Labor Day is more than just the unofficial end of summer, it’s a moment to reflect on the workers who built and continue to sustain our society. From the coal mines of Kentucky to corporate boardrooms, the stories of labor rights, workplace justice, and economic inequality have long been powerful fodder for the screen. Whether you're programming a community screening or simply reflecting on the meaning of the holiday, these films offer a compelling look at the ongoing struggles and triumphs of working people.
9to5: The Story of A Movement
2020 | Directed by Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar
This eye-opening documentary tells the real story behind the iconic 1980 comedy 9 to 5. Long before the film hit theaters, a group of Boston secretaries launched a grassroots movement to fight for better pay, fair treatment, and an end to sexual harassment in the workplace. The documentary offers an inspiring—and often surprising—look at how their organizing efforts helped ignite a nationwide push for gender equity in office jobs.
Drawing on archival footage and first-person interviews, 9to5: The Story of a Movement is a powerful tribute to women-led labor activism. Reichert and Bognar, Oscar-winning directors of American Factory, bring compassion and clarity to this chronicle of everyday resistance. It’s an essential Labor Day watch for anyone interested in feminism, labor history, or collective action. Click here for more information about 9to5: The Story of a Movement.
Cesar Chavez
2014 | Directed by Diego Luna
Cesar Chavez dramatizes the life of the iconic labor leader Cesar Chavez who co-founded the United Farm Workers and led a national boycott against unsafe working conditions and exploitative wages. Played by Michael Peña, Chavez is portrayed as both a visionary organizer and a deeply human figure, balancing his dedication to the cause with the emotional toll it takes on his family life.
While not without its dramatic liberties, the film succeeds in highlighting the sheer willpower required to build a movement from the ground up. With a strong supporting cast including Rosario Dawson and America Ferrera, Cesar Chavez remains a valuable introduction to one of America’s most influential labor figures—and a reminder of how change is made through persistence, strategy, and lots of sacrifice. Click here to get your copy of Cesar Chavez on DVD.
Harlan County, USA
1976 | Directed by Barbara Kopple
One of the most essential documentaries in American film history, Harlan County, USA captures the 1973 Brookside strike in rural Kentucky, where coal miners and their families took a stand against Duke Power. Shot with intimate access and an unflinching eye, Barbara Kopple's Oscar-winning film is as much about community resilience as it is about corporate greed.
From violent confrontations to quiet moments of solidarity, Harlan County, USA immerses viewers in a harrowing labor battle that still resonates today. The film’s raw emotional power and relevance make it a must-see every Labor Day—and a powerful reminder of how far (and how little) we’ve come in the fight for workers’ rights. Click here to get your copy of Harlan County, USA on DVD.
North Country
2005 | Directed by Niki Caro
Inspired by the landmark 1984 sexual harassment case Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co., North Country stars Charlize Theron as Josey Aimes, a single mother who takes a job at a Minnesota iron mine and soon faces relentless abuse from her male coworkers. Refusing to stay silent, she initiates a class-action lawsuit that changes the national conversation around workplace harassment.
With powerful performances from Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, and Sean Bean, this dramatization brings both emotional intensity and historical significance. It’s a potent reminder that Labor Day isn’t just about wages and hours but it’s also about the fight for dignity, equality, and safety in the workplace. Click here to get your copy of North Country on DVD.
Taylor Chain
1980 & 1984 | Directed by Jerry Blumenthal and Gordon Quinn
The Taylor Chain films—Taylor Chain and Taylor Chain II: A Story of Collective Bargaining—follow the negotiations between a small Indiana chain manufacturing plant and its unionized workers over the course of several years. Filmed in real time by the acclaimed Kartemquin Films, these documentaries offer a rare, candid view into the slow, grinding process of contract negotiation and the human lives behind it.
What makes Taylor Chain so impactful is its intimacy. The films don’t offer easy heroes or villains; instead, they showcase the tensions, compromises, and moral complexities inherent in labor disputes. Together, the two-part series is a compelling educational resource and a sobering meditation on the fragility of labor wins in an evolving economic landscape.
Norma Rae
1979 | Directed by Martin Ritt
Sally Field won an Oscar for her portrayal of Norma Rae, a textile worker in a Southern mill who risks everything to unionize her workplace. Based on the true story of Crystal Lee Sutton, the film dramatizes the dangers and isolation of standing up to a powerful company—and the unexpected strength found in solidarity.
Norma Rae has become a touchstone for labor films, not just for its political content but for its moving character arc. It’s a story of transformation, empowerment, and moral courage, delivered with passion and authenticity. Whether you're new to labor cinema or revisiting the classics, this is essential Labor Day viewing. Click here to get your copy of Norma Rae on DVD.
The Hand That Feeds
2014 | Directed by Robin Blotnick and Rachel Lears
Set in a Manhattan café where undocumented immigrants toil under exploitative conditions, The Hand That Feeds follows Carlos, a quiet worker who risks everything to start a movement. With the help of activists from the Occupy Wall Street movement, he and his coworkers form a union and demand fair wages, better treatment, and a voice on the job.
This vérité-style documentary captures not only the emotional toll of labor activism but the power of organizing across class and cultural divides. It’s an inspiring real-life David vs. Goliath story that is raw, urgent, and timely. Click here to stream The Hand That Feeds on Prime Video.
Trading Places
1983 | Directed by John Landis
On its face, Trading Places is a satirical comedy about a snobbish investor (Dan Aykroyd) and a street hustler (Eddie Murphy) who unknowingly become pawns in a social experiment. But beneath the laughs lies a biting critique of capitalist structures and the ease with which privilege—and poverty—can be swapped by those in power.
A staple of ‘80s comedy, this film cleverly skewers Wall Street greed, class dynamics, and the myth of meritocracy. It's both hilarious and thought-provoking, making it a great (and accessible) Labor Day option for viewers who want a little sugar with their politics. Click here to get your copy of Trading Places on DVD.
The Corporation
2003 | Directed by Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott
In this dense but compelling documentary, The Corporation explores the modern multinational corporation as a dominant institution—one that legally functions as a “person” but often behaves like a psychopath. Using interviews, case studies, and archival footage, it delves into environmental destruction, labor abuses, and global exploitation.
This is essential viewing for Labor Day because it challenges viewers to examine not just individual labor issues, but the systemic structures that create them. If you’re looking to pair classic labor films with a big-picture analysis, The Corporation is the perfect way to end your lineup. Click here to get your copy of The Corporation on DVD.
Pride
2014 | Directed by Matthew Warchus
Based on the true story of an unlikely alliance, Pride follows a group of LGBTQ+ activists in 1984 London who decide to raise money for striking miners during the British coal miners' strike. Initially met with suspicion by the miners’ union, the activists persist, traveling to a small Welsh village to offer their support in person—and slowly, a bond forms between two communities fighting different but parallel battles against Thatcher-era oppression.
Equal parts moving and rousing, Pride is about solidarity across divides—class, geography, identity—and how collective struggle can build bridges where none seemed possible. With its big heart, humor, and political resonance, Pride is a perfect Labor Day pick that highlights the universal power of standing together. Click here to get your copy of Pride on DVD.
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