Shubhabrata Dutta
The fight between capitalism and socialism has been an ongoing one throughout history. Wars have been fought over it, and debates on the topic take place almost every day all over the world. We can all agree that socialism arrived as a properly documented philosophy much later, while capitalism is something that has always been there. When man first produced surplus and exchanged his goods for some other commodity with another man, capitalism was born. Thus, it is a more primitive way of life that is ingrained into our society.
There can be thousands of criticisms that one can levy on capitalism, but one must also understand that Hollywood exists because America is the land of excesses. If there is no excess, it cannot be possible to spend as much money on entertainment, as is done by Hollywood. So, we can say that any big-budget movie is actually a statement for capitalism in itself. However, some films have dealt with the topic more directly. Here’s the list of top capitalism movies on Netflix that are available to stream right now.
8. Rising High (2020)
A German comedy-drama directed by Cüneyt Kaya, ‘Rising High’ (“Betonrausch”) follows here people, namely Viktor (David Kross), Gerry (Frederick Lau) and Nicole (Janina Uhse), who turn the Berlin real estate industry upside down by manipulating it, making money by fooling people, buying properties through loans and more, only to end up digging themselves a massive hole full of fraud and drugs and jumping into it head first. As exciting as it is, what they do to make money is a reminder of the extent to which people can go to make money in a society that bows to the capitalists only. Are they wrong to do so? Let’s put a pin on that. You can watch ‘Rising High’ here.
7. Saving Capitalism (2017)
Let us start off this list with a documentary. The book ‘Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few’ by Robert Reich is the inspiration behind this documentary. Here, Reich chronicles how capitalism has been the basis of America becoming the most powerful and prosperous country in the world. He tries to say that there is nothing evil about capitalism despite all its pitfalls, as it happens to be the only system that works. Throughout the documentary, Reich speaks to many people from different rungs of the social ladder. Each of his conversations makes it clear that no matter how rich or poor, nobody is happy with America’s current economic system. He even proposes certain policies he believes can rid the country of such evils. Overall, the documentary is interesting and offers a fresh perspective on the subject. It attempts to solve certain problems that are currently troubling the world. You can stream the film here.
6. I Care a Lot (2021)
From director J Blakeson comes this black comedy starring Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, and Dianne Wiest. In it, we meet con artist Marla Grayson, who kidnaps old people and puts them in a nursing home so that she can sell their assets and make money. This she does by convincing the legal system that she is worthy of guardianship. But when she ends up with the mother of a Russian mob boss, she, along with the boss, realizes that they can both profit from Marla’s arrangement. As much as we are disgusted by Marla, the film makes it clear how she masterfully manages to thrive and gain popularity in a capitalist society wherein making money is all that matters. How this film balances sociopathy and capitalism is no less than a commentary on how the two can be, if need be, connected. You can stream the film here.
5. Dumb Money (2023)
This biographical comedy deals with the core capitalism struggle that exists between the rich and non-rich. Based on an insane true story showcased by Ben Mezrich in his 2021 book ‘The Antisocial Network,’ this Craig Gillespie directorial is set during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2021). It follows a middle-class family guy named Keith Gill who invests his savings in the stocks of a brick-and-mortar video game retailer named GameStop. Applying his stock market skills, he soon starts making a lot of money and so do his online followers who have followed his steps and bought the stocks. Meanwhile, the rich CEOs start losing millions, if not billions. They decide to fight back, thereby leading to a collision of two worlds propelled by the craving for “dumb money.” The film stars Paul Dano, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera and Pete Davidson. You can watch it here.
4. Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King (2022)
A documentary film directed by Luke Sewell, ‘Trust No One: The Hunt for the Crypto King’ is a must-watch that addresses the fragility of capitalism as it stands today and makes us miss the proverb “cash is king.” It centers on Gerald W. Cotton, who is the founder of a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange called Quadriga CX. His mysterious death in 2018, wherein he took away with him the passwords, locked out the users, and disabled them from accessing their funds that totaled $190 million. What follows is the customers looking for ways to seek the truth behind Cotton’s death and whether he is even dead. Theories pile up, and we get to see how the customers search for answers because things get personal when there is money involved, isn’t it? You can stream the film here.
3. Bankrolled (2021)
Directed by Marcos Bucay, this is a Mexican drama that tells the story of two friends who, under the influence of a drug, coin a startup that gets funded on a crowdfunding platform. However, neither have any idea about making the app. Whether the two are successful in making the app and the issues they face before and after their try is what the movie shows. What the film addresses, however, is how the gig economy has become an intrinsic part of capitalism. It also takes a dig at such app creators who aim to make things easier for their users, but more often, it is just about making money and becoming dotcom entrepreneurs/ millionaires. The ridiculous way in which the two boys get their app “bankroll” is what makes the film a satire on capitalism or at least a side of it that the whole world is subjected to today more than ever before, i.e., apps. You can stream it here.
2. The Platform (2019)
Directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, this film is an analogy of a capitalist society where the rich at the top get the best of everything while the ones at the bottom receive only the worst. In the film, we see a tower with an unknown number of levels, each of which has two inmates/volunteers who have chosen to be there. The tower has a hole dug through its center, and a platform filled with food is lowered. At each level, the platform stops for 2 minutes before going down. In this short time, people have to eat all that they can. Naturally, the volunteers at the top get the best of everything while the ones at the bottom get only the leftovers, something that has turned some of them into cannibals. However, to avoid being biased, once every month, the levels change after the inmates are made to fall asleep using gas. The way in which the film presents capitalism and how it has imprisoned us is horrifying yet authentic. You can stream it here.
1. Bank of Dave (2023)
Directed by Chris Foggin, ‘Bank of Dave’ is a comedy-drama based on the life of Dave Fishwick (Rory Kinnear), a working-class guy who founded an independent lending company called Burnley Savings and Loans (BSAL) in Burnley, England, in September 2011. He did this in response to the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, which made him believe that the banks aren’t providing loans to people and small businesses that need them. The film shows his fight to obtain a banking license, which would be the first of its kind in more than 150 years. You can watch the movie here.
Read More: Best Biography Movies on Netflix
