Hidden Figures is the undisputed winner of the MLK box office weekend. The story of three African-American women in the 1960s who helped the U.S. win the space race is well on its way to over $100 million at the box office, and as Deadline Hollywood reported, “is playing to all audiences.”
Although Ted Melfi’s movie does explore racial politics and segregation, it avoids partisan political battles of the 1960s and doesn’t chronicle Democrats and Republicans from half-a-century ago.
Indeed the film has been marketed as an untold story of how three women—played by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe—overcame societal challenges to inspire future generations. NASA in the 1960s has nothing whatsoever to do with Donald Trump.
Yet somewhat ridiculously Hidden Figures, which also stars Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst, is being hailed as the perfect anti-Trump movie by many leftists on the Internet, who somehow see the movie as fighting against what they fear the President-elect will bring back. Here’s just a selection of the commenters who see close ties between Trump and the movie:
Hidden Figures is wonderful rejection of everything Trump represents!
— Jerry Dennis (@JerryD70) January 7, 2017
“Hidden Figures” continues its reign at the box office; film about racist segregation GOP and Trump want to restore. https://t.co/QKMpg9J2q1
— ComradeTrump is Liar (@RealSamMartin) January 16, 2017
MLK Day: New protests, old call for justice – ‘Hidden Figures’ reminds us of racism that Trump/GOP want to restore. https://t.co/wAOebWqpqO
— ComradeTrump is Liar (@RealSamMartin) January 16, 2017
White guys, don’t be like Trump. Be like Kevin Costner with a crow bar in HIDDEN FIGURES.
— Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) January 9, 2017
Go see Hidden Figures. No. Shut your filthy lying mouth. Go see it now. If Donald Trump were a film this film would be the opposite of him
— Edgar Hassler (@edgarhassler) January 16, 2017
Awesome. I don’t think anybody walks out of Hidden Figures not fired up to stop Trump from turning back the clock. https://t.co/on3LmpZ4t1
— Schooley (@Rschooley) January 15, 2017
Donald Trump thinks that “Hidden Figures” was the best movie of the year, when played in reverse.
— Mike Rotman (@mikerotman) January 15, 2017
Remember forced-viewing scene in “Clockwork Orange”? Let’s do that w/ Trump on MLK Day and “Hidden Figures”. Great film: see and savor it!
— JB Holston (@jholston) January 15, 2017
Q: What’s the opposite of watching the Trump inauguration?
A: Going to see “Hidden Figures” instead.
— Damien Barrett (@damienbarrett) January 15, 2017
Hidden Figures.Powerful film true story.Had it been released 2 months ago Donald Trump may not be President. pic.twitter.com/0qYkq7XYi1
— Larry Fitzgerald Sr. (@FitzBeatSr) January 14, 2017
Loved Hidden Figures,an American story of talent & triumph that rejects everything Trump supports.It involves a victory over the Russians.
— Voices4Hillary (@voices4hillary) January 9, 2017
The good thing today is the movie ‘Hidden Figures’ was a full theatre, made me happy, because it meant to me that trump didn’t win
— Carrie Larson (@getitdone51) January 8, 2017
Trump supporters hate the movie HIDDEN FIGURES. They hate that it shows 3 smart black women making a name for themselves & not being slaves
— Bre’❤️ (@BreLynnor) January 8, 2017
There have even been reported outbreaks of mini-activism inside theaters:
Someone gave a quick 45 sec anti-Trump speech after Hidden Figures was over in the theater.
The movie was amazing btw. Made me cry
— #noDAPL -Pernell (@PernellThomas) January 7, 2017
As usual the flames for this bonfire of generation narcissism have been fanned by the media. The Daily Beast wrote: “It’s the movie that Trump’s America—our America—needs. It’s a historical roadmap to the values required to make America great again.”
The Washington Post‘s Jennifer Rubin penned a blog headlined: “Trump Voters Should Learn from the Women in Hidden Figures.”
It all begs the question: if society can put a man on the moon, surely we can evolve to a place where we can have less of these specious Trump comparisons?
