Ever since George Washington ran for office in 1789 and became the first-ever President of the United States, the race for the White House has always been something to look forward to. Back then, no political parties had been established, so Washington ran as an independent candidate, something that is considered unwise today. At the moment, Americans are once again crossing their fingers as they wait to see who will become POTUS in 2024. Therefore, it seems like the perfect time to watch movies and shows covering this particular topic.
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For years, the movie and television industries have keenly dissected American politics and covered everything from the grassroots levels to gubernatorial bids. Still, it’s been more fun watching people run for president on screen. Some Hollywood productions have showcased this realistically in order to educate the public about the proceedings that take place in the corridors of power, while others have exaggerated many details, leaving insiders baffled but thoroughly entertaining viewers in the process.
15 The Ides of March (2011)
The Ides of March is the kind of film that’s likely to dissuade anyone from ever wanting to be a campaign manager. In it, quagmires keep piling up for Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) as he tries to help presidential candidate Mike Morris (George Clooney) — who is currently the Pennsylvania Governor — to clinch the Ohio Democratic primary. First, he learns that an intern he has begun sleeping with is pregnant with Morris’ child. Then he learns that a nosy reporter is planning to publish details about a meeting he had with a rival campaign manager. Solving both of these issues initially appears impossible for the Meyes, but he figures it out thanks to a creative script by Beau Willimon, who wrote the play (Farragut North) the movie is based on.
Integrity vs Logic
The Oscar-nominated film shows how the Integrity vs Logic battle always plays out during elections. For example, the influential Senator Franklin Thompson (Jeffrey Wright), who controls 365 delegates in Ohio, offers to endorse Morris on condition that he gives him a high post in his government once he is elected. Morris rejects it because he thinks of himself as too pure to make such deals, which is quite ironic, considering he slept with an intern and ignored her after that. It’s Meyers’ job to make his candidate see sense and when Morris refuses to do so, audiences watch the campaign manager morph from a kind consigliere to a ruthless blackmailer. The movie’s quotes are golden too, the most memorable one being, “A president can lie, start wars, drive the country into bankruptcy, and do anything he wants — but he cannot sleep with an intern.”
14 Long Shot (2019)
Moving from the White House to Hollywood seems like a major downgrade, but that’s what President Chambers (played by Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk) insists he intends to do in the opening minutes of Long Shot. He won’t run for a second term because he’d rather be at the Golden Globes than in a meeting with Vladimir Putin. Sensing an opportunity, U.S. Secretary of State Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) convinces him to endorse her as the next candidate, but her quest faces fresh challenges when she falls for the journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen).
The Difficulties of Being a Female Presidential Candidate
Through humor, the movie explains how tough it is for a female presidential candidate in America. In Charlotte’s own words, “If I’m angry, they call me hysterical; if I’m emotional, they call me weak; if I so much as raise my voice, they call me a b***.” Society has always held female politicians to a higher standard of accountability. That’s why her relationship with Fred raises many eyebrows. The public wants her to date a respectable man in a suit, not a controversial columnist who has the guts to come up with a title like “Why the Two-Party System Can Suck a D***.” Thankfully, Charlotte isn’t the type to follow the rules. She is so wild she even temporarily appoints herself a hostage negotiator at some point. In the end, she becomes POTUS and Fred becomes “First Mister,” a term he coins himself.
13 Man of the Year (2006)
The odds of someone like John Oliver or Trevor Noah running for president are incredibly low in the real world, but such a thing happens in Man of the Year. Satirical talk show host Tom Dobbs (Robin Williams) makes a habit of lambasting the president and, after insinuating that he can do a better job than the current leader, his fans start a campaign to get him in office. He wins, but a scandal erupts later on when it emerges that he might have been elected unfairly.
Another Case of Art Foreshadowing Reality
Man of the Year is meant to be a funny movie, but it addresses a serious issue that has been an issue of speculation in recent years — election fraud. Dobbs doesn’t win because he is popular, he wins because the voting machines are faulty, something the company behind them tries very hard to cover up. Director Barry Levinson might not have known it at the time, but he was predicting how the 2016 elections would turn out. An outsider wins, followed by accusations of fraud. Four years later, the fraud discussion would pop up again.
12 Commander in Chief (2005 – 2006)
Initially content with being Vice President, Mackenzie “Mac” Allen (Geena Davis) finds herself in the Oval Office after the president’s sudden death in Commander in Chief. While in office as America’s first female president, she juggles between dealing with stubborn congressional representatives and her family life. This takes a mental toll on her, but she keeps pushing, vowing to not let down those who believe in her.
A Working Mother’s Headaches
Commander in Chief is more like Long Shot, only that it has a more serious tone and examines a female candidate’s problems from a family perspective. Because President Allen only ascended to power after her predecessor died, many saw her as unqualified, so she worked hard to prove herself and win in the next presidential election. This becomes harder because her family isn’t all that cooperative. Her husband is threatened by her success, while her daughter would rather go on a date than attend a crucial political dinner. Besides that, viewers are treated to a powerful performance from Geena Davis, who is so believable as president that the Emmys recognized her with a “Best Lead Actress” nomination.
11 Wag the Dog (1997)
Wag the Dog has a sex-obsessed POTUS whose eyes cannot fail to spot a skirt. The hedonistic leader of the free world finds himself in a major scandal when he tries to hit on a teenager in the Oval Office at the tail end of his re-election campaign. To make the issue go away, skilled spin doctor Conrad Bean (Robert DeNiro) is brought in, and as expected, he comes up with an outrageous idea. He will hire a Hollywood producer to create a fictional war in Albania so that the media can shift its attention to the conflict.
Exposing the Government’s Alleged Dark Tactics
Though it might have been inspired by the Clinton-Lewinsky incident, Wag the Dog is more relevant than ever because of the recent presidential scandals. Most importantly, it’s a conspiracy theory vehicle disguised as a political film. There have been suggestions, not just in America, that the government always throws the media a bone, so that it can concentrate on it and ignore a major political scandal. A political mess, for example, is followed by major celebrity drama. The decision to bring a director to film a fake war is also a nod to the moon landing conspiracy, where it’s sometimes claimed that the outer-space escapade was merely filmed in a studio.
10 House of Cards (2013 – 2018)
Adapted from the BBC series of the same name, House of Cards follows Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) — a House Majority Whip and South Carolina Congressman — as he crafts an elaborate plan to make himself president shortly after being passed over for appointment as the United States Secretary of State. From murder to manipulation and betrayal, he uses all kinds of Machiavellian tactics to make sure his dream becomes a reality.
Ruthless Pragmatism as a Necessary Tool in Politics
“Ruthless pragmatism” is the message emphasized time and again in House of Cards. Via a series of fourth-wall-breaking monologues, Underwood keeps reminding viewers to always have an eye on the goal and do whatever it takes to reach the finish line. Many of his tactics are questionable, but those with political ambitions can learn a thing or two from him. The show is an advanced politics class, providing lessons on various issues like the importance of having like-minded individuals next to you and the importance of knowledge. “I don’t want to assume. I want to know,” Frank once says, and it is this kind of spirit that catapults him to the White House.
9 The Purge: Election Year (2016)
In the dystopian world of The Purge: Election Year there is a 12-hour window every year when all crimes are legal. One of the current presidential candidates, Sen. Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mithell), has made a promise to end the tradition once she gets elected because it’s not only silly but also led to the death of the family. This makes her a target, so her Head of Security, Leo Barnes, played by one of the most underrated action stars, Frank Grillo, steps in to shield her from all harm.
A Perfect Movie for Those Who Hate Politics
There is a high percentage of people who feel nothing is exciting about presidential elections. Well, The Purge: Election Year is a recommendable movie for them if they can stand a few horrific moments. Here, there is no Washington office politics and jargon, just good old-fashioned action. Still, it’s not detached from reality. It presents a society where everyone is keen on hurting each other. This can be interpreted as a commentary on America’s gun violence problem. The film also gives audiences a break from the usual Republican vs. Democrat contests and introduces the villainous New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) party.
8 The American President (1995)
Movies are full of characters who throw away everything for love. “We can leave all this behind and move to another country,” they tend to say, and such is the direction President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) initially seems that he is about to take in The American President. He happens to have fallen for the environmental activist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), whose past is not so clean, so the public and his rivals are all coming for him. And what makes it all worse is that it happens during an election year.
Another Gem from Aaron Sorkin
Few people know how to tell political stories better than Aaron Sorkin and The West Wing is proof of that. Before he created the Emmy-winning show, he wrote scripts for several movies, including The American President. Sorkin has even admitted that much of Season 1’s plot was mined from material that he edited out of the initial draft of The American President’s script. Though this is a love story, Sorkin touches on various key political issues, notably how bills are lobbied and passed. An environmental bill and a crime bill take up a huge chunk of the plot. Most importantly, the plot isn’t illogical. Shepherd and Wade don’t end up running away together. They end up doing something even better.
7 Madam Secretary (2014 – 2019)
Madam Secretary takes viewers on a slow cruise toward the presidency. The show’s first five seasons cover Elizabeth McCord’s (Téa Leoni) triumphs and challenges as she serves as the United States Secretary of State. At the end of Season 5, McCord reveals her plan to become President of the United States, beginning a spirited campaign that sees her eventually get the coveted position. The last season thus dwells on her tenure as America’s first-ever female POTUS.
Foundations Matter a Lot
Most political movies and television shows are known to present ready-made candidates, leaving audiences baffled as to how they reached this level. Thankfully, Madam Secretary shows the gestation process, detailing the numerous things McCord does right to enable her to get to a level where she can vie for the presidency. It isn’t an easy journey, and she is forced to make numerous sacrifices along the way. Viewers will also enjoy the occasional cameos from relevant real-world political figures. Former Secretary of State office occupants, Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, and Colin Powell all play themselves at some point in the show.
6 Head of State (2003)
Chris Rock is brilliant in dramatic roles as his recent work has proved, but he made a bigger name for himself playing comical characters like the presidential candidate Mays Gilliam in Head of State. Content with being an alderman, Gilliam is shocked when he is picked as the Democratic Party nominee. The party’s influential members only select him because they believe the Republican candidate is unbeatable. Surprisingly, Gilliam’s opinion poll figures increase thanks to a combination of below-the-belt strategies, including dubbing a video of Osama bin Laden claiming he loves the Republican candidate.
Arguably the Funniest Fictional Candidate Ever
There is nothing realistic about Gilliam and his candidature, but he is arguably the most fictional character to ever enter the race for the White House. After all, he was played by Chris Rock at a time when the comedian was in the form of his life. Gilliam is full of ideas on how to make society better and none of them is practical. At one point, he suggests that laws should be written on Destiney’s Child music videos. This way, everybody will see them and stop breaking them. This remark, and many more, make Head of State a laugh-fest that can be enjoyed by audiences of different generations.
5 24 (2001 – 2012)
24 has often been labeled an espionage show, but it is actually a very good political thriller. It primarily focuses on Counter-Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) as he foils terror attacks, but many of its key supporting characters are presidents. Chief among them is David Palmer whose popularity ratings soar after an assassination attempt, enabling him to become the first Black president. Vice President Noah Daniels also becomes president via the 25th Amendment only to lose his re-election bid.
Diversity in the White House
The FOX hit show didn’t just have one Black president but two. There was a female POTUS too, who turned out to be the most compassionate of the bunch. There are a total of nine presidents and even though most of them are villainous, they serve the important purpose of spooking viewers about all the schemes that can be employed to manipulate election outcomes. Being POTUS is also shown to be a dangerous career in 24 since the majority of them end up dead or incapacitated.
4 Tanner ’88 (1988)
Tanner ’88
- Release Date
- February 1, 1988
- Cast
- Michael Murphy , Pamela Reed , Cynthia Nixon , Kevin J. O’Connor , Daniel Jenkins , Jim Fyfe , Matt Malloy , Veronica Cartwright
- Seasons
- 1
Few shows fuse reality with fiction better than Tanner ’88. In it, fictional Michigan representative Jack Tanner (Michael Murphy) decides to contest for the Democratic Party presidential candidate. However, the odds are against him as he gets less press than real-life candidates Jesse Jackson and Michael Dukakis. Still, he doesn’t give up. With the help of his daughter and campaign manager, his odds start improving, leading to a tense showdown.
It’s About the Process, Not the Victory
History only remembers those who win, but good stories don’t always have to have happy endings. There are a couple of losers who had great experiences chasing their dreams and Tanner is one of them. He doesn’t end up as the Democratic Party nominee, but he sure has a lot of fun while trying to make it happen. For those with political dreams, Tanner ’88 is also the perfect show as it points out all the things that could go wrong. The unfortunate thing is that it’s only one season long. Luckily, the sequel series, Tanner on Tanner, focusing on Tanner’s daughter was made years later.
3 Game Change (2012)
Based on the non-fiction book Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by political reporters John Heilemann and Mark Halperin Game Change chronicles the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain during the 2008 race. The movie mainly focuses on McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, who was widely thought of as a “game changer.”
A Fairly Accurate Biopic
Game Change does everything that a good biopic ought to do. While many “true stories” on-screen heroes imply that their heroes have only themselves to thank for their success (or near success in this case), this particular movie acknowledges everyone who contributed to the campaign. Additionally, it ignores the assumption that most geniuses in political circles are men. Here, several women call the shots and their work is spectacular. The opponent, Barack Obama, is also lauded rather than vilified, making this a film that celebrates American politics in general rather than one that pits Republicans against Democrats.
2 Veep (2016 – 2019)
Veep
- Release Date
- April 22, 2012
- Seasons
- 7
Veep’s protagonist Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) starts as a candidate for an unnamed party’s nomination in the 2012 presidential election where she loses Stuart Hughes. She then becomes Hughes’ running mate and ends up as Vice President. During her time in office, she constantly has to deal with being sidelined by Hughes, but her fortunes open up when he decides he won’t run for reelection. Consequently, Meyer becomes the party nominee and ends up as President.
One of the Most Decorated Comedy Shows Ever Made
The Emmys are usually a good way of judging a show’s quality and Veep received a whopping 59 nominations during its time. That’s up there with the greatest small-screen projects of all time, but what makes it good? It’s the humor mostly. Veep doesn’t try to be a smart political show, it simply aims to be a funny one. It also answers important questions about important incidents that might arise during elections. What if both candidates fail to win a majority of the electoral college vote? This happens in the critically-acclaimed comedy during the 2016 Presidential elections. The Senate and the House of Representatives are thus left with the task of choosing the President.
1 Swing Vote (2008)
Swing Vote
- Release Date
- August 1, 2008
- Director
- Joshua Michael Stern
What if the fate of presidential candidates lay in the hands of one man? In Swing Vote, apolitical New Mexico resident Ernest “Bud” Johnson (Kevin Costner) learns that the two major candidates are tied in his state and that only his vote will determine who wins. Each of them tries to woo him, but since he knows nothing about politics, he decides to hold a final debate in which he reads out questions that have been sent to him by other voters via mail.
It’s All About Little Things
It’s highly unlikely that the result of a presidential election will ever come down to one person, but the movie does a great job of explaining how it all happens. What it does better is capture the little things about elections, such as the stubbornness of the press, and the importance of going out to vote. At first, Bud has no interest in going to the ballot box. It takes pressure from his daughter for him to step out, and in the end, he learns that it is absolutely necessary. Costner is magnificent too, in this rare comedic performance, making a case for Hollywood to make more movies about the average voter instead of politicians only.
