If you like any of these movies, you are in fact woke
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To be “woke” means to have awareness of racial prejudice, discrimination, and broader structural and societal injustices. Here are just a few beloved films the anti-woke crowd don’t realize are actually secret woke propaganda.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Why it’s woke: Ruthlessly critiques vulture capitalism, promotes communal care and mutual aid, and demonstrates the benefits of finding personal worth beyond wealth or status.
Star Wars
Why it’s woke: A diverse, ragtag group of rebels overthrows a fascist empire, promotes anti-imperialism, and rejects brute force in favor of a balanced ethical code.
The Matrix
Why it’s woke: A diverse, ragtag group of rebels overthrows an oppressive system, uncovers hidden power structures, and promotes embracing your authentic self.
Forrest Gump
Why it’s woke: Promotes empathy for and excellence of people with disabilities, criticizes social and racial discrimination, and lampoons the follies of war and American politics.
The Passion of the Christ
Why it’s woke: A moral leader has compassion for the marginalized, practices radical forgiveness, and transforms suffering from state violence into collective redemption.
Lord of the Rings
Why it’s woke: Emphasizes environmentalism, anti-industrialization, overcoming racial differences for the greater good, and the idea that power should be destroyed rather than wielded.
Braveheart
Why it’s woke: Illustrates oppression and classism as moral evils, celebrates resistance to authoritarianism, and promotes collective freedom (sorry, Freeeeeeedoommmmm!) over oligarchy.
The Lion King
Why it’s woke: Advocates for ecological balance, mindful leadership over tyranny, community health over hoarding of power and resources, and heightened consciousness of self and society.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Why it’s woke: Upends rigid gender norms and the traditional family structure, emphasizes the importance of emotional labor and active fatherhood, and endorses cross-dressing.
Casablanca
Why it’s woke: Strongly anti-fascist, pro-refugee, sympathetic to people displaced by authoritarian regimes, and advocates for moral responsibility over isolationism.
Unforgiven
Why it’s woke: Deconstructs the myth of the noble Wild West gunslinger, condemns glorified violence, and exposes the systemic injustice and emotional fragility of patriarchy.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Why it’s woke: A female-led resistance escapes a misogynistic warlord, reclaims bodily autonomy, and embodies liberation as a collective struggle rather than a lone (male) hero’s journey.
Fight Club
Why it’s woke: Exposes the emptiness of corporate consumerism, the repercussions of social alienation and toxic masculinity, and the nihilistic end-result of extremism.
American Sniper
Why it’s woke: Portrays the psychological cost of war on soldiers and society, the moral ambiguity of violence, and the complicated mythology of heroism and American foreign policy.
The Wizard of Oz
Why it’s woke: A young woman and her allies reject fraudulent authority, expose the powerless strongman behind the curtain, and learn to accept their agency despite their perceived shortcomings.