The Big One
Michael Moore turns a nationwide book tour into a funny, combative exposé of plant closures, corporate power, and the erosion of working-class security.
Overview
A fearless filmmaker takes on corporate America, exposing the struggles of the working class.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- irreverent
- satirical
- provocative
- civic discussion
- political film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the documentary's energetic political satire, pointed labor critique, and Michael Moore's engaging confrontational presence.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Michael Moore repeatedly tries to bypass corporate security and interview millionaire CEOs during the book tour.
Plant closures and the loss of working-class jobs provide the film's recurring social and political subject.
Moore combines humorous narration and comic confrontations with corporate representatives while defending workers.
Interviews with workers affected by plant closures anchor the film's critique of economic policy.
Films like The Big One, and why
Roger & Me
satirical political documentary centered on corporate power, working-class grievances, and an outspoken filmmaker's confrontational public encounters
Bowling for Columbine
activist documentary using humor, direct interviews, and investigative confrontation to critique American institutions and inequality
Capitalism: A Love Story
political documentary combining grassroots testimony, populist rhetoric, and pointed criticism of American economic structures
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Moore
- Release Date
- 1997-09-06
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (88)
Cast
- Michael Moore
- Jim Czarnecki
- Elaine Bly
- Brian Danitz
- Richard Jewell
- Bill Clinton
- Jerry Springer
- Dan Burns
- Chip Carter
- Joel Feick
Common questions
- What is The Big One about?
- Michael Moore turns a nationwide book tour into a funny, combative exposé of plant closures, corporate power, and the erosion of working-class security.
- What is The Big One like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Big One as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Big One violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Big One.
- What did critics think of The Big One?
- Critics broadly praised the documentary's energetic political satire, pointed labor critique, and Michael Moore's engaging confrontational presence.
- Which films are like The Big One?
- Films with a similar feel include Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine, and Capitalism: A Love Story.
- How long is The Big One?
- The Big One runs 91 minutes.
