11 Best Films About Real American Presidents
You may have heard that it’s an election year. While the news of the day focuses on the candidates vying for the most important job in the world, there are a number of Hollywood films that examine the question of what made those who previously held the title great (or not). such wonderful) leaders.
If you want to get a sense of our current political predicament while traveling through the (sometimes slightly fictional) past, here are 11 films about real presidents: how they rose to fame and, in some cases, how they fell from grace.
Frost/Nixon (2008)
One man was hungry for success, and the other needed to restore his reputation. Together they created television history. Ron Howard’s adaptation of Peter Morgan’s 2006 play ( The Queen ) depicts a battle of wills between David Frost, a talk show host who knows he’s in a tight spot, and former United States President Richard Nixon, played with aplomb by Frank Langella. and explores why the Watergate scandal still has repercussions today.
Where to watch: Max , Digital rental
Thirteen Days (2000)
In 1962, the United States was on the brink of nuclear war, and this gripping film looks back at the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis to show us just how close we came to it. Journeyman actor Bruce Greenwood plays President John F. Kennedy, but White House aide Kenneth P. O’Donnell, played by Kevin Costner, is positioned as the smart and level-headed man in the Oval Office and emerges as the hero. Many of those in the White House at the time disagree about how truthful (or not) the film is, but it dramatically captured the moment when the country nearly fought a war on its own soil.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Lincoln (2012)
Based on Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, this biographical film focuses on how the 16th President of the United States and his cabinet achieved the abolition of slavery through the passage of the 13th Amendment. The film about the politician, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on an Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, rarely reflects the personal beliefs that led him to leadership. Lincoln solves this nearly impossible task by showing how a wartime leader stuck to his ideals despite overwhelming odds.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Nixon (1995)
Oliver Stone has made three films about presidents. The first is JFK , which chronicles the conspiracies that may have led to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The latest is W. , a stilted, somewhat sardonic look at George W. Bush. His best presidential film came in between, with Nixon . The three-hour film portrays the controversial leader in a compassionate light and also portrays him as indirectly responsible for Kennedy’s assassination. The film stands out from Stone’s other works thanks to Anthony Hopkins’ hypnotic performance and Joan Allen’s powerful portrayal of First Lady Pat Nixon.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Vice (2018)
Depending on what books you read, it could be said that Vice President Dick Cheney was essentially in charge during the administration of George W. Bush, so I’m making an exception for this movie’s appearance on this list. Adam McKay’s account of Cheney’s life, played by Christian Bale under pounds of makeup, walks the line between biopic, satire and scathing criticism, effectively showing audiences how one man forever changed the direction of our country.
Where to watch: Prime Video , Peacock , digital rental
War Room (1993)
Most presidential films are about what a politician does while in the White House. This gripping documentary shows what it took to get there, as viewers witness the origin stories of George Stephanopoulos and James “Mad Cajun” Carville, who led the chaotic 1992 presidential campaign to the seemingly improbable victory of President Bill Clinton.
Where to watch: Max , The Criterion Channel, digital rental.
Sunrise at Campobello (1960)
Greer Garson received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt, although the film primarily focuses on Eleanor’s husband Franklin (Ralph Bellamy), who, despite a paralytic illness, returns to politics largely at his wife’s urging. It is an optimistic and inspiring film that focuses on exploring the extraordinary strength and character required for Roosevelt to continue to lead despite enormous personal costs.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Young Mister Lincoln (1939)
As legend has it, Henry Fonda initially turned down the lead role in this John Ford film because he idolized the 16th President of the United States and was intimidated by the prospect of playing him on screen. Ford convinced Fonda to agree because the story revolved around Lincoln when he was just a lawyer in Illinois, before he took office and grew a beard (the funnel hat was already part of his wardrobe). It set the standard for both biopics and gripping courtroom dramas, although liberties were taken with the events of the great man’s life.
Where to watch: Tubi, The Roku Channel, digital rental.
Jimmy Carter: Man from the Plains (2007)
Jimmy Carter, perhaps better known for his accomplishments after leaving office, played a significant role in promoting world peace even after retiring from public life. Jonathan Demme illuminates the Georgia politician’s work while accompanying him on a book tour, painting a complex portrait of a man who continues to work for global justice decades after holding the most important office in the world.
Where to watch: Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee, The Roku Channel, digital rental.
All the President’s Men (1976)
The films on this list showed how presidents rise to power and use it. This one shows one man losing it. The suspenseful investigative thriller centers on Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they delve into the depths of the Watergate scandal that ultimately led to the resignation of President Nixon. This masterpiece perfectly illustrates why a free press is vital to democracy.
Where to watch: digital rental.
Primary Colors (1998)
Well, Jack Stanton (John Travolta) is the fictional presidential candidate at the center of this satirical comedy, but director Mike Nichols made John Travolta look, talk and act like President Bill Clinton, and the film is based on the famous novel. based on real events. Written and published anonymously in 1996, the book was later revealed to be the work of journalist Joe Klein, who covered the Clinton campaign for Newsweek , and deals with a political scandal not unlike the one that threatened to destroy Clinton’s political legacy. ostensibly ripped from a reporter’s imagination, part of the fun, besides being immersed in the superb performances of Travolta, Kathy Bates and Emma Thompson as Stanton’s steely wife, is figuring out which parts were invented for the screen and which actually happened.
Where to watch: digital rental.