their history. 

You can catch some of these songs live on the Hella Mega tour where Green Day will be joined by Weezer and Fall Out Boy. The mega tour kicks off in France June 13. All information is available here.