“Am I a Racist?” – A Controversial Comedy That No One is Talking About

In the entertainment media, some films fly under the radar, and Am I a Racist? seems to be one of them. Strangely, despite its success at the box office—grossing over $9 million and landing in the top 40 films of all time—it hasn’t caught the attention of mainstream outlets. Released by Ben Shapiro’s conservative media company, The Daily Wire, the film has remained in the top 10 for two weeks. So why hasn’t anyone in Hollywood spoken about it?

Curious, I volunteered to write a review for The Hollywood Reporter, fully aware I might lose a few friends in the process.

A Surprise Success in Liberal Burbank

Even more intriguing is the fact that the 14th highest-grossing theater for the film was AMC 16 in Burbank, where 70% of voters supported Joe Biden in the 2020 election. To get a feel for the audience, I went to the latest screening—2:20 p.m. on a Thursday.

I felt uneasy as I asked the Latino ticket seller for a seat to Am I a Racist?, but he didn’t bat an eye. My nerves calmed as I handed my ticket to an Asian usher, who directed me to a nearly empty theater. Apart from a leftover beer can, the place was deserted except for five other people: an older white man, a younger white woman, and a three-generation Latino family.

A Comedy Without the Comedy?

The film, featuring podcaster Matt Walsh, positions itself as a satirical takedown of anti-racism movements, with Walsh pretending to document his so-called “anti-racist” journey. Disguised in a man-bun wig and skinny jeans, Walsh channels a liberal stereotype. But his attempt to mock these stereotypes fell flat for me. His portrayal lacked the sharp comedic edge of someone like Sacha Baron Cohen, whose own mockumentary style (Borat) has succeeded where Walsh struggles.

Though the audience did chuckle a few times, Walsh’s humor never hit the mark. He managed a few amusing quips, like when he sarcastically claimed, “I’ve been complimented on how many Black friends I have—seventeen,” but most of the jokes felt recycled, like a bad imitation of existing comedies.

Flawed Execution

One of the film’s biggest issues is its overreliance on tired clichés. Walsh’s re-enactment of Jussie Smollett’s fake hate crime fizzled out, and a petition to rename the Washington Monument after George Floyd felt too on-the-nose. Attempts to expose the absurdity of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs often missed the mark, feeling more like desperate jabs than biting satire.

For instance, Walsh sat in on a Race2Dinner event, where white women paid to be berated by anti-racist activists. The concept had potential for a cutting critique, but instead, the scene was filled with awkward pauses and excessive water pouring rather than insightful humor. Walsh also highlighted the hypocrisy of DEI instructors, noting that some were paid large sums to appear in the film—$15,000 to Robin DiAngelo, the author of White Fragility, and $50,000 to a mother suing Sesame Place for alleged racism.

Audience Reactions

After the film, I spoke with LaCretia Lyon, a stand-up comedian who attended the screening. She discovered the movie through an interview on Adam Carolla‘s podcast and was curious enough to check it out, especially since she’s part of AMC’s Stubbs A-List program. “I was surprised because it was so funny,” Lyon said, noting that she’s a fan of Borat and thought Walsh did a decent job with his undercover persona. However, she was equally struck by the arrogance of the DEI instructors. “The narcissism was astounding,” she remarked, observing that most of them were women—a detail that likely influenced her decision not to invite her friends.

The Latino family, wary of being recorded by lobby cameras, refused to comment openly. However, as they left, the youngest child, donning sunglasses and a beaded necklace, whispered, “Vote red.” It was a strange, eerie note to end the experience on, leaving me to wonder if these poorly-disguised political impersonators were everywhere, lurking in plain sight.

Conclusion

Am I a Racist? attempts to tackle modern-day anti-racism movements through the lens of satire but often stumbles in its execution. While the film has found success at the box office, its humor lacks the depth and sharpness necessary to fully land its punches. Despite its box office performance, it remains a polarizing movie that many in Hollywood and the mainstream media are content to ignore.