The Corporation
The Corporation

Movie spotlight

The Corporation

2003
Movie
145 min
English

Since the late 18th century American legal decision that the business corporation organizational model is legally a person, it has become a dominant economic, political and social force around the globe. This film takes an in-depth psychological examination of the organization model through various case studies. What the study illustrates is that in the its behaviour, this type of "person" typically acts like a dangerously destructive psychopath without conscience. Furthermore, we see the profound threat this psychopath has for our world and our future, but also how the people with courage, intelligence and determination can do to stop it.

Insights

IMDb7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes93%
Metacritic81/100
Google Users92%
Director: Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott, Joel BakanGenres: Documentary, History

Plot Summary

This documentary examines the nature and impact of the modern-day corporation. It argues that corporations, by their very design, behave like pathological entities, prioritizing profit and power over human rights and environmental well-being. The film explores historical cases and contemporary examples to illustrate the immense influence corporations wield over governments, media, and society.

Critical Reception

The Corporation was widely acclaimed by critics for its provocative insights and comprehensive examination of corporate power. It was praised for its ability to engage audiences with complex socio-economic issues and sparked significant debate about corporate responsibility and regulation. The documentary resonated with both academic circles and the general public, earning numerous awards.

What Reviewers Say

  • A powerful and persuasive indictment of corporate behavior.

  • Provocative and well-researched, it sheds light on the unchecked power of corporations.

  • Challenges viewers to reconsider the role and influence of corporations in modern life.

Google audience: Audience reviews frequently praise "The Corporation" for its eye-opening and informative content, highlighting its effective use of interviews and archival footage to expose corporate malfeasance. Many found it to be a crucial and thought-provoking documentary that encourages critical thinking about capitalism and corporate accountability.

Awards & Accolades

Won multiple awards including Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, Best Documentary at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film's central premise is based on the legal classification of corporations as 'persons' under U.S. law, which the documentary argues grants them rights without imposing sufficient accountability for their actions.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

This is interesting, but dated. Back in 2003 the left was still anti-corporation, they didn't support the outsourcing of jobs, they didn't support the accountability that theses institutions had they were fairly unified in their condemnatio...