Wile E. Coyote has exhausted all possible gadgets in his never-ending pursuit of the Road Runner over the years. However, what if his failures are not due to his own shortcomings, but rather the fault of the Acme Corporation? Could it be that the company responsible for products like the “Instant Tunnel” and the “Do-It-Yourself Tornado Kit” simply produces subpar items?
This is the central theme of the movie “Coyote vs. Acme,” where our unlucky protagonist enlists the help of a less-than-competent lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation for the physical agony he has endured from using their products.
After a long and winding journey, the film is finally set to premiere in theaters this Friday. Initially completed in 2023, the movie was shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery for tax purposes but was later revived when the independent distributor Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights last year.
To honor the essence of the film, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite anti-capitalist movies from the past four decades.
In “RoboCop” (1987), director Paul Verhoeven portrays a future where a corporate entity called Omni Consumer Products essentially controls the police force, with a human-machine hybrid as its main asset. The film sheds light on the ruthless actions of Omni executives to maintain power, despite the limitations placed on the man-machine.
“They Live” (1988) by John Carpenter follows a working-class individual who discovers special sunglasses revealing an alien conspiracy to manipulate humanity into mindless consumption and conformity for their own gain.
“Fighting Club” (1999), a spiritual successor to “They Live,” delves into the protagonist’s rebellion against consumerism and societal conditioning, leading to anti-capitalist acts of violence culminating in a symbolic destruction of corporate buildings.
“Michael Clayton” (2007) starring George Clooney exposes the lengths corporations will go to conceal their wrongdoing, as a fixer becomes entangled in a legal battle involving a pesticide-related lawsuit with deadly consequences.
“WALL-E” (2008) offers a critique of consumerism through a love story between robots in a desolate Earth overrun by trash, while humans live in a spaceship controlled by the Buy N Large corporation, promoting excessive consumption.
“Sorry to Bother You” (2018) by Boots Riley follows a telemarketer who uncovers a corporate scheme involving a slave labor force, highlighting the exploitation and dehumanization perpetuated by conglomerates.
“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (2022) presents a group of activists planning to disrupt the fossil fuel industry by sabotaging infrastructure, exploring the complexities and consequences of radical environmental activism.
These films serve as poignant reflections on the pitfalls of unchecked capitalism and the struggles of individuals against oppressive corporate forces.