You can watch these manufacturing movies while practicing social distancing.
Chances are you’re spending a lot more time at home these days.
Social distancing – or for some Americans, sheltering-in-place – means that many of us are largely confined to our homes. While working remote and taking care of the kids fills much of the time for many of us, you also might find yourself with hours to fill.
Since three-fourths of American households subscribe to a video streaming service, the odds are pretty good that you are able to Netflix (or Hulu, or Amazon Prime, or Disney+, or AppleTV…) and chill.
You may already have some awesome TV shows and movies already queued up, and if you do, please share them with us! My lovely wife would suggest the Veronica Mars reboot on Hulu, while I’d prefer Narcos: Mexico.
But if you are looking to stay connected to manufacturing while streaming, we’ve got you covered.
Here are 10 (and a bonus!) totally watchable movies that have a manufacturing theme to them. We’re not including the loads of TV shows and episodes that have factory vibes, many of which we’ve blogged on before.
One quick note: Some of these movies have mature themes, so it’s best to consult MPAA ratings and sources like Common Sense Media to see if they are a good fit for you (and your family).
In the category of best documentaries, the nominees are:
American Factory (2019)
Seriously, this is the most recent Academy Award winner for Best Documentary, and we’ve been writing about it since the film premiered last August. What happens when a Chinese glass mogul opens a factory in Dayton, Ohio? Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julie Reichert found out, capturing extraordinary interactions between Chinese and American workers, clueless managers, and brave union organizers. There's also dashes of automation and globalization thrown into the stew. If you have time to watch just one film, make it this one.
Actually, ignore what I just said, and watch the next film first.
The Last Truck (2009)
In many ways, The Last Truck is a prequel to American Factory. Bognar and Reichert chronicle the closing of a General Motors assembly plant in Dayton, Ohio (the same plant that Chinese glass factory would open in a decade later). The film poignantly captures the pride, sorrow, worry, and perseverance of production workers as their plant closes during the Great Recession. I’ve seen it three times, and I’ve been in tears at every watching. Incredibly touching, and a good reminder that we should be doing much, much more to avoid the pain and suffering of plant closures.
Detropia (2012)
I know, I know: Seems like it is getting pretty grim when all you want to do is find a reason to laugh now. Another well-made documentary that looks at the collapse of Detroit in the aftermath of the Great Recession. The film features some quirky, raw characters, and drew me in with its surprises, as well as with the grit and determination of folks whose loyalty and tenacity give one hope.
The True Cost (2015)
Fast fashion and cheap clothes come at a high cost to the environment, and in many cases, to the vulnerable workers who make them in deplorable conditions. If you are searching for the motivation to buy responsible American brands, many of which you can find in our Made in America Directory, here’s a good start.
American Made Movie (2013)
This film follows the ups and downs of American manufacturing through the eyes of compelling characters like Mark Andol, the owner of a Buffalo, NY-area welding shop who decided to open a store that sells only American-made products. Spoiler alert: Yours truly is interviewed in the documentary, making this the beginning and end of my filmography.
Now, on to feature films:
The Company Men (2010)
Did you know that Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Kevin Costner made a movie together? Here it is. The film chronicles the lives of characters who are all involved in some way with a New England town’s shipbuilding enterprise in the aftermath of serious layoffs.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Another Academy Award winner! The first part of this masterpiece is centered around working and social life in a Pennsylvania steel mill town, and features performances from legends like Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, and Christopher Walken. It’s intense, but unforgettable.
Extract (2009)
Think “Office Space” on a factory floor. After all, Mike Judge wrote and directed this film, which stars Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Mila Kunis, and Ben Affleck (again!)
Norma Rae (1979)
Sally Field won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a North Carolina textile worker who is inspired by a union organizer to agitate for change in the workplace. Courageous, inspiring, essential.
North Country (2005)
Charlize Theron stars in this story of a woman who endures a range of abuse while working at an iron and taconite mine in northern Minnesota in the 1980s. #MeToo meets manufacturing. Its’s timely and provocative, and based on a true story.
And the bonus feature:
Contagion (2011)
Why is this a top 10 online movie rental now? I don’t know. But, if you are going to watch it, ask yourself this: Why is Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in Hong Kong and China in the first place? Because the corporation for whom she worked was breaking ground on a new factory there! Globalization has its downsides: The easy spread of pandemics, and offshoring essential manufacturing capabilities are just two of them.
Editor’s note: Scott might have mentioned it and it might be relevant to our issues, but I don’t recommend watching Contagion right now. Or frankly, ever again.
Happy streaming, everyone! And let us know what we missed! We’ve got you started on a solid 20+ hours of content, but you may need more. We’ll be happy to post a second round.