Films About Corporations
Films about corporations often explore the complexities and impacts of corporate culture, power, and influence on individuals and society. These movies delve into the ethical dilemmas, political intrigue, and sometimes nefarious activities associated with big business. They can be thrilling dramas, dark comedies, or insightful documentaries, all aiming to shed light on the often opaque world of corporate dealings.
List of Films About Corporations
- “The Social Network”, 2010
- “Wall Street”, 1987
- “The Wolf of Wall Street”, 2013
- “Erin Brockovich”, 2000
- “The Big Short”, 2015
- “Moneyball”, 2011
- “Thank You for Smoking”, 2005
- “Office Space”, 1999
- “Glengarry Glen Ross”, 1992
- “Up in the Air”, 2009
- “Boiler Room”, 2000
- “The Insider”, 1999
- “Silkwood”, 1983
- “Network”, 1976
- “The Corporation”, 2003
“The Social Network”, 2010
Director: David Fincher
This film chronicles the founding of Facebook, focusing on the legal and personal battles faced by Mark Zuckerberg and his co-founders.
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, Max Minghella, Rashida Jones, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara, Bryan Barter, Joseph Mazzello;
Production year: 2010;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Social Network” on the website imdb.com
“Wall Street”, 1987
Director: Oliver Stone
A young stockbroker becomes entangled in the cutthroat and morally dubious world of corporate finance, influenced by the ruthless Gordon Gekko.
Starring: Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Daryl Hannah, Martin Sheen, Hal Holbrook, Terence Stamp, Saul Rubinek, William G. Knight, James Spader, Tamara Tunie;
Production year: 1987;
Genre: drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Wall Street” on the website imdb.com
“The Wolf of Wall Street”, 2013
Director: Martin Scorsese
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, this film portrays the excesses and illegal activities of a corrupt stockbroker who defrauds investors.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, P.J. Byrne, Jon Bernthal, Cristin Milioti, Jean Dujardin, Matthew McConaughey;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, crime, biography, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 180 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,2;
“Erin Brockovich”, 2000
Director: Steven Soderbergh
A legal assistant uncovers a corporate cover-up involving contaminated water in a small town, leading to a major lawsuit against a powerful company.
Starring: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart, Peter Coyote, Cherry Jones, Tracey Walter, Conchata Ferrell, Marg Helgenberger, David Brisbin, Dawn Didawick;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Erin Brockovich” on the website imdb.com
“The Big Short”, 2015
Director: Adam McKay
This film explores the events leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, following several finance professionals who predicted and profited from the collapse.
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Marisa Tomei;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: drama, comedy, biography, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 130 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Big Short” on the website imdb.com
“Moneyball”, 2011
Director: Bennett Miller
Focusing on the use of data analytics in baseball, this film tells the story of how the Oakland Athletics revolutionized team management under General Manager Billy Beane.
Starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt, Robin Wright, Stephen Bishop, Reed Diamond, Brent Jennings, Ken Medlock, Tammy Blanchard;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, sport, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 133 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Moneyball” on the website imdb.com
“Thank You for Smoking”, 2005
Director: Jason Reitman
A satirical comedy that follows a lobbyist for the tobacco industry as he navigates the moral challenges of promoting smoking in the face of increasing public opposition.
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Maria Bello, Cameron Bright, J.K. Simmons, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, Adam Brody, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, David Koechner;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 92 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Thank You for Smoking” on the website imdb.com
“Office Space”, 1999
Director: Mike Judge
A comedy that delves into the mundane and often absurd realities of corporate office life, following a disgruntled employee who decides to rebel against his oppressive work environment.
Starring: Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, Diedrich Bader, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, Richard Riehle, Alexandra Wentworth, Joe Bays;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 89 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Office Space” on the website imdb.com
“Glengarry Glen Ross”, 1992
Director: James Foley
Set in a real estate office, this film depicts the high-pressure tactics and moral compromises of salesmen desperate to succeed in a cutthroat business.
Starring: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Pryce, Bruce Altman, Jude Ciccolella, Paul Butler;
Production year: 1992;
Genre: drama, crime, detective;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Glengarry Glen Ross” on the website imdb.com
“Up in the Air”, 2009
Director: Jason Reitman
A corporate downsizer, who travels extensively to fire employees, faces personal and professional challenges as he reassesses his lifestyle and career.
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Amy Morton, Melanie Lynskey, J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott, Danny McBride, Zach Galifianakis;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: drama, melodrama, comedy;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 109 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Up in the Air” on the website imdb.com
“Boiler Room”, 2000
Director: Ben Younger
A college dropout gets involved in a shady brokerage firm that engages in fraudulent stock selling, leading to a moral and legal reckoning.
Starring: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Nia Long, Ben Affleck, Nicky Katt, Scott Caan, Tom Everett Scott, Ron Rifkin, Jamie Kennedy, Taylor Nichols;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 120 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Boiler Room” on the website imdb.com
“The Insider”, 1999
Director: Michael Mann
Based on a true story, this film follows a whistleblower from the tobacco industry who exposes the company's knowledge of the dangers of smoking, leading to significant legal and personal consequences.
Starring: Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora, Philip Baker Hall, Lindsay Crouse, Debi Mazar, Stephen Tobolowsky, Colm Feore, Bruce McGill;
Production year: 1999;
Genre: thriller, drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 157 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Insider” on the website imdb.com
“Silkwood”, 1983
Director: Mike Nichols
The story of Karen Silkwood, a worker at a plutonium processing plant who exposes safety violations and becomes a whistleblower, facing retaliation from the corporation.
Starring: Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, Cher, Craig T. Nelson, Diana Scarwid, Fred Ward, Ron Silver, Charles Hallahan, Josef Sommer, Sudie Bond;
Production year: 1983;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Silkwood” on the website imdb.com
“Network”, 1976
Director: Sidney Lumet
A television news anchor's on-air breakdown becomes a spectacle, and the network exploits his mental state for ratings, reflecting on the corporate greed and manipulation in media.
Starring: Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, Arthur Burghardt, Bill Burrows, John Carpenter, Jordan Charney;
Production year: 1976;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Network” on the website imdb.com
“The Corporation”, 2003
Director: Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott
A documentary that critically examines the behavior and impact of corporations, questioning the ethics and legal status of corporations as “persons” under the law.
Starring: Mikela J. Mikael, Rob Beckwermert, Christopher Gora, Nina Jones, Richard Kopycinski, Karen Lam, Sean Lang, Bert Phillips, Diana Wilson, Jane Akre;
Production year: 2003;
Genre: documentary, history;
Duration: 145 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Corporation” on the website imdb.com
In conclusion, films about corporations offer a diverse and insightful exploration into the intricate dynamics of power, ethics, and the human spirit within the business realm. From the satirical wit of “The Hudsucker Proxy” to the harrowing narratives of “The Corporation” and “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” these films serve not only as sources of entertainment but also as critical commentaries on corporate culture and its far-reaching impacts on society. As audiences, we are invited to question, reflect, and engage with the complexities of the corporate world, leaving us better informed and perhaps more cautious about the entities that wield significant influence over our daily lives and global economy.
