American Factory
Seen it?2019 | 110 min | Documentary
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 50 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a new factory in the husk of an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand blue-collar Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Documentary Feature. Won 1 Emmy: Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. Won 2 Critics' Choice Awards: Critics' Choice Documentary Awards: Best Director, Critics' Choice Documentary Awards: Best Political Documentary. Won 1 DGA Award: Directors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary. Won 1 Independent Spirit Award: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Documentary Feature. Also nominated for 2 more Emmys, 1 BAFTA and 2 more Critics' Choice Awards. Plus 12 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; interest faded quickly after launch
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 63K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert
- Junming 'Jimmy' WangSelf - Vice President, Fuyao
- Sherrod BrownSelf - U.S. Senator, Ohio
- Dave BurrowsSelf - Vice President, Fuyao Glass America
- John GauthierSelf - President, Fuyao Glass America
- Rob HaerrSelf - Furnace Supervisor
- Cynthia HarperSelf - Lamination Specialist
- Wong HeSelf - Furance Engineer
- Jill LamantiaSelf - Forklift Operator
- Jeff Daochuan LiuSelf - President, Fuyao Glass America
- Shawnea RosserSelf - Glass Inspector