The Light Bulb Conspiracy
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76% Critic Match

The Light Bulb Conspiracy

The untold story of Planned Obsolescence

7.6 / 10 2010 1h 15mNR French
Documentary

Storyline

Once upon a time... consumer goods were built to last. Then, in the 1920’s, a group of businessmen realized that the longer their product lasted, the less money they made, thus Planned Obsolescence was born, and manufacturers have been engineering products to fail ever since. Combining investigative research and rare archive footage with analysis by those working on ways to save both the economy and the environment, this documentary charts the creation of ‘engineering to fail’, its rise to prominence and its recent fall from grace.

Cast & Crew

MM

Molly Malcolm

Narrator

Lead
MA

Mike Anane

Himself

MB

Michael Braungart

Himself

SB

Steve Bunn

Himself

NF

Nicols Fox

Herself

Casey Neistat

Casey Neistat

Himself

What People Are Saying

4.0
A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Cosima Dannoritzer's vision lands with breathtaking precision.
Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
4.0
Every frame feels alive. The Light Bulb Conspiracy is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker