If the devil ever presented himself to the world in the form of hard plastic, he would be a credit card with a $10,000 credit line, and he would allow himself access to the broke or erratically employed with regularity. Even though this documentary was released 10 years ago, the cautionary warning message still resonates today for credit card customers (which really should be referred to as 'bank loan' cards because the term 'credit' card carries misleading connotations of receiving 'free money'). The strong temptation for one to live above their means combined with inadequate finances can send many into bankruptcy and even worse, as this film points out, provoke some to take their own life because of massive credit card debt. What this documentary points out most emphatically is that banks and credit card companies don't make much money off of the financially responsible 'good' customers, but rather they 'bank' on (pun intended) the late payment fees and over-the-limit fees incurred by those desperate for a short-term fix to their long-term financial problems. I would recommend this documentary that promotes a much needed cautionary warning for all college students and young adults who are new to the idea of personal responsibility and the challenges of maintaining financial self-sufficiency.

Maxed Out is a very informative documentary that even though I didn't care for much, I think everyone should watch. It's a scary outlook as to what will happen when you abuse credit. It's honestly really freaky what happens to these people and it can shape viewers in the process. My problem with this movie is that it drags at more than a few times and that some people needed subtitles because of their tone and quietness of their voice. I liked this movie but it's nothing a documentary hasn't done before. B-

This pre-2008 documentary is shockingly prophetic...

Troubling anecdotal stories as pot shots against corporate evil.

Scary. Just plain scary. This should make everyone cut their credit cards. I've been in debd and still am (student loans) but I haven't had a credit card in over 7 years and only buy what I can afford and it's been refreshing. The only time this hurt me was when purchasing a car. Next up... buying a house. I love how the director shows how vicious the debt collectors are, but the collectors themselves seen themselves as saviors. but was disappointed at how little it went into details about really how, especially details about the companies that charges all those interest. The rich just getting richer off the poor. There is no more middle class.

Great but depressing documentary about how credit card companies are killing not just the economy but people, relationships, and families.

Scathing documentary on the debt crisis.

incredibly thought provoking warning of credit card economic dangers

Very informative, banks and credit card companies prey on the middle and lower income population, as they are the bread and butter of their business, because they will pay minimum payments literally FOREVER!!

There are great lessons in this film about the perils of credit - but - like one who is hustled on the streets for not being street smart - if you believe that renting money does not have a cost - and you buy stuff you cannot afford - you will drown in debt in other words, you will get hustled. I am a little distraught that this movie focused on only one side of the issue and not on the other side - the lack of personal responsibility. Nobody forced these people to get credit cards. If these vultures continue to exist, then we must educate our children not to become easy prey . . . especially when they hit college.

La tristesse de ces américains. L'Amérique n'est qu'une fuite en avant!

Interesting to see the inner workings of the consumer lending business. However, and this is a big however, the movie presented big companies and government the main problem, leaving crushed victims behind them in a wake of profits and unfair business practices. What has happened to personal responsibility in this country? If a person is mentally or physically impaired they should be looked out for, but everyone else is responsible for themselves. We are all responsible to read the fine print and be aware of what we are signing up for.

great documentary! shows how credit card companies and the goverment work together in order to get people into debt

It sucks as a documentary (poor narration, no stats, few facts, few emotional highs) but excels at making its main point: debt or death. A country that allows this is a shitty country whoever's in the White House.

A decent effort but just feels like random interviews thrown together without exploring how people get to this point.

A little out of date since it was filmed pre-2008, but still interesting.

What a disingenuous documentary. It deliberately glazes over the responsibility the people interviewed have for their financial situation. In most cases, they put themselves into debt by getting the credit cards. The thing that really burned me were the stories about college students who signed up for credit cards on campus and found themselves in a mountain of debt. They didn't have to get the card!!! No one made them sign the form!!! What made the college student stories even more tragic was that they ended their own lives because of their debt. While I do feel for their families, the documentary goes out of its way to portray these students as innocent victims...even though they got themselves into debt. In effect, these kids caused a great deal of pain to their families because of their actions. And that is the whole problem with this "film": it uses emotion and the pain of the people interviewed to glaze over personal responsibility and accountability.

Not terribly enlightening...

Although this documentary is a number of years old, it is still very relevant in today's economy. It was an insightful (and very sad) look at a variety of people who are in extreme debt, and a look at how the US government was in bed with the financial institutions and credit card companies and collectors. Certainly worth watching just for insight.

A competent film that makes an interesting statement about the destructive nature of debt, materialism, and classism.