Plot Synopsis

Hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, MAKING CHANGE: THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL FILMS OF ALL TIME is a nine-week limited series that showcases films from the list by The New Republic, as curated by film critic J. Hoberman. Each of these films sparks discussion, inspires change, and can shift perspectives, creating an inspiring environment for viewers to explore these films within their historical context. For each film, Mankiewicz is joined by a different guest host, including Former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Stacey Abrams, Melissa Etheridge, Sally Field, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg and John Turturro. The 50 films scheduled for the nine-week event include:

Friday, September 6, 2024 - Night One
8:00pm The Battle of Algiers (1966) (co-hosted by Michael Tomasky - #1)
10:15pm All the King's Men (1949) (Steven Spielberg - #59)
12:15am The Great Dictator (1940) (John Turturro - #26)
2:30am Fail Safe (1964) (#99)
4:30am Ivan the Terrible: Part Two (1958) (#85)
6:00am Salt of the Earth (1954) (#31)

Friday, September 13, 2024 - Night Two
8:00pm Reds (1981) (Bill Maher - #41)
11:30pm The Parallax View (1974) (Kyle Smith - #47)
1:30am Germany, Year Zero (1948) (Alexander Payne - #97)
3:00am Gabriel Over the White House (1933) (#30)
4:30am The Battleship Potemkin (1925) (#7)
6:00am The Fog of War (2003) (#56)

Friday, September 20, 2024 - Night Three
8:00pm Dr. Strangelove (1964) (Spike Lee - #3)
9:45pm Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) (Stacey Abrams - #11)
12:15am Hearts and Minds (1974) (Phil Mattingly - #39)
2:15am The Lives of Others (2006) (#19)
4:45am Born in Flames (1983) (#43)
6:15am Bicycle Thieves (1948) (#52)

Friday, September 27, 2024 - Night Four
8:00pm Three Days of the Condor (1975) (Maureen Dowd - #72)
10:15pm Iam Not Your Negro (2016) (Sara Sidner - #58)
12:00am The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) (Melissa Etheridge - #88)
1:30am The Last Hurrah (1958) (#57)
3:45am Night of the Living Dead (1968) (#35)
5:15am The Tin Drum (1979) (#92)

Friday, October 4, 2024 - Night Five
8:00pm The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) (Sally Field - #81)
10:00pm The Best Man (1964) (Josh Mankiewicz - #69)
12:00am Iam a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) (Sec. Lonnie Bunch III - #95)
1:45am City Hall (1996) (#80)
3:45am Strike (1924) (#25)
5:15am High and Low (1963) (#84)

Friday, October 11, 2024 - Night Six
8:00pm A Face in the Crowd (1957) (Barry Levinson - #10)
10:15pm Wag the Dog (1997) (Diane Lane - #54)
12:00am The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971) (Abby Phillip - #37)
1:45am JFK (1991) (#34)
5:00am Z (1969) (#15)
7:15am Night and Fog (1956) (#21)

Friday, October 18, 2024 - Night Seven
8:00pm The Birth of a Nation (1915) (Jamelle Bouie - #5)
11:30pm Lincoln (2012) (Hon. Robert M. Gates - #24)
2:15am Malcolm X (1992) (#22)
6:00am Primary (1960) (#38)

Friday, October 25, 2024 - Night Eight
8:00pm All the President's Men (1976) (Steven Spielberg - #4)
10:30pm Citizen Kane (1941) (Frank Luntz - #33)
12:45am Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) (Lizzie Borden - #36)
4:15am Olympia Part One: Festival of Nations (1938) (#86)
6:15am Olympia Part Two: Beauty of the Festival (1938) (#86)

Friday, November 1, 2024 - Night Nine
8:00pm Being There (1979) (Andy Garcia - #71)
10:30pm The Candidate (1972) (Kaitlan Collins - #20)
12:30am Harlan County USA (1976) (Lee Grant - #12)
2:15am The Manchurian Candidate (1962) (#2)
4:00am Weekend (1967) (#94)