Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "social-activism"
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1. Akira (1988)
R | 124 min | Animation, Action, Drama
A secret military project endangers Neo-Tokyo when it turns a biker gang member into a rampaging psychic psychopath who can only be stopped by a teenager, his gang of biker friends and a group of psychics.
Director: Katsuhiro Ôtomo | Stars: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tesshô Genda
Votes: 205,314 | Gross: $0.55M
2. The Banker (2020)
PG-13 | 120 min | Biography, Drama
In the 1960s, two African-American entrepreneurs hire a working-class white man to pretend to be the head of their business empire while they pose as a janitor and chauffeur.
Director: George Nolfi | Stars: Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Nia Long
Votes: 35,732
3. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
R | 145 min | Biography, Drama, War
The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country for which he fought.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Tom Cruise, Bryan Larkin, Raymond J. Barry, Caroline Kava
Votes: 115,993 | Gross: $70.00M
4. The Constant Gardener (2005)
R | 129 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
A widower's transcontinental quest to find answers about his wife's death leads him to explosive secrets.
Director: Fernando Meirelles | Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Rachel Weisz, Danny Huston, Hubert Koundé
Votes: 148,495 | Gross: $33.58M
5. The Hurricane (1999)
R | 146 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The story of Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence.
Director: Norman Jewison | Stars: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber
Votes: 102,505 | Gross: $50.67M
6. Dave (1993)
PG-13 | 110 min | Comedy, Romance
An uncanny Presidential lookalike named Dave is recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in for the President of the United States.
Director: Ivan Reitman | Stars: Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn
Votes: 56,865 | Gross: $63.27M
7. Milk (I) (2008)
R | 128 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.
Director: Gus Van Sant | Stars: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna
Votes: 179,870 | Gross: $31.84M
8. Two Weeks Notice (2002)
PG-13 | 101 min | Comedy, Romance
A lawyer decides that she's used too much like a nanny by her boss, so she walks out on him.
Director: Marc Lawrence | Stars: Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant, Alicia Witt, Dana Ivey
Votes: 125,951 | Gross: $93.35M
9. Summertime (2015)
Not Rated | 105 min | Drama, Romance
A young woman moves from the French countryside to Paris and begins a passionate love affair with a feminist leader in this drama set in 1970s France.
Director: Catherine Corsini | Stars: Cécile de France, Izïa Higelin, Noémie Lvovsky, Jean-Henri Compère
Votes: 5,678 | Gross: $0.04M
10. Waking the Dead (2000)
R | 105 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
A congressional candidate questions his sanity after seeing the love of his life, presumed dead, suddenly emerge.
Director: Keith Gordon | Stars: Billy Crudup, Bill Haugland, Nelson Landrieu, Ivonne Coll
Votes: 7,632 | Gross: $0.33M
11. Woodstock (1970)
R | 184 min | Documentary, History, Music
Oscar-winning musical chronicle that brilliantly captures the three-day rock concert and celebration of peace and love that became a capstone for the Sixties.
Director: Michael Wadleigh | Stars: Joan Baez, Richie Havens, Roger Daltrey, Joe Cocker
Votes: 18,468 | Gross: $50.00M
12. Hi, Mom! (1970)
R | 87 min | Comedy, Drama
A Vietnam vet moves into an apartment and peers through other people's windows across the street, meets one of the women, and discovers Black theater.
Director: Brian De Palma | Stars: Robert De Niro, Allen Garfield, Lara Parker, Charles Durning
Votes: 5,832
13. The Long Walk Home (1990)
PG | 97 min | Drama, History
Two women, black and white, in 1955 Montgomery Alabama, must decide what they are going to do in response to the famous bus boycott led by Martin Luther King.
Director: Richard Pearce | Stars: Sissy Spacek, Whoopi Goldberg, Dwight Schultz, Ving Rhames
Votes: 4,850 | Gross: $4.80M
14. Amos & Andrew (1993)
PG-13 | 96 min | Comedy, Crime
A Pulitzer prize writer buys a cabin. The neighbors get suspicious when a stranger "breaks in". They see a black man and call the police, who start shooting at him. The sheriff tries a cover-up involving a white petty crook. Bad idea.
Director: E. Max Frye | Stars: Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Lerner, Margaret Colin
Votes: 9,878 | Gross: $9.75M
15. Eden of the East (2009)
TV-MA | 23 min | Animation, Action, Comedy
On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon ... See full summary »
Stars: Ryohei Kimura, Saori Hayami, Jason Liebrecht, Leah Clark
Votes: 4,018
16. Man of Marble (1977)
160 min | Drama
A young Polish filmmaker sets out to find out what happened to Mateusz Birkut, a bricklayer who became a propaganda hero in the 1950s but later fell out of favor and disappeared.
Director: Andrzej Wajda | Stars: Krystyna Janda, Jerzy Radziwilowicz, Tadeusz Lomnicki, Jacek Lomnicki
Votes: 4,780
17. Waste Land (2010)
Not Rated | 99 min | Documentary
On the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro is Jardim Gramacho, the world's largest landfill, where men and women sift through garbage for a living. Artist Vik Muniz produces portraits of the workers and learns about their lives.
Directors: Lucy Walker, Karen Harley, João Jardim | Star: Vik Muniz
Votes: 9,362 | Gross: $0.19M
18. Boycott (2001 TV Movie)
PG | 118 min | Drama, History
Black Americans boycott the public buses during the 1950s civil rights movement.
Director: Clark Johnson | Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Terrence Howard, CCH Pounder, Carmen Ejogo
Votes: 1,082
19. The Terry Fox Story (1983 TV Movie)
96 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
The true story about the Canadian cancer amputee hero who decided to run across Canada on only one leg to raise money for cancer research.
Director: Ralph L. Thomas | Stars: Eric Fryer, Robert Duvall, Chris Makepeace, Rosalind Chao
Votes: 718
20. How to Survive a Plague (2012)
Not Rated | 110 min | Documentary, History, News
The story of two coalitions -- ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) -- whose activism and innovation turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.
Director: David France | Stars: Peter Staley, Larry Kramer, Iris Long, Bob Rafsky
Votes: 4,357 | Gross: $0.13M
21. La Commune (Paris, 1871) (2000)
345 min | Drama, History, War
In this war drama blurring the lines between documentary and fiction, the working class and the bourgeoisie of 19th century Paris are interviewed and covered on television, before and during a tragic workers' class revolt.
Director: Peter Watkins | Stars: Eliane Annie Adalto, Pierre Barbieux, Bernard Bombeau, Maylis Bouffartigue
Votes: 1,336
22. Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (2018–2020)
TV-MA | 25 min | Comedy, News, Talk-Show
In this weekly show, the former Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj brings his unique comedic voice and storytelling skill to explore the larger grim trends shaping our fragmented world.
Stars: Hasan Minhaj, Joyelle Johnson, Arnab Goswami, Andrew Yang
Votes: 7,929
23. Aarakshan (2011)
164 min | Drama, Thriller
The decision by India's supreme court to establish caste-based reservations for jobs in education causes conflict between a teacher and his mentor.
Director: Prakash Jha | Stars: Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, Deepika Padukone
Votes: 5,913 | Gross: $0.34M
24. Welcome (I) (2009)
Not Rated | 110 min | Drama
Bilal sets off on an adventure-filled journey across Europe and wants to get to England to see his love who lives there.
Director: Philippe Lioret | Stars: Vincent Lindon, Firat Ayverdi, Audrey Dana, Derya Ayverdi
Votes: 7,620 | Gross: $0.01M
25. Eyes on the Prize (1987–1990)
TV-PG | 360 min | Documentary, History
A documentary about the American Civil Rights Movement from 1952 to 1965.
Stars: Julian Bond, Coretta Scott King, John Lewis, Andrew Young
Votes: 737
26. I'm Not Rappaport (1996)
PG-13 | 135 min | Comedy, Drama
Two old men - a white former radical, and a black retired janitor - strike up an unusual and funny friendship on a park bench in New York, where they deal with family, drug dealers, and the pitfalls of age.
Director: Herb Gardner | Stars: Walter Matthau, Ossie Davis, Amy Irving, Craig T. Nelson
Votes: 1,860 | Gross: $0.22M
27. The Big One (1997)
PG-13 | 91 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime
On his book tour, Michael Moore exposes more wrongdoing by greedy big businesses and callous politicians around America.
Director: Michael Moore | Stars: Michael Moore, Elaine Bly, Dan Burns, Chip Carter
Votes: 8,046 | Gross: $0.72M
28. Stonewall (1995)
R | 99 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A group of homosexual people try to live with dignity and self-respect while events build to the opening battle in the major gay rights movement.
Director: Nigel Finch | Stars: Guillermo Diaz, Frederick Weller, Brendan Corbalis, Duane Boutte
Votes: 1,740 | Gross: $0.62M
29. The Rosa Parks Story (2002 TV Movie)
TV-PG | 97 min | Biography, Drama
A seamstress recalls events leading to her act of peaceful defiance that prompted the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.
Director: Julie Dash | Stars: Angela Bassett, Peter Francis James, Tonea Stewart, Von Coulter
Votes: 1,024
30. Jeanne and the Perfect Guy (1998)
Unrated | 105 min | Drama, Musical, Romance
Jeanne has an appetite for love that can never be satisfied. Lovers at every corner of her life she is still in search of that "one". When a impromptu tryst on the subway with Olivier gives... See full summary »
Directors: Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau | Stars: Virginie Ledoyen, Mathieu Demy, Jacques Bonnaffé, Valérie Bonneton
Votes: 784 | Gross: $0.01M
31. Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story (1996)
PG-13 | 110 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Chronicles the life of Dorothy Day who dedicated herself in service to her socialist beliefs and her adopted faith of Catholicism. The movement she created continues to thrive to this day, ... See full summary »
Director: Michael Ray Rhodes | Stars: Moira Kelly, Martin Sheen, Lenny von Dohlen, Melinda Dillon
Votes: 534 | Gross: $0.71M
32. Life Support (2007 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 87 min | Drama
The true-life story of a mother who overcame an addiction to crack and became a positive role model and an AIDS activist in the black community.
Director: Nelson George | Stars: Queen Latifah, Vianca Mercedes, Anna Deavere Smith, Wendell Pierce
Votes: 1,322
33. The Awful Truth (1999–2000)
30 min | Documentary
Activist film director Michael Moore hosts a show where he continues his crusade to expose wrongdoing by the high and mighty.
Stars: Michael Moore, Jay Martel, Gideon Evans, Karen Duffy
Votes: 2,257
34. Drop Squad (1994)
R | 86 min | Drama
The DROP (Deprogramming and Restoration of Pride) Squad is an outlaw organization that abducts and "deprograms" African-Americans who exploit and/or deny their cultural heritage. But their persuasive methods become increasingly violent.
Director: David C. Johnson | Stars: Eriq La Salle, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Ving Rhames, Kasi Lemmons
Votes: 662 | Gross: $0.73M
35. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012)
R | 91 min | Documentary
A documentary that chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and gets into an increasing number of clashes with the Chinese government.
Director: Alison Klayman | Stars: Ai Weiwei, Dan Ai, Lao Ai, Lee Ambrozy
Votes: 4,527 | Gross: $0.53M
36. Grass (1999)
R | 80 min | Documentary, History
The history of the American government's war on marijuana in the 20th century.
Director: Ron Mann | Stars: Woody Harrelson, Harry J. Anslinger, George Bush, Cab Calloway
Votes: 3,631 | Gross: $0.31M
37. SexTV (1998–2008)
TV-MA | 30 min | Documentary
A documentary television series which explores human sexuality.
Stars: Chantal Quesnelle, Carol Queen, Ziggy Lorenc, Tristan Taormino
Votes: 292
38. Garbage Dreams (2009)
79 min | Documentary
A look at the lives of Egyptian trash collectors.
Director: Mai Iskander
Votes: 159
39. TV Nation (1994–1995)
60 min | Documentary, Comedy, News
Michael Moore presents a humorous news-magazine that focuses primarily on wrongdoing by big business, privileged society and right-wing politicians.
Stars: Michael Moore, Bruce Brown, Louis Theroux, Karen Duffy
Votes: 641
40. Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story (1986 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 96 min | Drama
Fact-based story about Mitch Snyder (Martin Sheen), a Washington crusader for the homeless, who took their case to Congress. Working for the Community for Creative Non-violence, Snyder ... See full summary »
Director: Richard T. Heffron | Stars: Martin Sheen, Roxanne Hart, Joe Seneca, Stan Shaw
Votes: 130
41. To Be Takei (2014)
Not Rated | 94 min | Documentary, Biography
A look at the many roles played by eclectic actor/activist George Takei, whose wit, humor and grace have helped him to become an internationally beloved figure and Internet phenomenon with 7-million Facebook fans and counting.
Director: Jennifer M. Kroot | Stars: George Takei, Brad Takei, Walter Koenig, William Shatner
Votes: 1,572 | Gross: $0.05M
42. Making the Boys (2011)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Biography, Romance
On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Gay Rights Movement, the film explores the drama, struggle and enduring legacy of the first-ever gay play and subsequent Hollywood movie to ... See full summary »
Director: Crayton Robey | Stars: Edward Albee, Joe Allen, Matt Baney, David Carter
Votes: 712 | Gross: $0.03M
43. The Harvest/La Cosecha (2011)
80 min | Documentary
The story of the children who work 12-14 hour days in the fields without the protection of child labor laws. These children are not toiling in the fields in some far away land. They are working in America.
Director: U. Roberto Romano | Star: Perla Sanchez
Votes: 73 | Gross: $0.00M
44. The Hidden Half (2001)
103 min | Drama
An official is sent from his home in Tehran to hear the final appeal of a woman sentenced to death, a political prisoner. The official's wife of nearly 20 years, Fereshteh Samimi, writes ... See full summary »
Director: Tahmineh Milani | Stars: Niki Karimi, Mohammad Nikbin, Atila Pesiani, Akbar Moazezi
Votes: 876
45. Sing Your Song (2011)
Not Rated | 103 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Most people know the lasting legacy of Harry Belafonte, the entertainer. This film unearths his significant contribution to and his leadership in the civil rights movement in America and to social justice globally.
Director: Susanne Rostock | Stars: Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Marge Champion, Fran Scott Attaway
Votes: 502 | Gross: $0.05M
46. Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story (2006)
Biography, Drama
A mini-series based on the work of Canadian political icon Tommy Douglas.
Stars: Kristin Booth, Tatiana Maslany, Ian Tracey, Paul Gross
Votes: 213
47. Freedom on My Mind (1994)
105 min | Documentary
Chronicles the Mississippi voter registration drive from 1961- 64.
Directors: Connie Field, Marilyn Mulford | Stars: Chude Pamela Allen, Heather Booth, L.C. Dorsey, Len Edwards
Votes: 313 | Gross: $0.07M
48. The Land Beyond the Sunset (1912)
Unrated | 14 min | Short, Drama, Fantasy
A young boy, opressed by his mother, goes on an outing in the country with a social welfare group where he dares to dream of a land where the cares of his ordinary life fade.
Director: Harold M. Shaw | Stars: Martin Fuller, Mrs. William Bechtel, Walter Edwin, Ethel Jewett
Votes: 875
49. Stopping Traffic: The Movement to End Sex-Trafficking (2017)
TV-14 | 79 min | Documentary, Crime
With 27 million victims worldwide, Stopping Traffic starts the conversation on a taboo topic through the eyes of survivors, activists, and front-line rescue teams to launch a movement to end modern-day slavery in the U.S. and abroad.
Director: Sadhvi Siddhali Shree | Stars: Susanne Dietzel, Carolina Douthit, Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, Mario Garfias
Votes: 138
50. Crossing Arizona (2006)
Not Rated | 77 min | Documentary
A collection of personal accounts stemming from Arizona's illegal immigration crisis.
Directors: Dan DeVivo, Joseph Mathew
Votes: 103