American Factory
A deeply human documentary about Chinese investment, American workers, and the uneasy future of manufacturing in post-industrial Ohio.
Overview
A clash of cultures unfolds as a Chinese billionaire opens a factory in Ohio, reshaping lives and expectations.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- empathetic
- reflective
- political
- thoughtful weekend viewing
- social justice discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an intelligent, expansive, and deeply humanist portrait of cultural conflict, labor, and economic transformation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chinese executives and American factory workers clash over work ethic, hierarchy, safety, and personal freedom at the Ohio plant.
The factory occupies an abandoned General Motors plant and becomes a test case for renewed manufacturing in Ohio.
The film presents Chinese and American workers, managers, and executives with both criticism and humane understanding.
Blue-collar workers and supervisors carry the emotional and practical story of the factory's transformation.
Films like American Factory, and why
Harlan County War
humanist labor documentary examining workplace power, economic change, and worker solidarity
Roger & Me
observational documentary about industrial labor, corporate power, and working-class communities
The Last Mountain
socially engaged documentary connecting economic systems to intimate human consequences
Movie Details
- Directors
- Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
- Release Date
- 2019-08-21
- Runtime
- 110 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (536)
Cast
- Junming 'Jimmy' Wang
- Sherrod Brown
- Dave Burrows
- John Gauthier
- Rob Haerr
- Cynthia Harper
- Wong He
- Jill Lamantia
- Jeff Daochuan Liu
- Shawnea Rosser
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is American Factory about?
- A deeply human documentary about Chinese investment, American workers, and the uneasy future of manufacturing in post-industrial Ohio.
- What is American Factory like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Factory as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is American Factory violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in American Factory.
- What did critics think of American Factory?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an intelligent, expansive, and deeply humanist portrait of cultural conflict, labor, and economic transformation.
- Which films are like American Factory?
- Films with a similar feel include Harlan County War, Roger & Me, and The Last Mountain.
- How long is American Factory?
- American Factory runs 110 minutes.
- Where can I watch American Factory?
- In United States, American Factory streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
