Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for American Dream

American Dream

Seen it?

1990 | 98 min | Documentary

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Great for the curious. You'll come away knowing something you didn't.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Well paced for a documentary, at 1 hr 38 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • Skip it if you want made-up drama tonight.

When workers at the Hormel meatpacking plant in Austin, Minnesota are asked to take a substantial pay cut in a highly profitable year, the local labor union decides to go on strike and fight for a wage they believe is fair. But as the work stoppage drags on and the strikers face losing everything, friends become enemies, families are divided and the very future of this typical mid American town is threatened.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsSolid

    Won 1 Oscar: Best Documentary Feature Film. Plus 1 other award.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $30 million worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 23K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Barbara Kopple