Genre: Satire

Satire uses humor as a weapon — mocking folly, power, and pretension to expose the truth underneath the joke.

They Live (1988)

A drifter discovers sunglasses that reveal the wealthy elite are alien creatures controlling humanity through subliminal messaging.

Horror • Satire • Science Fiction

E
The Hospital (1971)

Arthur Hiller's 1971 medical satire. Paddy Chayefsky screenplay, George C. Scott as suicidal chief of medicine. Won Best Original Screenplay.

Medical Drama • Satire

E
Critical Care (1997)

Sidney Lumet's 1997 medical satire. James Spader as resident in end-of-life care system. Helen Mirren, Anne Bancroft.

Medical Drama • Satire

E
Don’t Look Up (2021)

Adam McKay's 2021 climate-denial satire. DiCaprio, Lawrence, Streep, Hill. Heavy-handed but the targets earn it.

Comedy • Satire

E
M*A*S*H (1970)

Robert Altman's 1970 Korean War satire. Sutherland and Gould as wartime surgeons. Spawned the TV series. Anti-war through black comedy.

Comedy • Satire • War

E
Catch-22 (1970)

Mike Nichols' 1970 Heller adaptation. Alan Arkin as Yossarian. Substantial source material that the film handles only partially.

Comedy • Satire • War

E
The Player (1992)

Robert Altman's 1992 Hollywood satire. Tim Robbins as studio executive. Opening tracking shot, sixty-five star cameos.

Comedy • Satire

E
Being There (1979)

Hal Ashby's 1979 satire with Peter Sellers as gardener mistaken for political sage. Final film of Sellers' great period.

Comedy • Satire

E
Wag the Dog (1997)

Barry Levinson's 1997 political satire. Hoffman and De Niro fabricate a war to bury a presidential scandal. Mamet co-wrote.

Comedy • Satire

E
Idiocracy (2006)

Mike Judge's 2006 dystopian satire. Average man wakes in 500-years-dumber future. Cult standing built through home video.

Comedy • Satire • Science Fiction

E