Socialist Movies

Best Socialist Movies

Socialist movies often explore themes like class struggle, workers’ rights, social justice, and critiques of capitalism. Indeed, these socialist films range from direct depictions of socialist movements and figures to allegorical works that explore socialist principles through their narratives. Below are some notable socialist film classics from different eras and genres.

Battleship Potemkin (1925) – Director: Sergei Eisenstein

A classic of Soviet cinema, this silent film dramatises a 1905 mutiny on the battleship Potemkin, thus highlighting the power of collective action and revolution against oppression. Indeed, Eisenstein’s use of montage has made this film iconic in film history.

Modern Times (1936) – A Socialist Movie by Chaplin

Set during the Great Depression, Modern Times follows Chaplin’s iconic Little Tramp character as he struggles to cope with the relentless, soul-crushing efficiency of the assembly line. This struggle leads to a mental breakdown. Later, after his release from hospital, his misadventures continue as he inadvertently leads a communist demonstration and is sent to jail. Through its brilliant physical comedy and social commentary, the film critiques the exploitation of workers, while ultimately championing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of a harsh and rapidly changing world.

October: Ten Days That Shook the World (1927) – Director: Sergei Eisenstein

Another Eisenstein masterpiece, this film from Russia chronicles the 1917 Russian Revolution, portraying the rise of the Bolsheviks and the overthrow of the Provisional Government, in celebration of the socialist revolution.

Salt of the Earth (1954) – Socialist Movie by Herbert J. Biberman

Based on a real miners’ strike in New Mexico, this film focuses on Mexican-American workers fighting as comrades for equal pay and better working conditions. It was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for its pro-labour and feminist themes.

The Bicycle Thieves (1948) – Socialist Movie by Vittorio De Sica

An Italian neorealist film that portrays the plight of the working class in post-war Italy. So the main character’s desperate search for his stolen bicycle reflects the harsh realities of poverty and unemployment under capitalism.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940) – Socialist Movie by Director: John Ford

Based on John Steinbeck’s novel, this film follows a family of tenant farmers displaced by the Dust Bowl and forced into migrant labour. It’s a stark depiction of economic injustice, while highlighting the culture of solidarity among the working class.

Z (1969) – A Socialist movie by Director: Costa-Gavras

A political thriller based on real events in Greece, “Z” exposes corruption, political repression, and also the fight against fascism. The film critiques authoritarianism while championing resistance movements often aligned with socialist causes.

Leftist Movies

• American Psycho (2000): American Psycho follows the life of a wealthy 1980s investment banker, Patrick Bateman. As he commits a series of increasingly gruesome murders, the film satirically reveals how his shallow, consumerist society is so obsessed with image that it remains wilfully blind to the monstrous reality lurking beneath the surface.
• Land and Freedom (1995): This film tells the story of a young British communist who travels to Spain to join the freedom fight against Franco’s fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. So it deals with internal struggles within leftist movements and the broader fight for socialism.
• Motorcycle Diaries (2004): The Motorcycle Diaries depicts the formative journey of a young Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara across South America. Moreover, the film charts his awakening social conscience as he witnesses the profound poverty and systemic injustice faced by the continent’s marginalised people. consequently, these experiences plant the seeds of socialist ideology in this future revolutionary leader.

• Persepolis (2007): An animated adaptation of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel about growing up during the Iranian Revolution, “Persepolis” explores themes of resistance, political struggle, and the desire for social justice.
• Sicko (2007): This documentary critiques the American healthcare system, advocating for a socialist-style universal healthcare system, while comparing it to other countries where healthcare is a public right.

• Sorry We Missed You (2019): Another Ken Loach film, it focuses on the gig economy and the exploitation faced by delivery workers in contemporary Britain. It highlights the dehumanising effects of capitalism and precarious labour conditions.

• The Big Scary ‘S’ Word (2020): The Big Scary “S” Word is a contemporary socialist movie that explores the rich history of the American socialist movement.

Marxist Movies on Netflix

The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) – Director: Ken Loach

Set during the Irish War of Independence, this unforgettable film portrays Irish rebels fighting against British forces, with socialist undertones in its exploration of land reform, class struggle, and anti-imperialism.

The Corporation (2003) – Directors: Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott

This documentary critiques the modern corporation as a dominant institution in global capitalism, while likening it to a psychopathic entity. So it explores the destructive consequences of corporate power on society, nature, and human rights.

Metropolis (1927) – A Socialist movie by Director: Fritz Lang

A pioneering sci-fi film that explores class conflict in a futuristic society, where the working class toils in underground factories while the elites live in luxury above. It critiques industrial capitalism while hinting at socialist ideas of unity and equality.

Parasite (2019) – Director: Bong Joon-ho

A darkly satirical critique of class inequality, “Parasite” explores the stark divide between rich and poor in South Korea. While not explicitly socialist, the film’s sharp commentary on class exploitation and social injustice resonates with socialist critiques of capitalism.

Socialist Movies on Netflix

I Am Not Your Negro (2016) – Director: Raoul Peck

While primarily focused on race, this documentary based on the writings of James Baldwin also critiques capitalist exploitation and draws connections between racial and economic oppression.

Matewan (1987) – Socialist Movie by Director: John Sayles

A dramatisation of the 1920 Matewan coal miners’ labor strike in West Virginia. The film showcases union organising during labour conflicts, solidarity, and the violent repression of workers’ rights in the early 20th century United States.

The Battle of Algiers (1966) – Director: Gillo Pontecorvo

A powerful film from the cold war era about the Algerian War for independence from French colonial rule. The film depicts the socialist-aligned FLN (National Liberation Front) organising a revolt, emphasising anti-imperialism and collective resistance.

Reds

We also enjoyed Warren Beatty’s landmark epic, Reds. Indeed, this movie is an Oscar-winning blend of sweeping political history and intimate, turbulent romance, set against the Russian Revolution.

Socialist Movie Directors

Some of the world’s most famous socialist filmmakers known for their politically engaged cinema, critiques of capitalism, and advocacy for workers’ rights, include:

1. Sergei Eisenstein (Soviet Union)

• Key Films: Battleship Potemkin (1925), October: Ten Days That Shook the World (1928), Ivan the Terrible (1944)
• Contribution: A pioneer of montage theory, his films glorified the Bolshevik Revolution and socialist ideals.

2. Ken Loach (UK)

• Key Films: Kes (1969), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), I, Daniel Blake (2016)
• Contribution: A staunch socialist, Loach’s films focus on working-class struggles, labour rights, and anti-capitalist themes.

3. Gillo Pontecorvo (Italy)

• Key Films: The Battle of Algiers (1966), Burn! (1969)
• Contribution: His films explore anti-colonialism and revolutionary struggles, while critiquing life from a Marxist perspective.

4. Jean-Luc Godard (France/Switzerland)

• Key Films: La Chinoise (1967), Tout Va Bien (1972)
• Contribution: A Marxist-Leninist in his radical period, Godard made explicitly revolutionary cinema critiquing bourgeois society.

5. Fernando Solanas (Argentina)

• Key Films: The Hour of the Furnaces (1968), Sur (1988)
• Contribution: A key figure in “Third Cinema,” his work critiques imperialism and promotes socialist liberation.

6. Ousmane Sembène (Senegal)

• Key Films: Black Girl (1966), Xala (1975), Moolaadé (2004)
• Contribution: Often called the “father of African cinema,” his films critique colonialism, thus highlighting racism, neocolonialism, and class oppression.

7. Costa-Gavras (Greece/France)

• Key Films: Z (1969), The Confession (1970), Missing (1982)
• Contribution: Known for political thrillers exposing fascism, state violence, and capitalist corruption.

These filmmakers used cinema as a tool for socialist critique, often facing censorship or exile for their radical views.

Socialist Movies Reddit

If you’re looking for recommendations for socialist-themed movies, Reddit can be a great resource. Indeed, you can find discussions and lists of films that explore socialist themes, characters, or historical contexts.

Best Socialist Movies Reddit

You can search for threads on Reddit like r/movies or r/TrueFilm to find discussions and recommendations tailored to your interests. It was on this Reddit that we found out about Snowpiercer, a train that holds what is left of humanity following the climate apocalypse.

Indeed, Snowpiercer is ruled by a totalitarian government that distributes all goods, organises all labour, is run by an efficiency-obsessed bureaucracy led by Tilda Swinton, and in which everything is kept in place by a police state that controls all the guns. However, the revolution is coming!

Socialist Documentaries

There are a great many socialist documentaries. However, these three documentaries by Australian filmmaker John Pilger are well worth watching.

• The War on Democracy – John Pilger’s first for cinema. It explores the current and past relationship of Washington with Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile.
• The War You Don’t See – Powerful investigation into the media’s role in warfare, while tracing the history of embedded and independent reporting.
• Utopia – An investigation into Australia’s suppressed colonial past and rapacious present.

Relevant Material on Socialist Media

• Socialist Media
• Socialist Newspapers
• Socialist Podcasts
• Socialist Radio and TV
• Socialist Songs

Other Material

• Australian Left
• Socialism Explained
• Socialist Parties Worldwide
• World Socialism

Socialist Australia