The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales

Released Sep 16, 2022

1 hr. 27 min.

Documentary

List

94%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

60%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Abigail Disney looks at America's dysfunctional and unequal economy and asks why the American Dream has worked for the wealthy, yet is a nightmare for people born with less. As a way to imagine a more equitable future, Disney uses her family's story to explore how this systemic injustice took hold.

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Jeromy C

This film is poignant and insightful while also entertaining. I applaud Abby Disney for having the courage to produce and direct The American Dream. Everyone who enjoys movies, works in Hollywood, or participates in capitalism, should see this film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/22

Full Review

The B

This speaks to the larger picture of corporate capitalist greed eating and dividing the people of America for the benefit of their shareholders while we all grow closer to the poverty line.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

Decent documentary but only scratches the surface in so many ways.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

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susan l

Wow I now understand so thoroughly what has gone wrong in this country. When a company's main objective is to raise their stock price, the best way to cut costs is to reduce payroll. And people at the bottom of the pay scale, as usual, are always the hardest hit.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Garrett B

Abigail "Disney" back at it again…….with another hatful documentary. 😠

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/22

Full Review

Sea S

I agree with Abigail Disney that some of the upper echelon (executives) of Corporate America tend to be more focused on their own financial compensation and the gains of their stock holders, than over their workers. Her solution to the problem, however, leads down the path of Socialism, Government intervention, and Higher taxes. She then justifies her position with arguments of the evils of Capitalism, white supremacy, stolen land, and the exploitation of minorities. (To be clear...what she argues against, unbeknownst to her, is Crony Capitalism...not true Capitalism). Oh...and let's not forget Abigail's arguments of "Income Inequality".... as i routinely say, "This is the land of equal OPPORTUNITY...not the land of Equal Share" Everyone has to live with the choices they make. If they choose to party, and blow off their education when they're young (or rack up thousands of $$$ worth in college debt for a worthless degree)...then they will reap what they sow, and will end up working for minimum wage. As my father told me, "there are two ways to make money in this world -- with your brains or your back." I added to this advice for my kids with, "or with hours of your life sold to your employer." Where I take GREAT exception to this is when someone's opportunities are stolen by others through exploitation. In America...everyone has the right to equal opportunity. Period. In the case of Disney, the documentary points out that Disney has free education programs, which would help their employees climb that ladder Abigail shows. So, in my opinion, Disney is trying to help their employees in that regard, but fail to go the extra step by reducing their hours, offering child care, or subsidized housing while they attend school (examples only, but adding these incentive to employees would offer immediate benefits for those who want to further their education). In my opinion, Disney makes a LOT of money. I agree that, in the case of Disney Land, the the cost of living in the Socialist State of California (Anaheim and Orange County in particular) is far beyond the means of a minimum wage workers. I, personally, don't see why Disney can't spend money to build apartment complexes for the workers that need help, and subsidize the rent as part of the worker's package. Further, I see no reason why a company the size of Disney does not offer reasonable healthcare for their workers. However, the argument that the Government is the solution, and needs to step in to fix these problems through socialism...well...she lost me on that one. As a whole, I think Abigail Disney missed her opportunity. She had the opportunity to use her Disney name to put out a Documentary that could have helped the employees...instead, she created one that missed the mark on a proper solution by pushing Woke ideology. I gave the show two (2) stars for this reason -- she brought to light a problem that should be know (bravo!), but completely missed the target on how to fix it and failed to rally universal support to the cause.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/13/22

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Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

The filmmakers’ focus-shifting approach to telling this story is smart and effective. But its true power lies in the history lesson it eventually segues to, landing with a gut punch.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 29, 2022

Full Review

Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

A compelling story about persistent problems that affect the majority of Americans, even though you don't hear about them very often in mainstream media.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 26, 2022

Full Review

Noel Murray

Los Angeles Times

This is an unapologetic advocacy doc; and as such it’s likely to rub some viewers the wrong way. But even those who want to watch it just to argue should find that “The American Dream” is a worthy opponent.

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Cater

Saporta Report (Atlanta)

She’s certainly not a clueless do-gooder, but she can come close – like those well-meaning Hollywood wives who once organized aerobics classes for the homeless.

Nov 30, 2022

Full Review

Zebib K.A.

Spectrum Culture

This documentary feature by Abigail Disney is a broad, down-to-earth journey through American capitalism and the Disney corporation’s income disparities.

Oct 6, 2022

Full Review

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

What I take away from “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales,” when combined with our current state of unstoppable greed, is that, as I have long known, the dream is dead, long live the dream (‘cause you are not going to get it).

Rated: C+

Sep 28, 2022

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Synopsis

Abigail Disney looks at America's dysfunctional and unequal economy and asks why the American Dream has worked for the wealthy, yet is a nightmare for people born with less. As a way to imagine a more equitable future, Disney uses her family's story to explore how this systemic injustice took hold.

Director: Abigail Disney, Kathleen Hughes
Executive Producer: Tim Disney, Bill Haney, Paula M. Froehle, Steven H. Cohen
Distributor: Fork Films
Production Co: Chicago Media Project, Fork Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 16, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 23, 2022

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