American Sweatshop
Directed by Uta Briesewitz
A content moderator is tasked with purging offensive media from the internet. When she witnesses a crime in a video, she is lured away from the safety of her keyboard as she obsessively seeks to hold someone accountable.
Where to Watch American Sweatshop
- Monkey See! Monkey Review!!September 27, 2025I’ve always been fascinated by the perspectives of those working behind the scenes in content moderation. As a fan of platforms like Vice and Soft White Underbelly, I appreciate their raw, unfiltered look into lives that exist far outside typical social norms. So when I discovered American Sweatshop centers on the journey of a content moderator, I was immediately drawn in. TLDR -> The film offers a glimpse into what happens on the other side when we report or flag online content as inappropriate. GOOD INSIGHTFUL MOVIE, BUT NOT GREAT It’s easy to forget—or maybe we never fully realize—that there’s a real person behind the screen, not just a bot or algorithm responding to user reports. The internet can be a deeply disturbing place, where free speech and free will empower people to do both incredible good and devastating harm. And someone has to clean up that mess—someone has to face the worst content imaginable every day, and content moderators bear the brunt of that emotional toll. While I enjoyed the movie, I felt it only scratched the surface of the complex workplace environment and broader social impact of content moderation. I would have welcomed a grittier, more unvarnished portrayal. Still, the film’s core focus on the mental health of the main character—balancing everyday life while being repeatedly exposed to the internet’s darkest corners—was compelling and thoughtfully handled. Ultimately, American Sweatshop is a solid watch that raises important questions. I found myself wanting to know more about what happens after the film’s ending—what it’s like to face the individuals behind the online content when there’s no longer a digital barrier between them. The movie opens the door for deeper conversations and inspired me to research more about this hidden world. Though the ending felt somewhat predictable and left some threads unresolved, the film succeeds in drawing attention to a vital topic. I’d recommend watching it and then diving deeper into the realities of content moderation beyond the screen.
- Emily DownerAugust 25, 2025After watching the trailer, I was so excited for this film! I was kind of disappointed by it but I still think it's an important watch. Lili Reinhart was a badass! She was the shining Star and saving grace of this film. Incredibly done! She has some of the best lines and scenes! "We are the First Responders of the internet." Was spot on. It's an important story about how desensitized the internet can be and how harmful it is to our mental health. That was the lesson we were getting but it felt disjointed. I wanted to feel for the other characters but I didn't see the connections. I could never do that job and I feel like no one should have too. I wanted to love this film more. However, I LOVE the ending! It was so good and unexpected.
American Sweatshop Trivia
American Sweatshop was released on September 19, 2025.
American Sweatshop was directed by Uta Briesewitz.
American Sweatshop has a runtime of 1h 33m.
American Sweatshop was produced by Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Anita Elsani, Uta Briesewitz.
A content moderator is tasked with purging offensive media from the internet. When she witnesses a crime in a video, she is lured away from the safety of her keyboard as she obsessively seeks to hold someone accountable.
The key characters in American Sweatshop are Daisy Moriarty (Lili Reinhart), Ava Alvim (Daniela Melchior), Paul (Jeremy Ang Jones).
American Sweatshop is rated Not Rated.
American Sweatshop is a Mystery, Thriller, Drama film.
American Sweatshop has an audience rating of 5 out of 10.