Wile E. Coyote has utilized a variety of gadgets in his prolonged chase of the Road Runner without success for many years. The question arises: could the failure be attributed to the quality of products from the Acme Corporation? Could it be that the company responsible for creations like the “Instant Tunnel” and the “Do-It-Yourself Tornado Kit” simply manufactures subpar items?
The premise of the film Coyote vs. Acme revolves around our unfortunate protagonist seeking justice by enlisting a lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation for the physical pain he has endured from using their products.
After facing delays, the movie is set to premiere in theaters on Friday following a complex journey to the big screen. Initially completed in 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery shelved it as a tax write-off, only to be revived when independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights last year.
In honor of the film’s theme, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite anti-capitalist movies from the past four decades.
RoboCop (1987)
In this once-far-fetched film that now feels eerily close to reality, RoboCop envisions a near future where a company named Omni Consumer Products essentially controls the Detroit police force. The central character, RoboCop, uncovers the ruthless actions of Omni executive Dick Jones in his quest for corporate success. However, RoboCop is programmed not to harm Omni executives, leading to a moral dilemma.
They Live (1988)
In John Carpenter’s renowned sci-fi film, a regular worker discovers special sunglasses that reveal a hidden truth: aliens are masquerading as humans and using subliminal messages to manipulate people into consumption and conformity. The aliens’ ultimate goal is to exploit Earth’s resources while deceiving its inhabitants.
Fight Club (1999)
Serving as a thematic successor to They Live, Fight Club delves into the notion that society indoctrinates individuals to engage in relentless consumerism. The protagonist, disillusioned with this reality, forms an underground fight club with an enigmatic figure named Tyler Durden to rebel against the capitalist system, culminating in radical anti-capitalist actions.
Michael Clayton (2007)
This film exposes the lengths corporations will go to conceal their culpability. George Clooney portrays a fixer enlisted to aid a law firm representing U-North in a massive lawsuit linked to a deadly pesticide. The chilling scene where assassins eliminate a lawyer holding damning evidence against U-North underscores the ruthless tactics employed by corporations.
WALL-E (2008)
In a critique of consumerism, WALL-E portrays a future where excessive consumption renders Earth uninhabitable for all but a lone robot, WALL-E. Humans reside on massive ships operated by the Buy N Large corporation, engaging in mindless consumption while neglecting the ruined Earth.
Sorry to Bother You (2018)
Director Boots Riley’s satirical film follows a telemarketer who discovers success by adopting a “white” accent, leading him to confront ethical dilemmas within his company. The narrative evolves into a critique of corporate exploitation, unveiling a disturbing reality of hybrid human-horse beings bred for labor.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)
A group of young activists decides to challenge the fossil fuel industry by sabotaging its infrastructure, highlighting the risks and complexities of such direct action. The film provocatively explores the implications of environmental activism through high-stakes scenarios.