If you were captivated by the thought-provoking documentary 'The Lottery of Birth' (2013), which explores the randomness of privilege and the illusion of free will, you'll love these 10 similar films and shows. This article curates a list of compelling titles that delve into themes of social inequality, systemic injustice, and human rights, offering viewers more eye-opening perspectives on the world we live in.

They Live (1988)
Description: A sci-fi allegory that uses genre elements to critique consumer culture and hidden mechanisms of control, with themes that resonate strongly with modern societal concerns.
Fact: The famous six-minute fight scene was intentionally prolonged to emphasize the difficulty of accepting harsh truths. The film has become a cult classic with enduring relevance.


The Fog of War (2003)
Description: This documentary offers a profound examination of decision-making in times of conflict, revealing how systems and individuals rationalize morally complex actions.
Fact: The film consists of 11 lessons from Robert McNamara's life, structured like a philosophical treatise. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.


The Corporation (2003)
Description: This documentary critically examines the nature and behavior of corporations, drawing parallels to legal personhood and psychological diagnoses, making it a thought-provoking exploration of systemic issues.
Fact: The film uses diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV to argue that corporations exhibit traits of psychopathy. It won 26 international awards.


Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)
Description: A gripping account of corporate fraud and hubris that exposes how systemic flaws enable corruption at the highest levels of business and government.
Fact: The film features actual audio recordings from Enron's trading floor, capturing traders joking about manipulating California's energy crisis.


Capitalism: A Love Story (2009)
Description: This documentary provides a comprehensive critique of the financial system, exploring how economic structures affect ordinary citizens while benefiting the powerful few.
Fact: The film includes footage of Michael Moore attempting to make a citizen's arrest of Wall Street CEOs. It was released during the height of the 2008 financial crisis.


The Act of Killing (2012)
Description: A harrowing documentary that delves into the minds of perpetrators of mass killings, offering a surreal and unsettling look at how power and ideology distort reality.
Fact: The film's subjects reenact their crimes in various cinematic genres, blurring the line between documentary and fiction. It was executive produced by Werner Herzog and Errol Morris.


The True Cost (2015)
Description: This documentary exposes the hidden consequences of consumerism and fast fashion, revealing the human and environmental costs behind global capitalism.
Fact: The film sparked international conversations about ethical fashion and led to changes in some companies' manufacturing practices.


Requiem for the American Dream (2015)
Description: This film presents a compelling critique of wealth inequality and the concentration of power among the elite, using historical analysis and interviews to expose systemic flaws.
Fact: It features Noam Chomsky's final long-form interviews, distilling his lifetime of political thought into a concise narrative.


What the Health (2017)
Description: A provocative investigation into the connections between diet, disease, and corporate interests, challenging mainstream health narratives and institutional practices.
Fact: The film's release coincided with a measurable increase in veganism searches and plant-based diet adoptions worldwide.


HyperNormalisation (2016)
Description: A sprawling documentary that examines how governments and corporations create simplified versions of reality to maintain control, offering a complex look at modern propaganda and misinformation.
Fact: The film's title comes from a term coined by anthropologist Alexei Yurchak to describe Soviet society in the 1980s. It runs nearly three hours but maintains a gripping pace.
