Wile E. Coyote has utilized a variety of gadgets in his endless pursuit of the Road Runner over the years, all to no avail. However, what if his constant 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 exact scenario is explored in “Coyote vs. Acme,” where our unlucky protagonist enlists a less-than-competent lawyer to take legal action against the Acme Corporation for the physical pain he has endured from using their faulty products.
After a convoluted journey, the film is finally set to premiere in theaters this Friday. Originally completed in 2023, it was initially shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery as a tax write-off, only to be resurrected 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) envisions a future where a company named Omni Consumer Products essentially controls the Detroit police force, with the titular man-machine caught in a web of corporate deceit and power struggles.
“They Live” (1988) follows a blue-collar worker who discovers a pair of sunglasses revealing a hidden alien agenda promoting consumerism and conformity.
In “Fight Club” (1999), the protagonist rebels against consumer culture, leading to underground anti-capitalist activities that escalate into destructive acts against financial institutions.
“Michael Clayton” (2007) exposes the lengths corporations will go to cover up their wrongdoing, with a fixer caught in a web of deceit surrounding a deadly pesticide lawsuit.
“WALL-E” (2008) depicts a future where consumerism has devastated Earth, leaving a lone robot to clean up the mess while humans indulge in excess aboard a spaceship run by a corporate giant.
“Sorry to Bother You” (2018) follows a telemarketer who uncovers shocking corporate secrets, including the creation of a hybrid labor force known as “Equisapiens.”
“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” (2022) portrays a group of activists plotting to disrupt the fossil fuel industry by targeting its infrastructure, exploring the consequences of radical environmental activism.
These films offer thought-provoking critiques of capitalist society and corporate influence, shedding light on the darker aspects of consumerism and corporate power dynamics.