American Fiction and 4 Other Best Movies & TV Series in the Social Satire Genre
The creators of these films and TV series poke fun at the wealthy and modern society.
Cinema can entertain viewers, but it also can convey social problems and the imperfections of our world. The plots of these films are often inspired by real-life events, which unfortunately are not difficult to find.
1. The Platform, 2019
Goreng finds himself in an unusual prison where the cells are stacked on top of each other and a platform carrying food passes through the central hole once a day. The lower the prisoners are, the less food they receive. However, the prisoners are regularly swapped.
The film by Spanish director Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia was released on Netflix during the lockdown and suddenly became a hit. It shows that people cannot agree and remain selfish, even when they find themselves in difficult situations.
2. Succession, 2018-2023
Logan Roy is the head of a huge media conglomerate, a father of four, and a very unpleasant person. He is no longer young and will soon have to announce his successor. When Logan falls ill, his relatives begin to fight for the opportunity to lead the company.
One of the best TV series in recent years tells the story of the lives of the super-rich – people who call for a personal helicopter just to play some spontaneous baseball.
3. Don't Look Up, 2021
Astronomy student Kate and her professor, Mindy, discover a comet heading straight for Earth that is likely to destroy the planet.
They appeal to the government and try to raise public awareness in an attempt to save the world. However, officials are indifferent to the event, and people do not believe it is dangerous.
In Don't Look Up, the director illustrates that, even in the face of the world's imminent destruction, authorities persist in pursuing their objectives and people are willing to do whatever it takes to avoid addressing real problems.
4. American Fiction, 2023
Thelonious Ellison, also known as Monk, writes intellectual books that don't sell well. He is angry that low-quality works become bestsellers.
So, under a pseudonym, he publishes a stereotypical and crude book – just to prove how bad it is. Suddenly, the book becomes famous, and there is talk of a film adaptation.
5. Severance, 2022-...
Mark is the head of the Macrodata Refinement Department at Lumon Industries. He underwent the severance procedure, so now, when he is at work, he knows nothing about his home life, and vice versa.
Everything changes when Helly joins his department and provokes colleagues to rebel against their bosses.
Severance combines several genres. There is drama and sci-fi in the spirit of retrofuturism, as well as a detective element.