Roger & Me

Roger and Me follows Michael Moore as he investigates what happens when a giant employer pulls the plug on a town. In Flint, Michigan, a General Motors plant closes, wiping out thousands of jobs and reshaping the community. Moore shifts from curious reporter to determined advocate as he pursues GM chief Roger Smith, hoping for an interview that can expose the real costs behind corporate decisions. The film combines humor, candid interviews, and on the ground footage to show the human toll of factory shutdowns, challenging viewers to connect economic policy with everyday lives. The film relies on street interviews and on the fly commentary to frame a town under pressure.

Released in 1989, the film was directed by Michael Moore and stems from his own investigative reporting and encounters with Flint residents. It helped launch Moore's signature blunt critique and populist storytelling, turning a local story into a national conversation.

Its worldwide gross reached 6,706,368 dollars against a 160,000 dollar budget, marking a remarkable return for a low budget investigative documentary. The film's success helped prove that documentary activism can attract broad audiences. Its box office success showed documentary reach global.

The film helped popularize a confrontational approach in political documentary and brought attention to the human side of manufacturing decline. It sparked debates about outsourcing and corporate responsibility, influencing viewers and filmmakers to probe the economic cost of plant closures. Its legacy echoes in discussions of work, unions, and resilience.

Critics praised the film for its bold approach to economic issues and its blend of humor with hard facts. It examines how corporate decisions ripple through families and towns and raises questions about accountability, community resilience, and the distortions of modern capitalism. It remains a touchstone for economic policy debates.