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This Changes Everything (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

This Changes Everything (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 96 min · English
Echo score 70
Directed by
Tom Donahue
Starring
Cate Blanchett, Geena Davis, Zoe Saldana, Natalie Portman, Rashida Jones, Rosario Dawson
Budget
$65K

This documentary explores the significant gender imbalance within the entertainment industry. Through interviews with prominent filmmakers and actors, it reveals how women are consistently underrepresented and often portrayed inaccurately. The film examines the systemic issues contributing to this disparity and highlights the need for change in Hollywood.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Where & when it takes place
  3. 3 Themes & meaning (3)
  4. 4 Character & meaning questions
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like This Changes Everything
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch This Changes Everything (2019)

Where can you watch This Changes Everything? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, Kanopy and Amazon MX Player: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Setting

Where and When Does This Changes Everything Take Place?

The setting of This Changes Everything (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

21st Century

The 21st century has seen significant discussions and movements regarding gender equality and representation, particularly in industries like film. With the rise of social media, more voices are being heard, and movements such as #MeToo have gained traction. This period remains crucial for advocating for lasting reforms against gender discrimination in Hollywood and beyond.

Location

Hollywood

Hollywood is known as the entertainment capital of the world, home to the American film industry. It is synonymous with celebrity culture and a significant player in setting global entertainment trends. Despite its glamorous reputation, it also reflects systemic issues, especially in how it represents and treats women.

  • 🎬 Cinema
  • ✨ Culture

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:44

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3 major themes

This Changes Everything Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is This Changes Everything (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Empowerment

    The film emphasizes the importance of female empowerment in the film industry. It highlights the collective efforts of women and their allies to confront long-standing inequities. By shining a light on these systemic issues, it calls for solidarity and active participation in creating change.

  • Gender Bias

    Gender bias is a central theme of this documentary, examining its roots and consequences within the film industry. It reveals personal stories of discrimination and underrepresentation, pressing the need for awareness and reform. The film pushes for acknowledgment of these issues as a critical step towards achieving equality.

  • Social Change

    This documentary serves as not only a reflection of the ongoing challenges but also as a call to action for social change. It discusses initiatives aimed at combatting gender discrimination worldwide. By documenting these struggles, the film encourages viewers to engage in discussions that can lead to transformative actions.

Last updated: May 04, 2025 at 18:44

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Character & theme questions

This Changes Everything Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about This Changes Everything (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

What is This Changes Everything about?

This Changes Everything is a 2019 documentary that examines the significant gender imbalance in the entertainment industry. Through interviews with prominent filmmakers and actors, it reveals how women are consistently underrepresented and often portrayed inaccurately in Hollywood. The film investigates the systemic issues contributing to this disparity and highlights the urgent need for reform.

  • gender inequality
  • Hollywood
  • documentary
  • women representation
  • film industry
Q2

Where is This Changes Everything set?

The documentary is centered on Hollywood, which serves as both the setting and subject of the film. As the entertainment capital of the world and home to the American film industry, Hollywood provides the context for examining gender representation issues. The film explores how the industry's power structures affect how women are portrayed and treated.

  • Hollywood
  • setting
  • film industry
  • Los Angeles
  • entertainment capital
Q3

When does the movie take place?

The film is set in the 21st century, specifically focusing on the contemporary era when discussions about gender equality and representation gained significant momentum. This period is marked by the rise of social media and movements like #MeToo, which amplified voices calling for lasting reforms against gender discrimination in Hollywood and beyond.

  • 21st century
  • modern era
  • MeToo
  • gender equality movement
  • contemporary
Q4

What are the main themes in This Changes Everything?

The documentary explores three interconnected themes: Empowerment, which focuses on female empowerment and collective efforts to confront inequities; Gender Bias, examining discrimination and underrepresentation within the film industry; and Social Change, serving as a call to action for transformative reforms. These themes work together to present a comprehensive view of the challenges facing women in entertainment.

  • empowerment
  • gender bias
  • social change
  • themes
  • inequality
  • reform
Q5

What does the film say about gender bias in Hollywood?

The documentary examines gender bias as a central theme, revealing its deep roots and consequences within the film industry. It presents personal stories of discrimination and underrepresentation, pressing for awareness and reform. The film argues that acknowledging these issues is a critical step toward achieving equality in entertainment.

  • gender bias
  • discrimination
  • Hollywood
  • women in film
  • representation
Q6

What is the tone of the documentary?

The documentary carries a predominantly dark tone due to its serious investigation into systemic discrimination and abuse, including references to scandals like the Harvey Weinstein case. However, this darkness is balanced by a hopeful ending that serves as a rallying cry for action, creating a dynamic tension between critique and optimism about potential change.

  • tone
  • dark
  • hopeful
  • emotional
  • Harvey Weinstein
  • documentary style
Q7

Who are the key voices featured in the documentary?

The film features interviews with prominent filmmakers and actors from the entertainment industry. These voices share their personal experiences and observations about gender inequality in Hollywood, providing firsthand accounts of the challenges women face in the industry. While specific character data is not available, the documentary relies on these industry insiders to tell the story.

  • interviews
  • filmmakers
  • actors
  • industry voices
  • testimonials
Q8

What is the message This Changes Everything delivers?

The documentary delivers a powerful message about the need for systemic change in how women are represented and treated in Hollywood. It emphasizes that gender equality requires collective action from women and their allies. The film serves not only as a reflection of ongoing challenges but as a call to action, encouraging viewers to engage in discussions that can lead to transformative social change.

  • message
  • call to action
  • equality
  • change
  • social reform
  • collective action

Movie threads

More Movies Like This Changes Everything, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes This Changes Everything tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Hopeful Calls to Action Documentaries like This Changes Everything

Documentaries that expose dark realities but ultimately inspire change with passionate urgency. Explore movies like This Changes Everything that delve into systemic inequality and discrimination. These documentaries blend critical analysis with hopeful activism, perfect for viewers seeking films that expose harsh truths while inspiring tangible change and social justice.

  • urgent
  • hopeful
  • critical
  • thought-provoking
  • passionate
  • frustrating
  • Tone: critical, hopeful, urgent
  • Pacing: steady, persuasive
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically follow a clear, persuasive structure: they first diagnose a major systemic problem, often through personal accounts and expert interviews, then build a compelling case for why change is necessary and possible, culminating in a hopeful vision for the future and a call to action for the audience.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a powerful emotional mix: the darkness of confronting systemic abuse is balanced by the hopeful energy of activism. They are united by a steady, logical pacing that builds an argument, a heavy emotional weight from their subject matter, and a tone that is both critical and optimistic.

Candid Industry Exposé Documentaries similar to This Changes Everything

Behind-the-scenes investigations that pull back the curtain on powerful, flawed institutions. If you liked This Changes Everything, discover other films that critically examine powerful industries from the inside. These documentaries offer a candid, behind-the-scenes perspective on systemic issues, featuring insider interviews and revealing the hidden truths of influential institutions.

  • candid
  • critical
  • thought-provoking
  • frustrating
  • revealing
  • investigative
  • Tone: candid, critical, dark
  • Pacing: steady, investigative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves investigating a closed system—like Hollywood, the tech world, or corporate finance—to expose its dysfunctions. Using a mix of archival footage, data, and insider testimony, these films methodically build a case against the status quo, focusing on the human cost of systemic failures and the individuals fighting for transparency.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared focus on pulling back the curtain. They have a candid, critical tone, a steady pacing suited to investigative journalism, and a medium intensity that engages intellectually. The mood is consistently thought-provoking and often frustrating, centered on themes of abuse of power and the need for accountability.

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Every angle

This Changes Everything (2019) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about This Changes Everything in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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