McLibel

Released Apr 9, 2005

1h 24m

Documentary

List

100%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Documentarian Franny Armstrong explores the infamous "McLibel" case, a lawsuit filed by the McDonald's Corporation that targeted two members of the London Greenpeace environmentalist collective who distributed a brochure denouncing the products and business practices of the massive fast food restaurant chain. Employing courtroom reenactments directed by prominent British filmmaker Ken Loach, the film reveals the extreme financial lengths McDonald's goes to in order to win the suit.

Read More

Read Less

Audience Member

I have mixed feelings about this. I was horrified to see the baby chicks being gassed. I also know that a low fiber/ high fat diet is not healthy for you. But I don't think these practices are limited to just McDonalds. If you really want to do something about it, become a vegatarian. I only go to McDonalds once in a while as a treat, not every night like some lazy people! My mom told me how crappy their food was a long time ago, when I was a child. I didn't understand the whining about the lack of creativity or the low pay, etc. It's freaking McDonalds for goodness sake! If you want to be creative, find a different line of work. If you want better money, stay in school. I found this documentary rather one sided and recommend you watch "Super Size Me" instead. At least that was entertaining.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A rousing dramatisation of how this incredible pairing took on one of the world's most powerful multinationals. You'll never eat a Big Man again in sheer solidarity (except at 3am when ethics must take a distant back seat to insatiable alcohol munchies).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

McLibel made me want to boycott McDonald's, turn vegetarian and even punch a clown or two on principle. But most of all, it restored my faith that the power to shape public discourse really rests with the people. Newscorp, you have been warned.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The story is really interesting. I'm glad I now know it. It did a good enough job of making me think twice about eating at McDonalds again - although to be honest, I probably still will. The production itself still felt really raw though and not in the usual documentary sort of way. It felt unfinished or rushed or something. The good guys win and that always makes me happy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

You know most documentaries are depressing but this one is actually really inspiring. Check it out to seee the real McDonald's. Grade: B+

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

pretty impressive, well done! fuck you McDonalds!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Franny Armstrong

Director

Dave Morris

Actor

Bruce Alexander

Richard Rampton

Rhona Cameron

Voice

T. Colin Campbell

Actor

Oliver Ford Davies

Dr.Arnott

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

67%

50%

Protocols of Zion

94%

91%

Lake of Fire

83%

67%

Inside Deep Throat

95%

86%

Food, Inc.

97%

87%

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Roger Moore

Orlando Sentinel

You can't help but take a little pleasure in watching jerk lawyers -- and an arrogant mega-corporation, with money and laws and seemingly the judge too on its side -- lose in every way imaginable.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 8, 2005

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

Variety

An alarming if ultimately inspiring David-and-Goliath parable for today.

Jun 16, 2005

Full Review

John McMurtrie

San Francisco Chronicle

A stirring and sometimes funny film.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 10, 2005

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

Everybody loves a good David & Goliath story, often doubly so when the story happens to be entirely factual and quite ironic.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 27, 2005

Full Review

Steve Schneider

Orlando Weekly

McLibel made me want to boycott McDonald's, turn vegetarian and even punch a clown or two on principle. But most of all, it restored my faith that the power to shape public discourse really rests with the people and not the PR agents.

Jul 7, 2005

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

... (a) portrait of corporate power and intimidation and the draconian British libel laws that turn the presumption of innocence on its head.

Rated: B

Jun 23, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Documentarian Franny Armstrong explores the infamous "McLibel" case, a lawsuit filed by the McDonald's Corporation that targeted two members of the London Greenpeace environmentalist collective who distributed a brochure denouncing the products and business practices of the massive fast food restaurant chain. Employing courtroom reenactments directed by prominent British filmmaker Ken Loach, the film reveals the extreme financial lengths McDonald's goes to in order to win the suit.

Director: Franny Armstrong
Producer: Peter Armstrong
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 9, 2005, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 20, 2005
Release Date (DVD): Sep 14, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.3K
Runtime: 1h 24m