satirical backdrop

Movies with satirical vibe

The Emperor's New Groove

751. The Emperor's New Groove

Adventure Animation Comedy Family Fantasy
7.4

20001h 18min

United States

Director: Mark Dindal

Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his ex-administrator Yzma, and must now regain his throne and his human form with the help of Pacha, a gentle llama herder.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Power and control, Deception and reversal, Arrogant leadership, Humility through exile, Teamwork across differences

Available on

Disney Plus
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

752. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Family Comedy Fantasy Christmas Family
6.4

20001h 45min

United States, Germany

Director: Ron Howard

The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas - but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart...

Themes

Holiday critique, Public humiliation dynamics, Christmas party tension, Surreal world framing, Materialism vs generosity, Village perspective shift

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Flickering Lights

753. Flickering Lights

Action Comedy Crime Dark Comedy Heist
7.5

20001h 49min

Denmark, Sweden

Director: Anders Thomas Jensen

Four small gangsters from Copenhagen trick a gangster boss: they take over 4,000,000 kroner which they were supposed to bring him. Trying to escape to Barcelona they are forced to stop in the countryside, in an old, wrecked house, hiding there for several weeks. Slowly, one after another, they realize, that they would like to stay there, start a new life.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Trust under strain, Deception as survival, New life vs past, Isolation as catalyst, Collective ambition under restraint, Risk of discovery

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Bedazzled

754. Bedazzled

Fantasy Comedy Romance High-Concept Comedy Fantasy Romance
6.1

20001h 33min

Germany, United States

Director: Harold Ramis

Elliot Richards, a socially awkward IT worker, is given seven wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as could be expected, the Devil puts her own little twist on each of his fantasies.

Themes

Seven wishes, Pact with the devil, Love of one's life, Searching for love, Sale of soul

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Songs from the Second Floor

755. Songs from the Second Floor

Drama Comedy Everyday Life Drama Satire
7.5

20001h 39min

Sweden, Denmark

Director: Roy Andersson

A monumental traffic jam serves as the backdrop for the lives of the inhabitants of a Swedish city.

Themes

Urban gridlock, Surreal interruptions, Shifting ambitions, Anarchic humor, Economic anxiety, Ritualized decay

Available on

Criterion Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Meet the Parents

756. Meet the Parents

Comedy Romance Romantic Comedy Awkward Comedy
7.0

20001h 48min

United States

Director: Jay Roach

Greg Focker is ready to marry his girlfriend, Pam, but before he pops the question, he must win over her formidable father, humorless former CIA agent Jack Byrnes, at the wedding of Pam's sister. As Greg bends over backward to make a good impression, his visit to the Byrnes home turns into a hilarious series of disasters, and everything that can go wrong does, all under Jack's critical, hawklike gaze.

Themes

Parental expectations, Deception under pressure, Family scrutiny, Social performance under pressure, Embarrassment risk, In-law negotiation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Bamboozled

757. Bamboozled

Comedy Drama Satire Entertainment Industry Drama
6.7

20002h 16min

United States

Director: Spike Lee

Frustrated when network brass reject his sitcom idea, producer Pierre Delacroix pitches the worst idea he can think of in an attempt to get fired: a 21st century minstrel show. The network not only airs it, but it becomes a smash hit.

Themes

Media sensationalism, Industry power dynamics, Satire ethics, Cultural backlash, Racial commodification, Exploitation of performers

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Fandango At Home
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Best in Show

758. Best in Show

Comedy Satire
7.5

20001h 30min

United States

Director: Christopher Guest

The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives -- the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them.

Themes

Class inequality, Competition pressure, Public scrutiny, Social performance, Nontraditional relationships, Calendar publicity

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Bread and Roses

759. Bread and Roses

Comedy Drama Political Drama Workplace Comedy
7.0

20001h 50min

United Kingdom, Germany

Director: Ken Loach

Maya is a quick-witted young woman who comes over the Mexican border without papers and makes her way to the LA home of her older sister Rosa. Rosa gets Maya a job as a janitor: a non-union janitorial service has the contract, the foul-mouthed supervisor can fire workers on a whim, and the service-workers' union has assigned organizer Sam Shapiro to bring its "justice for janitors" campaign to the building. Sam finds Maya a willing listener, she's also attracted to him. Rosa resists, she has an ailing husband to consider. The workers try for public support; management intimidates workers to divide and conquer. Rosa and Maya as well as workers and management may be set to collide.

Themes

Class inequality, Labor solidarity, Union organizing, Immigrant labor rights, Employer intimidation, Workplace exploitation

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total
MUBI
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Duets

760. Duets

Comedy Drama Music Buddy Comedy Entertainment Industry Drama
6.1

20001h 52min

United States

Director: Bruce Paltrow

Duets is a road-trip comedy which revolves around the little known world of karaoke and the whimsical characters who inhabit it. All roads lead to Omaha, site of a national karaoke competition where this motley group of singers and stars come together for a blow-out sing-off.

Themes

Economic precarity on tour, Belonging via performance, Competition as social glue, Drug-based anxiety coping, Family seeking reconciliation, Risk and violence on tour

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.