What films show a theme of conformity?

Question

Films with a central theme, or some kind of reference to conformity. Be it social, or whatever. I'm thinking along the lines of V for Vendetta, where there are dictatorships etc.

I don't watch many movies, so I don't a lot

Also, modern films that I can rent out easily

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Most dystopias and office comedies will have conformity as a theme.  My favorite dystopia is "Equilibrium", starring Christian Bale.  The government tries to enforce conformity (among other things) through pharmaceutical suppression of emotions.  The rebels reject this conformity, but end up conforming to this rejection.  Both factions represent opposing extremes, but both conform to their own vision, suggesting that conformity is part of human nature.  In office comedies, such as "Office Space", the theme of conformity usually starts out as secondary to the theme of monotony, but the conformity is challenged by the main character's rejection of the monotony and becomes a more primary theme throughout the rest of the film.  Usually, by the end of the movie, the status quo is forever changed, but all the characters end up confirming to the new situation, thus bringing the story full circle and again suggesting that conformity is part of human nature.

Dystopias and office comedies are good places to look just because conformity is part of their subject matter almost by definition (although one approaches it from a tragic perspective, the other from the comic); however, there are also films outsides these genres that address conformity more directly.  A good example would be "Stepford Wives", both the original and the remake.  The film could be considered a dystopia, but the theme of comformity is taken to a comic, instead of tragic, extreme.  It is also different from other films in that instead of the characters rejecting conformity, they actually seek it out (because it was their individuality that was making them miserable).  Conformity is not rejected until the very end, and also unlike other films, the characters do not re-conform to a new situation but rather re-embrace their individuality.

Answer 2

The wave.