Zeitgeist
A provocative three-part documentary argues that religion, government, media, and finance can manufacture public belief and restrict the sense of freedom.
Overview
Uncover the hidden truths behind the world's most powerful institutions and their influence on society.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- provocative
- ominous
- combative
- political discussion
- media literacy viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as compellingly edited but factually unreliable conspiracy propaganda that uses selective evidence and misleading techniques.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The three sections connect religious traditions, the September 11 attacks, and the Federal Reserve through an overarching claim of institutional manipulation.
News clips, interviews, historical footage, and audio excerpts are assembled in a fast-paced persuasive collage.
Its central argument concerns manipulation by governments, large institutions, economic powers, and media systems.
Each of the film's three parts examines a major institution or explanatory system as a source of concealed influence.
Films like Zeitgeist, and why
Loose Change
shared conspiracy-driven documentary structure, archival montage, and challenge to official narratives
The Corporation
shared investigative documentary approach to institutional power, contested evidence, and political manipulation
Capitalism: A Love Story
shared use of archival media, provocative editing, and critique of government and economic institutions
Movie Details
- Director
- Peter Joseph
- Release Date
- 2007-06-01
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (561)
Cast
- Chögyam Trungpa
- Jordan Maxwell
- George Carlin
- Bill Hicks
- David Ray Griffin
- Joseph Casaliggi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Daring Docs Amazon Channel, Indie Club Amazon Channel, Gaia Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Zeitgeist about?
- A provocative three-part documentary argues that religion, government, media, and finance can manufacture public belief and restrict the sense of freedom.
- What is Zeitgeist like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Zeitgeist as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Zeitgeist violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Zeitgeist as mild.
- What did critics think of Zeitgeist?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as compellingly edited but factually unreliable conspiracy propaganda that uses selective evidence and misleading techniques.
- Which films are like Zeitgeist?
- Films with a similar feel include Loose Change, The Corporation, and Capitalism: A Love Story.
- How long is Zeitgeist?
- Zeitgeist runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Zeitgeist?
- In United States, Zeitgeist streams on Daring Docs Amazon Channel, Indie Club Amazon Channel, Gaia Amazon Channel.
