MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Up 1,359 this week

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders (2006)

7.2
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.2/10 from 1,796 users   Metascore: 65/100
Reviews: 42 user | 29 critic | 20 from Metacritic.com

When Hurricane Katrina ravaged America's Gulf Coast, it laid bare an uncomfortable reality-America is not only far from the world's wealthiest nation; it is crumbling beneath a staggering ... See full summary »

Director:

0Check in
0Share...

Related News

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 2005 titles created 1 month ago
 
a list of 131 titles created 5 months ago
 
a list of 1547 titles created 1 month ago
 
a list of 25 titles created 8 months ago
 
a list of 35 titles created 10 Jun 2011
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders (2006)

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders (2006) on IMDb 7.2/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Videos

Photos

Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

Kirby Dick's exposé about the American movie ratings board.

Director: Kirby Dick
Stars: Kimberly Peirce, Kirby Dick, Darren Aronofsky
Food, Inc. (2008)
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.8/10 X  

An unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry.

Director: Robert Kenner
Stars: Eric Schlosser, Richard Lobb, Vince Edwards
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

A documentary that investigates the birth and death of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in the future.

Director: Chris Paine
Stars: Martin Sheen, Reverend Gadget, Mel Gibson
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

Capitalism: A Love Story examines the impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans (and by default, the rest of the world). The film moves from Middle America, to the ... See full summary »

Director: Michael Moore
Stars: Thora Birch, William Black, Jimmy Carter
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

A documentary on Al Gore's campaign to make the issue of global warming a recognized problem worldwide.

Director: Davis Guggenheim
Stars: Al Gore, Billy West, George Bush
Inside Job (2010)
Documentary | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.2/10 X  

Takes a closer look at what brought about the financial meltdown.

Director: Charles Ferguson
Stars: Matt Damon, William Ackman, Daniel Alpert
The Cove (2009)
Documentary | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.4/10 X  

Using state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.

Director: Louie Psihoyos
Stars: Richard O'Barry, Louie Psihoyos, Hardy Jones
Spellbound (2002)
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

Spellbound follows eight teenagers on their quest to win the 1999 National Spelling Bee.

Director: Jeffrey Blitz
Stars: Angela Arenivar, Ubaldo Arenivar, Jorge Arenivar
Freakonomics (2010)
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.3/10 X  

A collection of documentaries that explores the hidden side of human nature through the use of the science of economics.

Directors: Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, and 4 more credits »
Stars: James Ransone, Tempestt Bledsoe, Morgan Spurlock
Wordplay (2006)
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

An in-depth look at The New York Times' long-time crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz and his loyal fan base.

Director: Patrick Creadon
Stars: Will Shortz, Merl Reagle, Jon Stewart
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

An exploration of the intersection between religion and homosexuality in the U.S. and how the religious right has used its interpretation of the Bible to stigmatize the gay community.

Director: Daniel G. Karslake
Stars: Imogene Robinson, Victor Robinson, Gene Robinson
Helvetica (2007)
Documentary
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7/10 X  

A documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture.

Director: Gary Hustwit
Stars: Manfred Schulz, Massimo Vignelli, Rick Poynor
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Beth Naef ...
Herself
Mike Hudson ...
Himself
...
Himself
Catherine Brown ...
Herself
John Brown ...
Himself
...
Himself
Luke McCabe ...
Himself
Dave Ramsey ...
Himself - Radio Host
...
Himself
Elizabeth Warren ...
Herself
Brandie Broersma ...
Herself
Will Broersma ...
Himself
Bud Hibbs ...
Himself
Janne O'Donnell ...
Herself
Mark Mumma ...
Himself
Edit

Storyline

When Hurricane Katrina ravaged America's Gulf Coast, it laid bare an uncomfortable reality-America is not only far from the world's wealthiest nation; it is crumbling beneath a staggering burden of individual and government debt. Maxed Out takes us on a journey deep inside the American debt-style, where everything seems okay as long as the minimum monthly payment arrives on time. Sure, most of us may have that sinking feeling that something isn't quite right, but we're told not to worry. After all, there's always more credit! Maxed Out shows how the modern financial industry really works, explains the true definition of "preferred customer" and tells us why the poor are getting poorer and the rich getting richer. By turns hilarious and profoundly disturbing, Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare which is all too real for most of us. Written by James Scurlock

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

debt

Taglines:

The Movie You Can't Afford To Miss See more »

Genres:

Documentary

Certificate:

Unrated
Edit

Details

Official Sites:

|

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

10 March 2006 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Maxed Out: Our Credit  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$20,024 (USA) (9 March 2007)

Gross:

$58,304 (USA) (20 April 2007)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Quotes

Elizabeth Warren: Have you seen the new card that they're talking about putting out now-where you can get a credit card against your pension account, so that, when you go and charge it, it automatically, if you don't pay, will be withdrawn from the money you've put aside for your retirement? This is one more way that we're trying to string together with chewing gum and bailing wire to keep the American family looking like it's afloat long after it is really sunk with debt.
See more »

Connections

Features Today (1952) See more »

Soundtracks

"Hail to the Chief"
Performed by The United States Airforce Concert Band
Published by the Department of Airforce
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Til Debt Due You Part
28 November 2008 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

I can think of no better day than today to review this excellent documentary. You see, today is the day after Thanksgiving 2008; what many call "Black Friday." It is the day many of us sink further into debt buying crap our friends and family probably don't need nor want. Couple that with a destabilizing economy and you've got serious issues to think about. The question we need to ask ourselves is "why?" Why do we feel the need to spend more than we make (or may ever make)? The tough answer is here in MAXED OUT, writer/director James D. Scurlock's first feature length documentary.

I think many of us know the answer but simply refuse to acknowledge it: we want to keep up with the Jones'. They have a new car, we need a new car. They have a new washer/dryer, we need a new one. It is a cycle being perpetuated by the credit industry and we, the consumers, have been drawn to it like moths to a flamethrower.

Maxed Out gives us insights that should make one angry and fearful. Predatory lenders like MBNA, Capitol One, and other credit card companies target those that are least likely to be able to afford credit. Why? Because these are the people who max out their cards then pay the minimum monthly amounts until ...either bankrupt or death do them part. It's a marriage made in Hell and it continues to this day. College students who enter a new campus are likely to find tables set up near their dorms offering sign ups for new credit cards. Why? Again, because they can't afford it (sadly these are the people who end up in the worst situations, often dangling from their necks in dorm room closets).

Add to this fact that we are now in the worst financial/debt crisis in U.S. history (end of 2008) and is there any wonder why? George Bush and his buddies at MBNA passed a new law that puts tighter restrictions on filing for bankruptcy, making those who really need assistance the least likely to get it (but it's okay to spend 700 billion taxpayer dollars to bail out banks that caused this debacle). Heinous. And do the credit card companies have to answer to anyone? Morally or ethically? Not that I've seen.

This is a documentary well worth your while. And at a quick 89 minutes, it won't eat up a lot of your precious time ...like those credit card bills will.


4 of 4 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
This documentary is incredibly one sided AlienAutopsy
Parents at Fault? gfreaky
I used to be a debt collector fp100chad
WOW heypach
Stand up Comedian camdengirl
FYI: do i push debit or do i push credit? llevas

Contribute to This Page