Merchants of Doubt

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Merchants of Doubt

PG-13

2015

1h 36m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

85 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Spin doctors spread misinformation and confusion among American citizens to delay progress on such important issues as global climate change.

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Critics Consensus

Merchants of Doubt is a thought-provoking documentary assembled with energy and style, even if it doesn't dig as deep as it could.

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Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

04/09/2015

2.5/4

A movie about manufactured consensus would be a vital public service. But "Merchants of Doubt" isn't quite that movie.

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William Goss

Austin Chronicle

04/08/2015

...largely preaches to the left-leaning choir with plenty of hissable sound bites and a generally glib tone that undercuts an otherwise understandable sense of righteous indignation.

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Tom Long

Detroit News

04/03/2015

B-

Aside from an eye-opening investigation of useless and harmful flame repellents pumped into furniture, it sticks to climate change without broadening its scope to other examples of corporate spinning, which must be plentiful.

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Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

09/16/2020

3.5/4.0

A criminally underseen documentary.

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Kathi Maio

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

03/11/2020

Mr. Kenner knows how to keep his films visually interesting, as well as intellectually stimulating. And the story he tells in Merchants of Doubt is about as important as they come.

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Chris McCoy

Memphis Flyer

01/09/2020

The writing and research are meticulous, and director Kenner is not afraid to interview the people he's calling liars and shills.

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Georgan G

@RT98616417 10/25/2024

Have know about all this for decades. Makes me mad to even watch this since nothing has changed.

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01/19/2021

Explains what motivates the deniers to take such an ignorant stance. The effectiveness of distraction is also masterfully displayed through the magicians.

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12/30/2017

I can't ever remember saying, "Wow...what an asshole!" as much as while watching this documentary.

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04/30/2017

scientists vs. tobacco, big pharma, climate change deniers lobbyists. a great documentary showcasing charm trumping solid facts. one big punch in the gut!

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03/02/2017

it was interesting, but, nothing that we didn't know already about the Tobacco industry and the climate change concerns

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Gina W

@RT47387387 07/06/2016

This documentary stirs up anxiety about our now "bought and sold democracy" to evil companies such as Koch Brothers, ExxonMobil, etc.

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Robert Kenner

Director

Stanton A. Glantz

Actor

James Hansen

Actor

Frederick Singer

Actor

Michael Shermer

Actor

Michael E Mann

Actor

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Synopsis

Spin doctors spread misinformation and confusion among American citizens to delay progress on such important issues as global climate change.

Director: Robert Kenner
Producer: Melissa Robledo, Robert Kenner
Screenwriter: Robert Kenner, Kim Roberts
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Participant Media, Omidyar Network
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $305.6K
Runtime: 1h 36m