6 Best Layoffs and Unemployment Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 29, 2026

The disorienting identity crisis and dark comedy of sudden unemployment has powered some of cinema’s sharpest workplace dramas and satires. In American Beauty (1999): A suburban father’s midlife crisis and unexpected job loss trigger a radical reevaluation of his life. Don’t overlook The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): A struggling single father battles homelessness while pursuing a demanding unpaid internship for his son’s future.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A struggling single father battles homelessness while pursuing a demanding unpaid internship for his son's future.

Directed by Gabriele Muccino · 1h 57m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Angel Studios · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Company Men (2010)

TMDB ★ 6.6

Three corporate executives at different career stages navigate the devastating impact of massive layoffs.

Directed by John Wells · 1h 44m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Up in the Air (2009)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A corporate downsizing consultant who travels constantly to fire people begins questioning his rootless lifestyle.

Directed by Jason Reitman · 1h 50m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Full Monty (1997)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A group of unemployed steel workers forms an amateur striptease act to earn quick cash.

Directed by Peter Cattaneo · 1h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Office Space (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A disillusioned software engineer stops caring about his soul-crushing job, with unexpectedly liberating results.

Directed by Mike Judge · 1h 30m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American Beauty (1999)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 87% Metacritic 84

A suburban father's midlife crisis and unexpected job loss trigger a radical reevaluation of his life.

Directed by Sam Mendes · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars112 wins & 102 nominations

Where to watch

Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Layoffs and Unemployment Movies

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

The Company Men (2010)

Up in the Air (2009)

The Full Monty (1997)

Office Space (1999)

American Beauty (1999)

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