Cinema can be a tool for political change and the betterment of society. Since its inception, the cinematic medium has reflected the real world and criticized the political and social institutions that govern us. But how does cinema, a visual medium, tackle something as abstract and invisible as capitalism? Many filmmakers have focused on the pitfalls and shortcomings of the economic system by showing how corporate greed affects the average person, how consumerism and individualism affects our mental health, and how inequality can brew societal unrest.
The following are some great movies that deal with capitalism in a critical yet interesting way:
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9 Modern Times (1936)
United Artists
Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times is not only one of the most important films in history, it is also one of the most biting critiques of early industrial capitalism ever made. Chaplin brings back his famous Little Tramp in this comedic masterpiece, and puts him to work at a factory where the boss is constantly trying to improve workers’ efficiency. In a scene that inspired thousands of imitators (including I Love Lucy’s iconic chocolate sequence), Chaplin is seen standing in front of an assembly line, when suddenly the pace of the machine accelerates and the confused worker cannot keep up with it, so he goes crazy and ends up in prison. Relying on his trademark gestural acting, Chaplin enacts a simple yet effective critique of capitalist productivity and the obsession for profit. The actor/director doesn’t have to utter a single coherent word to create a tale that many workers can relate to, even today, as inequality has only gotten worse and capitalism continues to prioritize money over the life and health of workers.
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In 1989, Modern Times was one of the first 25 films selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
8 The Godfather 1 and 2 (1972 & 1974)
Paramount Pictures
The Godfather is not the first film to come to mind when thinking about capitalism. Indeed, Francis Ford Coppola’s gangster film deals explicitly with issues like loyalty, family and violence, but the director himself has claimed how The Godfather is also a metaphor for corruption in capitalism. In a letter to Marlon Brando, who had recently turned down his Oscar for The Godfather, Coppola tries to convince the actor to return for the sequel by saying that the story of the Corleone clan was meant to show how “the Mafia is only a metaphor for America and capitalism, which will do anything to protect and perpetuate itself. (I will do this anyway, if you’re not in the film…but if you were in it, it would be better, and you would help me with your ideas as I work on the script.)” The Godfather criticizes the American Dream by showing how people who make themselves out of nothing end up clinging onto their wealth by all means because they know how hard poverty can be in the capitalist system. The Godfather is revered by most film lovers, for good reason– it is a beautifully shot, masterfully acted and an intelligent tale about the pitfalls of capitalist America.
7 Norma Rae (1979)
20th Century Fox
Norma Rae is a drama directed by Martin Ritt and based on the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton. Sally Field stars as Norma Rae, a North Carolina woman who follows in her family footsteps and gets a job in a local textile factory. However, the pay is meager for the long, arduous hours, and many of her coworkers’ health becomes compromised due to poor working conditions. After hearing a speech by a labor activist, Norma becomes involved in trade unionism and tries to rally her coworkers, which angers her family, fiancé, and, of course, her employers. Norma Rae is a heart-wrenching tale of solidarity, honor, and bravery, showing workers coming together for the greater good. In a time when women were gaining independence and entering the capitalist workforce, the film shows an ordinary woman taking a stand and demanding her freedom at home and at work. The film is led by a fantastic and energetic Sally Field, who received the Best Actress Prize at both Cannes and the Oscars for the role.
6 They Live (1988)
Universal Pictures
John Carpenter’s They Live is a science-fiction film about an unnamed drifter who sees hidden messages in mass media when he puts on a special pair of glasses. The billboards around him say things like OBEY, CONFORM, and CONSUME, and he soon starts to learn about a global conspiracy by an alien ruling class to manipulate people into consuming and being content with capitalism. In his ranking of Carpenter’s best films, Artie Ghosh of MovieWeb writes that the film is “undoubtedly silly, ripe with plot holes and unimaginative visual effects, but has been reclaimed by a group of fans who praise its anti-capitalist message…” They Live is a funny and somewhat light critique of consumerism and neoliberalism, which are usually treated as very serious topics. It shows the growing discontent among Americans, including Carpenter himself, with the policies of austerity that president Ronald Reagan implemented during the 80s. It’s a great cult film that was ahead of its time.
5 American Psycho (2000)
Lionsgate
Mary Harron’s adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel American Psycho examines the psychological toll that capitalism puts on all of us. Starring Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, a yuppie New York City investment banker who moonlights as a serial killer preying on homeless people. There are many films dealing with the figure of the yuppie like Wall Street, but none is as good as American Psycho. With great performances by Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, and Reese Witherspoon, the film uses deliciously dark comedy to dissect the noxious incentives that capitalism gives us. It explores how this system makes people into heartless drones, always looking for ways to improve our lot in life, with no regard for the well-being of others. While it exaggerates the world of finance, this hyperbole helps elucidate how capitalist systems affect human psychology and creates amoral people who only care about themselves. Capitalist Individualism is taken to its most horrific extreme.
4 The Queen of Versailles (2012)
Magnolia Pictures
Directed by Lauren Greenfield, The Queen of Versailles is an excellent documentary about the extravagance and decadence of late capitalism. The film depicts Jackie and David Siegel, billionaire owners of Westgate Resorts, as they build their dream home, Versailles, the largest and most expensive home in the United States. When the financial crisis happens, the whole family must readjust to a new economic reality. Drawing on tropes of reality TV shows like The Real Housewives franchise with an intelligent documentarian’s observational approach, the film makes the viewer sympathize with the subjects while still allowing for a bit of schadenfreude at the demise of the one percent. The Queen of Versailles is an incisive critique of inequality and a window into one of the most important moments in the history of American capitalism. Ezra Klein of the Washington Post called it “the single best film on The Great Recession.”
3 The Big Short (2015)
After the 2008 financial crisis, working and middle-class people were left wondering what the hell had even happened. Millions of houses foreclosed, thousands of savings accounts were depleted, and billions of taxpayers’ dollars were used to save banks. Adam Mckay’s The Big Short is a great film for anyone who wants to understand the crisis, and capitalism at large, as it features cameos by celebrities like Margot Robbie, Anthony Bourdain and Selena Gomez who break the fourth wall and explain economic theory using accessible language. The film follows an investment banker, played by Steve Carell, who foresees the housing bubble bursting and bets money on the stock market’s demise. Apart from showing the dangers of unregulated capitalism and the finance sector’s unfettered greed, The Big Short is also carried by its comedy, performances, and a compelling tale of intrigue.
2 Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Mirror Releasing / Focus Pictures
Directed by self-described communist Boots Riley, Sorry to Bother You is an absurdist comedy that pokes fun at the absurdities of capitalism. Lakeith Stanfield stars as Cassius, a man who finds a job at a call center and starts climbing the corporate ladder by using his “white voice” on his calls. But his success quickly strains his relationships with friends and colleagues who are trying to unionize. The movie takes a turn for the surreal when he uncovers a shocking experiment being carried out by the CEO. Sorry To Bother is a magical satire of contemporary dead-end jobs, but it is also an intersectional analysis of capitalism as it includes racial and gender-based considerations in its study of oppression. Boots Riley has also mentioned that he cast Armie Hammer (pre-scandal) as a nice CEO because he wanted to capture the new idea of capitalism. He told Democracy Now that “the new capitalism attempts to say, “There is no capitalism here. What are you talking about?” Sorry To Bother You is a must-watch for anyone looking to understand the world and have a good laugh.
1 Parasite (2019)
CJ Entertainment
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho is one of the best contemporary storytellers regarding capitalism. With Snowpiercer, he created a thrilling tale about the class divide, and his film Okja was a very compelling critique of corporate greed and animal abuse. But his best anti-capitalist manifesto to date has to be Parasite. The film is a half comedy, half thriller that tells the story of a humble Seoul family who schemes their way into working for a wealthy family. The characters pose as highly qualified individuals to get jobs as tutors, maids, and drivers, but things go sour when they uncover a bizarre family secret. Parasite is a poignant and entertaining depiction of class difference in contemporary South Korea, a nation that has seen rapid economic growth in recent years, and combines visually stunning cinematography, a gripping and multi-layered plot, and a sociological dissection of inequality. Perhaps this is why it became the first-ever non-English-language movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and why it won the Palme d’Or at Cannes – the two biggest awards in the film industry.
