Is Amsterdam woke?
Movie · Released October 7, 2022
Amsterdam has a wokeness score of 8/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
2022 releases average 4.5/10. See wokeness trends
Key points
- Interracial romance idealized as progressive defiance of 1930s racism and norms.
- Anti-fascist plot explicitly parallels historical events to modern political threats.
- Heavy emphasis on racism, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy as central themes.
Wokeness analysis
Amsterdam (2022) delivers prominent woke messaging through its heavy emphasis on interracial romance between Black lawyer Harold and white nurse Valerie, portrayed as an ideal soulmate bond that challenges 1930s societal norms. The film centers anti-Semitism faced by half-Jewish doctor Burt and systemic racism against Black characters, using these to underscore themes of marginalization and victimhood. A major subplot exposes a wealthy cabal's fascist coup plot against FDR, complete with white supremacy elements like forced sterilization clinics, explicitly linking historical American fascism to contemporary authoritarian threats in speeches that feel shoehorned in. Director David O. Russell draws overt parallels to modern politics, with characters preaching about democracy, truth, fighting hate, and love as resistance—echoing resistance cinema tropes. Conservative-leaning critiques highlight how plot and ensemble cast serve ideological lectures on racism, misogyny, and anti-fascism rather than organic storytelling, alienating viewers with preachy De Niro monologues and idealized diversity. Entertainment takes a backseat to social commentary on white supremacy and elite conspiracies, making the agenda dominate the narrative.
Plot
Set in 1933 New York, the film follows WWI veterans Dr. Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale), a half-Jewish doctor treating veterans, and his Black friend Harold Woodsman (John David Washington), a lawyer. They reunite with eccentric nurse Valerie Voze (Margot Robbie) after being framed for murder while investigating the suspicious death of their former general. The trio uncovers a conspiracy by a cabal of wealthy industrialists known as the Committee of the Five, who plot to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt and install a fascist dictator inspired by Mussolini and Hitler. The story incorporates real historical elements like the Business Plot, while weaving in subplots about racism, an interracial relationship, anti-Semitism, and eugenics clinics. It culminates in a confrontation at a veterans' event with a rousing speech defending democracy.
Analyzed by AI on November 6, 2026