Hollywood Manipulation
What if the films you love—blockbusters, war dramas, spy thrillers, even superhero movies—were quietly shaped by government influence? In National Security Cinema, researcher Matthew Alford exposes how the Pentagon, CIA, and other U.S. agencies have actively collaborated with Hollywood for decades, ensuring that storylines and characters align with national security interests.
Through declassified documents and meticulous research, Alford reveals how the government has edited scripts, censored scenes, and even shaped entire productions to serve as subtle propaganda. From war movies and action films to sci-fi epics, Hollywood has been both a stage and a megaphone for the state’s most powerful institutions.
This eye-opening conversation raises urgent questions: How much of what we see on screen is artistic freedom—and how much is state-sanctioned messaging? What does this mean for our understanding of history, politics, and war? And can audiences ever truly separate entertainment from propaganda?
