Blue Collar

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Blue Collar

R

1978

1h 54m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When Detroit autoworkers Zeke Brown (Richard Pryor), Jerry Bartowski (Harvey Keitel) and Smokey James (Yaphet Kotto) decide to rob their own union, they are initially disappointed by the relatively small haul. However, upon closer inspection, the three amateur thieves discover that they have made off with something potentially much more valuable than money: the union's ledger, filled with bogus figures and links to organized crime. Should they blackmail the union or go to the authorities?

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Critics Consensus

Paul Schrader's Blue Collar offers a searing, darkly funny indictment of labor exploitation and rampant consumerism that's fueled by the outstanding work of an excellent cast.

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Jesse Hassenger

AV Club

Aug 21, 2021

The pacing can feel a bit lax, but the movie's eclecticism is remarkable.

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K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

Aug 21, 2021

Blue Collar offers up the bitter, outrageous, and ultimately despairing vision of anti-union efforts that the subject deserves.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Aug 21, 2021

Schrader depicts the exchange of labor for money as a kind of original sin, and not even those who honor its code-to the letter and in spirit-are innocent.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jan 25, 2024

Blue Collar is the American Dream converted into a nightmare, or a drama about a man consumed by a society of consumerism. Who would want to voluntarily submit themselves to this torture? [Full review in Spanish]

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

Feb 12, 2023

10/10

Schrader keeps our interests rooted at all times with this trio of characters, and through them pushes important conversational topics around labor exploitation and the perpetual dehumanization of the workforce under capitalism.

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Dec 1, 2022

A

A clenched, provocative drama, brilliantly acted.

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Simon T

@MovieTart Nov 6, 2026

Three Detroit car workers decide to burgle their union's safe, only to discover the safe contains petty cash and a notebook itemising dodgy loans. Thinking they can blackmail their union, they soon discover they've been outwitted and pay a heavy price. Paul Schrader's murky black comedy is very well acted by Richard Pryor, Harvey Keitel and particularly Yaphet Kotto, whose gruesome death by paint spray is particularly shocking.

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Alain E

@AlainE Sep 1, 2026

A big disappointment as far as I am concerned. The movie can’t decide if it is a comedy, a working class drama or a labor relations analysis. It serves a museum function showing the assembly of cars before robots and automation. Not worth the $3.99 I gave to Amazon.

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revolver.0 8

@Revolver08 Mar 15, 2026

some scenes feels offbeat, but overall good points on criminalization of capitalism

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Scott R

@ScottR Feb 20, 2026

NYT 1000 films. I expect it was included for its take on labor exploitation and the effects from it. I didn’t like the writing or the acting. It was too over the top and I didn’t identify with it or the overall feel. Saw on box.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Feb 21, 2024

The ending is too neat and tidy (it also underlines the movie's thesis in a way that seems unnecessary) but the performances are uniformly good and there is an attention to detail, both in the characters and the settings, that lends a lot of authenticity to the proceedings.

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Skye W

@RT32336372 Oct 9, 2023

As a fan of Schrader and a huge fan of Pryor and Keitel, it's hard to admit, but this was truly one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The whole thing feels like improv with no direction whatsoever. I am baffled by the great reviews here. This was difficult to watch without cringing.

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Paul Schrader

Director

Richard Pryor

Zeke Brown

Harvey Keitel

Jerry Bartowski

Yaphet Kotto

Smokey James

Ed Begley Jr.

Bobby Joe

Harry Bellaver

Eddie Johnson Union President AAW Local 291

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Synopsis

When Detroit autoworkers Zeke Brown (Richard Pryor), Jerry Bartowski (Harvey Keitel) and Smokey James (Yaphet Kotto) decide to rob their own union, they are initially disappointed by the relatively small haul. However, upon closer inspection, the three amateur thieves discover that they have made off with something potentially much more valuable than money: the union's ledger, filled with bogus figures and links to organized crime. Should they blackmail the union or go to the authorities?

Director: Paul Schrader
Producer: Don Guest
Screenwriter: Sydney A. Glass, Leonard Schrader, Paul Schrader
Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment, Universal Pictures
Production Co: TAT Communications Company
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 10, 1978, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 20, 2010
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Mono

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