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The Best Biopics About Real Politicians

There are many biopics that look at the lives of politicians and other political figures. But what are the best political biopic movies? This list includes titles such as All the President’s Men , The King’s Speech , Charlie Wilson’s War, and The Queen . The films on this list have been ranked by men and women as the best political biopics.

Movies have the ability to make us feel. They make us want to believe, be inspired, and live vicariously through the stories we see on screen. It is for this reason we often feel an emotional connection to films. Politics affects our lives in a variety of ways, so it is natural that filmmakers are drawn to stories about the lives of those who run the world.

Political biopics have told the story of Queen Elizabeth, John Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and George Patton and with a peek into the lives of these individuals, we can hopefully understand their motives, and thus their politics, all that much better. These movies vary in their genre but they are all equally fascinating.

Released : 1982
Directed by : Richard Attenborough

Released : 1992
Directed by : Spike Lee

Released : 1970
Directed by : Franklin J. Schaffner

Frost/Nixon

Released : 2008
Directed by : Ron Howard

All the President's Men

Woodward and Bernstein

If you like this movie, be sure to check out our list of the best political thrillers .

Released : 1976
Directed by : Alan J. Pakula

Directed by : Gus Van Sant

The Last King of Scotland

Released : 2006
Directed by : Kevin Macdonald

The King's Speech

Released : 2010
Directed by : Tom Hooper

Released : 2004
Directed by : Oliver Hirschbiegel

Released : 1995
Directed by : Oliver Stone

Directed by : Stephen Frears

Released : 1998
Directed by : Shekhar Kapur

Released : 1991

Marie Antoinette

Directed by : Sofia Coppola

Released : 2013
Directed by : Philip Saville

Primary Colors

Directed by : Mike Nichols

The Iron Lady

Released : 2011
Directed by : Phyllida Lloyd

The Ides of March

Directed by : George Clooney

The Last Emperor

Released : 1987
Directed by : Bernardo Bertolucci

Released : 2009
Directed by : Clint Eastwood

Hyde Park on Hudson

Released : 2012
Directed by : Roger Michell

Released : 1927
Directed by : Abel Gance

Cry Freedom

Charlie Wilson's War

Released : 2007

Released : 2000
Directed by : Raoul Peck

Queen Margot

Released : 1954
Directed by : Jean Dréville

Released : 1939
Directed by : William Dieterle

Ivan the Terrible

Released : 1944
Directed by : Sergei Eisenstein

Released : 1996
Directed by : Alan Parker

Released : 2024
Directed by : Sean McNamara
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25 powerful movies based on real-life political drama

Sometimes, actual people and the events surrounding them make for the best stories.

Everett Collection

Politics aren't always fun to talk about, but they sure make for compelling drama. Whether it be examinations of presidents like Nixon (1995) and Lincoln (2012) or depictions of major historical events like in All the President's Men (1976) and Selma (2014), some stories are so juicy that it's easy to see why they've been adapted to film. Then there are movies that merely take inspiration from famous figures, imagining private conversations that give us further insight into the psychology of being in the public eye.

Here are our picks for 25 of the most notable movies about real-life politicians and high-ranking figures.

All the President's Men (1976)

While Bob Woodward got a whole lot prettier as played by Robert Redford , not much else is changed in this accounting of the Watergate scandal. The incident itself takes place off-screen, and, other than a brief clip at the end, Richard Nixon doesn't appear at all. The consummate process film is a deliberate portrayal of shoe-leather journalism and uncovering the government rot from the outside in. — Keith Staskiewicz

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

Tom Hanks plays Democratic Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson, who facilitated the CIA's covert efforts in Afghanistan against the Soviets. Made in 2007, the film foreshadows the eventual blowback of the U.S. support of the mujahideen. — K.S.

Elizabeth (1998)

Cate Blanchett brings Queen Elizabeth I's highly political ascent to the throne to the big screen in 1998's Elizabeth . The Oscar-winning film follows the 25-year-old Brit from prisoner in the Tower of London all the way to the highest throne in the land, while also navigating royal marriages, Parliament, and diplomatic relations. —Madeline Boardman

Fair Game (2010)

The story of Valerie Plame — whose status as a CIA agent was outed by sources close to U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney — is a small but pivotal tale in the long chronicle of Bush-era controversies. Doug Liman 's film may be the lowest of low-key thrillers, but it's an intriguing peek behind the curtain. And kudos to character actor David Andrews, whose "Scooter" Libby is a memorably preening political grotesque. — Darren Franich

Frost/Nixon (2008)

The relationship between a reporter and a president in delicate standing is examined in 2008's Frost/Nixon . Michael Sheen stars as David Frost, a British journalist who finagles a series of sit-downs with former President Richard Nixon ( Frank Langella in an Oscar-nominated performance) following the politician's very public fall from grace. The Ron Howard -directed film sheds new light on what happened behind the scenes and the true fragility of power. — M.B.

Gangs of New York (2002)

Martin Scorsese 's decades-in-the-making dream project ran over budget and had a famously troubled production , and the end result is a fascinating mess filled with bizarre tangents. Occasionally, Gangs of New York becomes a portrait of late-19th century New York politics, and Jim Broadbent gloriously chews the scenery as infamous Tammany Hall politician Boss Tweed. — D.F.

Give 'em Hell, Harry! (1975)

James Whitmore (a.k.a. Brooks from The Shawshank Redemption ) was nominated for an Academy Award for his soft, almost grandfatherly portrayal of President Harry S. Truman, the man who ordered the A-bomb dropped. — K.S.

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

Neither Hollywood nor history has been kind to Joseph McCarthy, and for good reason. But in his 2005 black-and-white drama about journalist Edward R. Murrow, George Clooney , much like Murrow before him, uses actual footage of ol' Tail Gunner Joe as indictment enough. — K.S.

Il Caimano (2006)

Depending on your point of view, the political success of Silvio Berlusconi — Italy's boisterous, sex-obsessed prime minister — is either a sad comedy or a hilarious drama. Nanni Moretti 's 2006 film finds the exact right tone with the meta-story of a director attached to a production about a thinly veiled version of Berlusconi. — K.S.

Il Divo (2008)

In the hands of writer-director Paolo Sorrentino , the true-life tale of Giulio Andreotti, the fabulously corrupt former president of Italy, becomes a film that's simultaneously tragic and funny. Andreotti's ties to the mob (and the possibility that he ordered political assassinations) are horrifying. Equally horrifying: The real-life Andreotti walked free, with the title "Senator for Life," until his death in 2013. — D.F.

Jackie (2016)

Stephanie Branchu/Fox Searchlight/Courtesy Everett Collection

Set in the aftermath of the John F. Kennedy assassination, this sobering biopic from Pablo Larraín follows First Lady Jackie Kennedy ( Natalie Portman ) as she deals with unimaginable grief. Portman delivers a riveting, Oscar-nominated performance as a woman trying to go on with life, fearing "there will never be another Camelot." — Kevin Jacobsen

Who killed President John F. Kennedy? Everyone, if you believe Oliver Stone 's investigative thriller. The Mafia, the Cuban government, the military-industrial complex, a shady cabal of wealthy gay swingers, and even President Lyndon B. Johnson are all implicated by the director as co-conspirators in the Kennedy assassination. As verifiable history, it's a wash, but the sprawling film is a memorable portrait of old-school Americana (personified by Kevin Costner as a Gary Cooper-esque lawman) fighting a losing battle with late-century free-floating paranoia. — D.F.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2020)

This tense drama follows FBI informant Bill O'Neal ( LaKeith Stanfield ) and his experiences undercover with prominent Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton ( Daniel Kaluuya ). The saga of duplicity and racial injustice earned six Academy Award nominations, with Kaluuya winning Best Supporting Actor for his charismatic turn as Hampton. — K.J.

The King's Speech (2010)

Colin Firth picked up a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of King George VI in The King's Speech . Come for Firth's gold-worthy acting chops, stay for the powerful depiction of the king's personal struggles with speaking and a country on the brink of war. —M.B.

Lincoln (2012)

Chronicling Abraham Lincoln's historic fight to pass the 13th Amendment, which ended the enslavement of — and ensured freedom for — Black people in America, Steven Spielberg 's film may cover a short period in the 16th president's life, but its sweeping stance on America's bloodiest conflict is by no means limited. EW's critic deemed the film "one of the most authentic biographical dramas I've ever seen," adding, "The movie is grand and immersive. It plugs us into the final months of Lincoln's presidency with a purity that makes us feel transported as though by time machine." — Lanford Beard

Marie (1985)

You may not remember Ray Blanton, the governor of Tennessee whose administration was rife with cronyism and bribery. You may also not remember Marie Ragghianti, the head of the Tennessee parole board whose anti-Blanton crusade forms the basis of 1985's Marie , with Sissy Spacek playing Ragghianti. But here's a name you might know: Future presidential candidate Fred Thompson made his acting debut in Marie ...as Ragghianti's attorney, future presidential candidate Fred Thompson. (Ain't politics grand?) — D.F.

Milk (2008)

One of the unexpected pleasures of Milk is the nimble way Gus Van Sant portrays the nuts-and-bolts of political activism, etching Harvey Milk's private rise to power on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors against the larger emergence of the Gay Rights movement. The film, which won Sean Penn his second Oscar, is a fine tale of the American democratic process with an unbearable true-life dénouement: The assassination of Milk and Mayor George Moscone by city supervisor Dan White. — D.F.

Nixon (1995)

A political scandal far juicier than any screenwriter could pen, the fall of President Richard Nixon is highlighted in Oliver Stone's 1995 film Nixon . Anthony Hopkins stars as the infamous politician, looking back on the steps of the Watergate crisis as even more drama unfolds in Nixon's personal life. Adding another layer to the massive scandal, Nixon picked up four Oscar nods for its interpretation. —M.B.

The Post (2017)

20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection

The Post centers on the true story of the publishing of the Pentagon Papers , which revealed the extent of the United States' involvement in Vietnam. With the dream combination of director Steven Spielberg and stars Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, the film's depiction of The Washington Post 's perilous journey to publishing the papers is riveting. — K.J.

Primary Colors (1998)

Based on Joe Klein's bestselling roman à clef, Primary Colors fictionalizes specifics and changes names, but there's no doubt that John Travolta 's gray-haired charmer is an analog of Bill Clinton . And, pursuant to real life, presidential candidate Jack Stanton's campaign dreams are haunted by the consequences of his sexual past. — K.S.

The Queen (2006)

British royals hold no real political power. Their duties are purely administrative, and their great strength lies with the public. So when the public turns against them, what purpose do they serve? That's the anxious undertone of The Queen , which focuses on the immediate aftermath of the death of Princess Diana . As the troubled Queen Elizabeth , Helen Mirren is unforgettable, winning an Oscar among dozens of other awards for her performance. The Queen is also the middle chapter of the Tony Blair trilogy in which Michael Sheen hands in a spot-on portrayal of the former British prime minister. — D.F.

Secret Honor (1984)

Philip Baker Hall 's portrayal of Richard Nixon is both subtle and absurdly over the top, not immediately identifiable yet spot-on. Refusing to parody the eminently parodiable president, Hall and director Robert Altman turn this one-man show into a slow and sad display of self-delusion, self-pity, and self-destruction. — K.S.

Selma (2014)

Atsushi Nishijima/Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Director Ava DuVernay transports us back to mid-1960s Alabama in this rousing drama, where Martin Luther King Jr. ( David Oyelowo ) and his compatriots make strides to provide equal voting rights for Black citizens. It all culminates with the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, risking their lives for the greater good. — K.J.

Spencer (2021)

The next film in Pablo Larraín's examination of high-profile women grappling with public and private struggles is this psychological drama about Princess Diana. Spencer centers on Diana ( Kristen Stewart ) unraveling during the Christmas holidays in 1991 due to her fractured relationship with Prince Charles and the royal family. While the film is upfront about being "a fable from a true tragedy," it is a compelling depiction of what Diana may have felt at her lowest. — K.J.

The third film by Oliver Stone about an American president but the only one made while that president was still in office, this take on George W. Bush is essentially a farce at heart, Buñuelian and broad. Also included is a parade of famous characters made caricatures, like Thandiwe Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Toby Jones as Karl Rove, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney, and Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld. — K.S.

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Politics as usual: The 25 best political biopic movies

It will be interesting to see how Hollywood depicts our current political leaders, especially within the United States, as time passes. Let's take a look back at some political film biographies that have worked well over the years.

'All the President's Men' (1976)

We kick off this list with arguably the greatest political movie of all time. Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford, two Hollywood heavyweights, take on the roles of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, respectively. The Washington Post reporters broke the Watergate scandal and became celebrities in their own right. Riveting, intense, and masterfully done at every turn.

'Gandhi' (1982)

Star Ben Kingsley earned one of the eight Oscars this film took home for his role as the historic leader of the non-cooperative Indian independence movement. It also won Best Picture honors and grossed $127.8 million. In terms of overall individual Hollywood performances, Kingsley's portrayal is still one of the greatest in film history and continues to resonate with audiences.

'JFK' (1991)

Oliver Stone takes his crack at the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Told from the standpoint of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner), who digs deep into a potential conspiracy on the subject. The movie, featuring an all-star cast, was nominated for eight Academy Awards but won just two (Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing).

'Malcolm X' (1992)

Malcolm X might not have officially been a "politician," but he was undoubtedly a political force as a civil and human rights activist. Most notably as the spokesman for the Nation of Islam. Denzel Washington starred in the titular role and was nominated for an Oscar. Under the direction of Spike Lee, the movie does a splendid job capturing the key moments in the story of Malcolm X's life.

'Nixon' (1995)

While not a box-office success, Oliver Stone's version of enigmatic President Richard Nixon received relatively positive reviews. With Anthony Hopkins in the starring role, Stone attempts to dig deep inside the man and show audiences his complex personality beyond the headlines. The film earned four Academy Award nominations.

'Elizabeth' (1998)

Many believe Cate Blanchett turned into an international star for her turn as Elizabeth I. The movie focuses on the early years of Elizabeth's reign, how she got there, and all the obstacles she faced from her detractors. While the film was visually pretty spectacular, the work of Blanchett offers lasting memories of the film. She won a Golden Globe for the effort.

'Downfall' (2004)

A truly riveting German film about the final days of Adolf Hitler (Bruno Ganz), the leader of the Nazi party. While the movie can sometimes be disturbing, Ganz's performance as the unhinged fuhrer is entertaining amid all the madness. The movie was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars and should be considered the quintessential film about Hitler.

'Marie Antoinette' (2006)

Sofia Coppola's directorial work has been hit-or-miss over the years, and her depiction of Queen Marie Antoinette has no clear-cut consensus. However, Kirsten Dunst provides an above-average portrayal in the starring role as we learn more about the feisty queen during the events that led up to the French Revolution. Visually, the movie is impressive and somewhat contemporary for a period piece .

'The Last King of Scotland' (2006)

While the plot is fictional, the movie's events are based on personal accounts of Ugandan military leader and president Idi Amin. Thus, it's worthy of being included on this list. It's also important to celebrate the work of star Forest Whitaker, whose performance as Amin earned him the 2007 Best Actor Oscar.

'The Queen' (2006)

The legendary Helen Mirren stars as Queen Elizabeth II , who grapples with United Kingdom prime minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles on the proper way to officially mourn the death of the immensely popular Princess Diana, who is no longer part of the royal family. Mirren was praised for her work, but Michael Sheen holds his own while taking on the complexity of Blair's personality.

'Charlie Wilson's War' (2007)

Plenty of big names were involved in director Mike Nichols' final film. Tom Hanks stars as the famed U.S. congressman , who, along with CIA operative Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman), played a major role in helping Afghan jihadists during the Soviet-Afghan War. Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay, while Julia Roberts and Amy Adams co-starred.

'Milk' (2008)

Sean Penn won his second Best Actor Oscar for this role as the San Francisco gay rights activist, who was a trailblazer for openly gay people in politics. While Harvey Milk's inspirational and tragic story is brilliantly told through the eyes of director Gus Van Sant, Penn's performance brings it all to life. It delivers perhaps the most memorable outing of his career.

'Frost/Nixon' (2008)

Another film showcased disgraced former President Richard Nixon. This time, it was telling the story of the 1977 interviews between Nixon (Frank Langella) and British journalist David Foster (Michael Sheen). Directed by Ron Howard, the film adds intrigue to the lead-up, preparation, and the behind-the-scenes look into a moment that was life-changing for both individual parties involved.

'Recount' (2008)

The story is about the aftermath of the 2000 U.S. presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The focus was on the voting issues in Florida and the recount that ensued before the Supreme Court stepped in. Starring Kevin Spacey and Denis Leary, the movie was initially slated to be directed by Sidney Pollack. The legendary director eventually pulled out due to illness and passed away from cancer the day after the film premiered.

'W.' (2008)

If we've learned anything from this list, Oliver Stone enjoys telling stories about U.S. presidents. This time, he takes on George W. Bush . Josh Brolin reportedly was not the first choice to play Bush, but he does more than a good job. We should also show some love for Richard Dreyfuss, who offered a strong portrayal of vice president Dıck Cheney, despite not getting along with Stone throughout the process.

'Invictus' (2009)

Under Clint Eastwood's direction, Morgan Freeman stars as South African president Nelson Mandela. He hopes star Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) and his underdog Springbok rugby team can bring glory and unite a nation in this post-apartheid time amid the backdrop of the country hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup . Both Freeman and Damon earned Academy Award nominations.

'The King’s Speech' (2010)

One of history's most inspirational films tells the story of the man who would become King George VI (Colin Firth) and his quest to overcome his stutter while speaking. The movie was praised for its unique storyline and Firth's performance. He won the Oscar for Best Actor. The King's Speech also took home Best Picture honors.

'Game Change' (2012)

Based on the book of the same name, Julianne Moore fares well as vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Woody Harrelson is also strong as Republican campaign strategist Steve Schmidt. Game Change is an entertaining look at just how much Palin craved power and the spotlight .

'Lincoln' (2012)

Daniel Day-Lewis has won three Best Actor Oscars, including one for this role. Playing Abraham Lincoln is enticing and challenging for even the best of actors. Day-Lewis included. However, while his performance is stellar, the entire production, which focuses on the later years of his life, is Grade A — from the writing to the visuals to the execution .

'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' (2013)

The second time we showcase Nelson Mandela. In this case, Idris Elba that's his crack at this historical figure in a film based on the South African president's autobiography of the same name. The movie spans Mandela's life and does a good job of explaining his harrowing and triumphant journey. Idris offers a more contemporary approach that takes a bit to get used to but still works.

'LBJ' (2016)

Our second mention of Woody Harrelson, but this time in a starring role. This Rob Reiner picture follows the early days of Lyndon Johnson's presidency f ollowing the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film earned some decent reviews, but this should also be considered one of Harrelson's more underrated roles.

'Chappaquiddick' (2017)

Jason Clarke ( Brotherhood; Zero Dark Thirty ) offers a fine turn as late U.S. senator Ted Kennedy in this tale of the infamous Chappaquiddick incident, where Kennedy was responsible for an automobile accident that resulted in the death of passenger Mary Jo Kopechne. The incident haunted Kennedy throughout his life and is skillfully told in this form.

'Darkest Hour' (2017)

The movie won the exceptional Gary Oldman his lone Academy Award for Best Actor. Oldman shines as United Kingdom prime minister Winston Churchill , navigating his way through World War II. Churchill is not an easy figure of prominence to pull off when stepping into his shoes, but Oldman does it relatively easily. The authenticity of his portrayal is something to behold.

'The Post' (2017)

Told with a rather fast but thorough pace, viewers are brought into the mix on the reporting of the famed Pentagon Papers . Specifically from inside The Washington Post , a middling paper looking to couple with The New York Times juggernaut. Tom Hanks delivers as gritty editor Ben Bradlee, while Meryl Steep portrays the blossoming strength of Post owner Katherine Graham.

'Vice' (2018)

Yes, that's Christian Bale under all that makeup playing former vice president Dıck Cheney . It's an in-depth look into the life of the powerful Cheney, revered by some but loathed by many on both sides of the aisle. Directed by Adam McKay, this comedy-drama was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including the Oscar for Best Picture.

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

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The 12 Best Political Biopics to Watch If You Liked 'Oppenheimer'

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The buzz surrounding the release of “Barbenheimer” has seen both films soar to record-breaking heights in terms of box office figures while earning widespread critical acclaim and audience approval. With its incredible ensemble cast, stunning visual display, and outstanding historical drama, Oppenheimer is set to become one of the biggest financial achievements of Christopher Nolan’s career

With a grand stage of global history and captivating stories of people who changed the world, political biographical films have always had the ability to captivate audiences. With recent trends seeing a meteoric resurgence in biopics in general – ranging from world-famous rock stars to violent gangsters – it should come as no surprise to see the political biopic return to form as well with Christopher Nolan ’s latest film, Oppenheimer .

The WWII drama is set to feature much of what makes political biopics so compelling, but it’s certainly not the first film within the genre to find such esteem. From movies that analyzed the tenure of renowned politicians to films focusing on pivotal leaders of human rights movements, all of these classics are well worth watching before seeing Oppenheimer in theaters.

Updated on August 4, 2023, by Ryan Heffernan:

12 'jfk' (1991).

Matching Oppenheimer ’s audacious three-hour runtime, JFK portrays the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, highlighting the government’s desperation to find answers. Kevin Costner stars as Jim Garrison, the New Orleans District Attorney who explores the possibility of an assassination conspiracy that stretched beyond the actions of Lee Harvey Oswald .

RELATED: The Greatest Movies of the 1990s, Ranked

The movie sometimes blurs the facts and is itself partially based on the real-life Jim Garrison ’s disputed book On the Trail of the Assassinations , but it did adequately highlight the pandemonium which plagued the entirety of America’s political landscape in the wake of the event. It also made for a compelling ride which, even with its hefty runtime, enthralled audiences with its frenetic pace and high energy.

Watch on Max

11 'Vice' (2018)

The majority of political films will have to focus on some degree of corruption, be it a total abuse of power or a morally justifiable bending of the rules for the greater good. Few films have had quite as much fun delving into said corruption as Vice .

The biographical drama blends American history with political satire, depicting Dick Cheney ’s ( Christian Bale ) unprecedented influence under George W. Bush ’s ( Sam Rockwell ) presidency, which saw him launch devastating military invasions in the wake of 9/11. With outstanding editing, gripping performances, and an infectiously fun tone, Vice went on to be nominated for eight Oscars and re-introduced Adam McKay as a savvy political satirist.

Watch on Starz

10 'Charlie Wilson’s War' (2007)

Charlie Wilson’s War boasted a truly exceptional cast, was critically praised, and grossed nearly $120 million , and yet it stands as an underrated and largely forgotten gem. Taking place in the 1980s, it focuses on Texas congressman Charlie Wilson ( Tom Hanks ) and his efforts to equip Afghan fighters against the invading Soviet forces.

In addition to Hanks’ Charlie Wilson, the film also stars Julia Roberts as Joanne Herring , a socialite friend and collaborator to Wilson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Gust Avrakotos , a CIA maverick who Wilson befriends. The film doesn’t necessarily become the scathing revisionist piece it could have been, but as a witty comedy-drama documenting historical events, it doesn’t miss its mark either.

Watch on Netflix

9 Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

If one is considering what to watch before Oppenheimer , then Good Night, and Good Lucky stands as a terrific option, meticulously displaying the anti-communist landscape of 1950s America and featuring stunning black-and-white imagery throughout the film . Following CBS news broadcaster Edward R. Murrow ( David Strathairn ), it depicts his brave endeavor to stand in defiance of Senator Joseph McCarthy ’s invasive and unconstitutional methods of rooting out communists in America.

Displayed in black and white and even using actual footage from hearings of the time, George Clooney (who wrote, directed, and co-starred) delivers a snappy, entertaining, and important historic civics lesson. It was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Strathairn’s commanding performance.

8 'Darkest Hour' (2017)

Political figures are always judged against how they respond when their country needs them most, and few have answered the call like Winston Churchill whose staunch defiance of the Nazi regime inspired a nation on the brink of collapse. Darkest Hour documents the early tenure of Churchill’s first term as Prime Minister, with Britain reeling as Germany advances towards Dunkirk.

RELATED: The Best War Movies of All Time, Ranked

With Gary Oldman turning in an Oscar-winning performance as Churchill, the film had the ability to grasp audiences and keep them invested. Its depiction of the looming threat Hitler presented to the future of the British Empire only furthered its standing as must-watch cinema, especially for people not well-versed in that chapter of English history.

7 'Malcolm X' (1992)

By no means is American political history limited to those who have inhabited the White House. As one of the most renowned figures of the Civil Rights movement, Malcolm X was as powerful and inspirational as he was polarizing, and 1992’s Malcolm X , starring Denzel Washington and directed by Spike Lee , brought the legendary leader to the screen with stunning results.

At 202 minutes long, the dramatic epic explores the entirety of X’s life, including his youth as a petty criminal, his time in prison, his work with the Nation of Islam and his activism, and, ultimately, his shocking assassination. Never shying away from X’s controversies, Lee was at his absolute best as he painted the portrait of an incredible life that forged a legacy still relevant to this very day.

6 'Downfall' (2004)

While the Americans were carrying out their invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe and experimenting with nuclear weaponry, the political landscape in Germany was getting pretty intense itself. Downfall was a phenomenal picture, focusing on the final days of WWII from Adolf Hitler’s ( Bruno Ganz ) Berlin bunker from the perspective of his young secretary, Traudl Junge ( Alexandra Maria Lara ).

With captivating performances, it dared to humanize its subjects, cautious to remind audiences that those who perpetrated such heinous evils weren't monstrous beasts but human beings. It was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards and has gone on to become one of the best-known international films ever made .

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5 'Frost/Nixon' (2008)

Adapted from the 2006 stage play of the same name, Frost/Nixon was deftly handled by veteran filmmaker Ron Howard to keep the intimate punch of the theater while never being confined by its source material’s limitations. Set in 1977, after the Watergate Scandal and ensuing resignation of President Nixon , it follows the story behind the scenes of the Frost/Nixon interviews.

The film was met with widespread critical acclaim with much of the praise being aimed at its penchant for human drama brought beautifully to life by powerhouse performances from Michael Sheen and Frank Langella . It was nominated for five Academy Awards and five Golden Globes and has come to be viewed as one of the greatest political biopics from this century .

Watch on Prime Video

4 'Gandhi' (1982)

Telling the story of Mahatma Gandhi ’s peaceful resistance against British rule in India, Gandhi may not have much of a link to an American wartime film like Oppenheimer , but as a political biopic, there are few that are its equal. Starring Sir Ben Kingsley as the Indian lawyer, it delves into Gandhi’s commitment to using non-violent methods to pressure Britain into liberating his country.

The film is profoundly powerful and Kingsley’s starring performance is one of the greatest cinema has ever seen. The Academy Award he won for his performance was just one of eight the film received from 11 nominations. It remains one of the most definitive and celebrated movies of the 1980s .

3 'Lincoln' (2012)

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most renowned political figures in human history and is frequently cited as the greatest President America has ever had. As such, compiling his life and astonishing career into 150 minutes of film might be an impossible task, but with the indelible combination of Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day-Lewis , Lincoln certainly didn’t do a bad job.

RELATED: Iconic War Movies That Focus on Civilians and Leaders

With great dignity, the film displays the desperate and undying lengths Lincoln went to in order to abolish slavery in the United States as the Civil War rages on. Unsurprisingly, it was a major awards season hit, winning two Oscars from its 12 nominations.

2 'All the President’s Men' (1976)

The Watergate scandal still stands as one of the most alarming chapters in America’s political history, resulting in President Nixon ’s resignation. All the President’s Men tells the story of Carl Bernstein ( Dustin Hoffman ) and Bob Woodward ( Robert Redford ), the two investigative journalists for The Washington Post who uncovered the truth and broke the news of the scandal to the public.

With the two journalists facing dead-ends, red herrings, and even death threats as they get close to the truth, the film excels as a political thriller loaded with hidden secrets and pulsating drama. It went on to win four Academy Awards from eight nominations, had a steadfast dedication to historical accuracy, and remains one of the definitive films of '70s cinema .

1 'Patton' (1970)

As far as political/military biopics go, few can rival the impact of 1970's Patton , and even fewer boast performances capable of matching the all-encompassing magnetism of George C. Scott ’s. The film focuses on the eponymous and highly controversial General during his command of U.S. troops during WWII.

An effective though blunt force throughout America’s involvement in the war, Patton excelled in military affairs but was a loose cannon politically. Scott brought the nature of the man to the screen with an enormity and presence that defined the film, making it one of the greatest war movies and most astute biopics ever made.

NEXT: The Best Biopics of All Time, According To Reddit

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The 20 Best Political Movies

By Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

Perhaps you’ve heard there’s a presidential election coming up? One that may, in fact, be the single most important referendum on our way of government in our lifetime? It is a reality that may have you looking for inspiration in the final weeks leading up to Nov. 5 — or escape. How better to thread this particular needle than with movies about American politics? Filmmakers have long been dealing with the topic of our nation’s origin story, and how our particular manner of governance — “by the people, for the people,” or at least that’s how it reads on the page — has contributed to the idealistic image of America that its citizens hold near and dear to our hearts. But well before Watergate became more than just a hotel, the movies have also cast a keen kino-eye on how American democracy is a notion that’s ideal in conception and too often flawed in execution. Here are our picks for the 20 best films exploring the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly aspects of American politics .

‘Bulworth’ (1998)

A devastating critique of Clinton-era triangulation that is very much a product of that era’s ugly race politics, Bulworth is a hilarious satire and paranoid fever dream from start to finish. Warren Beatty co-wrote, directed, and stars as Jay Bulworth, a corrupt California Democratic senator who, after a bad bet, demands a $10 million life insurance policy from an insurance lobbyist to do the industry’s bidding, before taking out a contract on his own life. As he loses his mind, Bulworth begins to tell many truths about American politics and corporate capture, while rapping awkwardly and fighting to stay alive. It’s not a perfect film, but it goes hard. — Andrew Perez

‘Secret Honor’ (1984)

When it debuted onstage, this one-man production was subtitled The Last Testament of Richard M. Nixon . But in the film version, viscerally directed by Robert Altman, our 37th president really lets it blurt over the course of a profanity-laden, 90-minute monologue. Set entirely in his study in the late 1970s, the disgraced Tricky Dick spends an anguished evening wrestling with the demons in his head, drowning in anger, self-pity, and booze. Philip Baker Hall was a relative unknown at the time, but the casting was perfect: He doesn’t resemble Nixon so much as he harnesses the man’s scalding contempt and crippling insecurity, his every word a blunt rejoinder to invisible enemies who have long since vanquished him. Secret Honor is a fictionalized spin on one of this nation’s most ruinous leaders, and this claustrophobic, stripped-down drama resists humanizing a monster. Rather, it gives Nixon enough begrudging respect to allow him to be unrepentant to the bitter end, turning his final, looped “Fuck ‘em!” into one last cry of rage into the abyss. —Tim Grierson

‘Primary Colors’ (1998)

PRIMARY COLORS, seated: Adrian Lester, John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Paul Guilfoyle, Ben Jones, Caroline Aaron, 1998. ©Universal/courtesy Everett Collection

Anyone still harboring nostalgia for the Clinton years would do well to revisit this complicated, nuanced drama starring John Travolta as the Bill-like Jack Stanton, a deeply flawed Southern governor running for president. Sure, he’s charming and handsome, but he’s also awfully oily — and he sure seems to have an issue being faithful to his wife Susan (a delightfully crisp Emma Thompson). Based on Joe Klein’s fictionalized account of the 1992 presidential campaign, Primary Colors stands as a fascinating time capsule of late-20th-century politics, a now-quaint bygone era before George W. Bush, 9/11, the Iraq War, and Donald Trump profoundly coarsened our discourse and made Clinton’s indiscretions, by comparison, seem relatively minor. Directed by Mike Nichols and written by his longtime creative partner Elaine May, this tart film has no illusions about the duplicity and cynicism of Clinton’s time. Pity those qualities have only gotten worse in our politics since he left office. —T.G.

‘Milk’ (2008)

MILK, from left: Sean Penn, Victor Garber, 2008. ©Focus Features/Courtesy Everett Collection

Sean Penn’s Oscar-winning — and eerily precise — performance as title character Harvey Milk, the first gay man elected to public office in California, to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, is largely the selling point of Gus Van Sant’s biopic. But Milk itself is a deeper work than that. The shadow of the supervisor’s murder hangs over the film, which opens with him recording a tape to be played in the event of his death, a tragedy we know eventually comes at the hands of fellow board member Dan White, played with barely concealed internal turmoil by Josh Brolin. Van Sant captures the two poles of Milk’s life: the euphoria of his election, a result of his genuinely galvanizing persona, and the fear that follows him as soon as he achieves his goal. — Esther Zuckerman

‘Dick’ (1999)

Clueless Teens Betsy Jobs (Kirsten Dunst, Left) And Arlene Lorenzo (Michelle Williams) Are Swept Up In The Political Intrigue Of The World's Most Famous Break-In When Richard Nixon (Dan Hedaya) Appoints Them Secret Youth Advisors To The President In The Columbia Pictures/Phoenix Pictures Presentation, "Dick." (Photo By Getty Images)

Every journalist loves All the President’s Men — who doesn’t aspire to break open a story that takes down a sitting president? The movie Dick asks the question: What if it wasn’t dogged reporting and following the money that unearthed the Watergate scandal, but a story that’s far more embarrassing? Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams play two teens who stumble into the crime, every step of the way, and together serve as Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s main sources under the pseudonym “Deep Throat.” It’s a great spoof, and a reminder, for anyone in the media who needs it, not to take ourselves too seriously. — A.P.

‘The Best Man’ (1964)

Gore Vidal — a gent who was no stranger to political dynasties and how the Beltway’s sausage got made — here adapted his own play, in which two all-too-human candidates claw their way toward their party’s nomination for the presidency. Henry Fonda plays William Russell, the former Secretary of State who hopes his mental and marital problems aren’t road blocks to nabbing partisan support. Cliff Robertson is Joe Cantwell, a senator with a knack for turning his strident anti-communist rants into a viable populist platform. ( Any resemblance to a real-life congressmen is not the least bit coincidental. ) Both men find themselves in the possession of damning material surrounding the other’s past — specifically, reports on Russell’s psychological profile and someone willing to confirm rumors of Cantwell’s “indecent” relations while serving in the military. The question soon becomes whether it’s moral or not to use such unsavory information to one’s advantage. Just think: Once upon a time, ethics in politics was actually a thing . — David Fear

‘All the King’s Men’ (1949)

Based not-so-loosely on the life and career of Louisiana governor Huey Long, Robert Warren Penn’s book was viewed by Hollywood as potential Oscar fodder even before it had won the Pulitzer — the fact that Robert Rossen’s prestigious screen version ended up garnering seven Academy Award nominations and winning three (including Best Picture) essentially secured its place in the political-drama canon. But even if you take all of the accolades out of the picture, this movie is still a great example of how everything from private-interest power brokers to dirty-tricks experts to the media apparatus can conspire to make (or break) a political figurehead. And Broderick Crawford’s theatrical, gloriously over-the-top Willie Stark now reminds you of every political bigwig, Southern or otherwise, who’s exploited their “man of the people” persona for extremely personal gain. —D.F.

‘Being There’ (1979)

BEING THERE, Peter Sellers, 1979, © United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection

Hal Ashby’s adaptation of author Jerzy Kosiński’s novel about a mentally challenged man whose Zen naiveté becomes a kind of spiritual Rorschach for a society adrift in its own glazed complacency was a note-perfect late-Seventies satire. Played with a soothing sense of sublime absence by Peter Sellers, the film’s hero, Chauncey Gardener, goes from wandering the streets to meandering the halls of power, becoming a political insider based on nothing more than his vague WASP-ish aspect and his unintended genius for winning people over (including the President of the United States) by saying — and essentially being — nothing. Lulling its audience into opaque amusement rather than grabbing it by the lapels, Being There has an eerie sense of serenity for a political film, a still-water reflection of an America all too content to give up on giving on a shit and cynically sleepwalk through history. — Jon Dolan

‘Advise and Consent’ (1962)

A scene from the film 'Advise & Consent', 1962. From left to right, Peter Lawford (1923 - 1984), Inga Swenson, Walter Pidgeon (1897 - 1984), Lew Ayres (1908 - 1996) and Paul Ford (1901 - 1976). (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

When the Secretary of State unexpectedly dies, the president puts forth his political ally Robert Leffingwell as a replacement. Given that no less than Tom Joad himself, a.k.a. Henry Fonda, is portraying this potential new member of the administration, you’d think the job would be his to turn down. Except Leffingwell has made an exceptional number of enemies in Congress over the years and “has never played ball… not even the most ordinary, political-courtesy kind of ball!” Cue various factions of the Senate using their powers — see title — to make sure he never gets past the nomination phase. Most folks remember Otto Preminger’s adaptation of Allen Drury’s bestseller as being one of the first Hollywood movies to show a gay bar onscreen . But the director also managed to shoot sequences inside the actual Capitol, a rarity that added verisimilitude to what’s really an all-star Beltway version of Peyton Place . Even in the early 1960s, the backstabbing and bipartisan brawling was simply viewed as business as usual. —D.F.

‘Election’ (1999)

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 23: The movie "Election", directed by Alexander Payne. Seen here, Reese Witherspoon (as Tracy Flick). Initial theatrical release, Friday, April 23, 1999. Image is a screen grab. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

A mere 13 years after Ferris Bueller’s Day Off , Matthew Broderick returned to the cutthroat world of high school for Alexander Payne’s Election . This time around, he’s Jim McAllister, an emasculated history and civics teacher overseeing a student-government election contest between a dimwitted jock, Paul Metzler (Chris Klein), and an ambitious overachiever in Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon). Near the end, he rigs the election in Metzler’s favor — and destroys his own life in the process. Payne saw the movie as a microcosm of politics in America, but he had no idea it would launch 10,000 opinion pieces comparing Hillary Clinton to Tracy Flick (often unfairly), or that stolen election claims would soon become a standard part of political life in the 21st century. If you haven’t seen the movie recently, watch it again. Flick isn’t the villain that many of us recall; she’s a flawed hero. McAllister, however, is a monster. — Andy Greene

‘A Face in the Crowd’ (1957)

Andy Griffith and Patricia Neal in a scene from the 1957 film A Face in the Crowd. Griffith stars as Lonesome Rhodes, an Arkansas hobo who becomes an overnight media sensation while Neal stars as Marcia Jeffries. (Photo by �� John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

It’d be great if we could cordon off Ellia Kazan’s depiction of homegrown populist demagoguery as a brilliant relic of the McCarthy era, but A Face in the Crowd remains scarily prescient almost seven decades after it came out. Then-newcomer Andy Griffith plays a singing, guitar-slinging, rapaciously charming Arkansas drifter who is discovered by Patricia Neal’s enterprising publicist, dubbed Lonesome Rhodes, and catapulted into national fame — first as a pitchman for a mattress company and a cure-all called Vitajex, then as a hugely popular TV host dispensing folky bromides, and finally as a crypto-fascist political rabble rouser barreling toward his own horrific unmasking. Lonesome’s natural connection with the people is only exceeded by his seething contempt for them: “They think like I do, but they’re even more stupid than I am, so I gotta think for ‘em,” he proclaims. Griffth’s embodiment of that hypocrisy — in his shifts from the cornpone exuberance of his character’s public persona to the maniacal glee of the increasingly unhinged villain he becomes behind-the-scenes — is as troubling as it is captivating, especially if you grew up watching him as the lovable, reassuring TV sheriff on reruns of The Andy Griffith Show. The result might be the greatest “Could it happen here?” cautionary tale ever put onscreen. Spoiler: In 2016, it did. — J.D.

‘Bob Roberts’ (1992)

BOB ROBERTS, Tim Robbins (center), 1992, © Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection

This satirical mockumentary may well have predicted both the political rise of Donald Trump and the music of Oliver Anthony. Tim Robbins wrote, directed, and stars in Bob Roberts as the title character, a wealthy Pennsylvania Senate candidate who serves up overt right-wing dog whistles as folk songs. Roberts is a master manipulator, willing to do anything to get ahead. Sound familiar? After Trump won in 2016, Robbins acknowledged that “ Bob Roberts came true.” He wasn’t comfortable with comparisons between his movie and real life after a gunman shot Trump at a rally, injuring his ear — but when you’ve made a film as scathing and prescient as this one, people remember. — A.P.

‘Lincoln’ (2012)

Cramming the entire saga of Abraham Lincoln’s life into a single movie isn’t even remotely possible. That’s why Steven Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner wisely zoomed in tightly on January 1865, when Lincoln, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, is trying to push the 13th amendment through the House of Representatives. It was a critical moment that would bring about the end of slavery in America, and it required quite a bit of bribing and cajoling from Honest Abe and his associates. The film is a gritty look at how politics is practiced in America, one that rings just as true today as it did 160 years ago. And with apologies to Henry Fonda, Daniel Day-Lewis is the greatest Lincoln in Hollywood history. — A.G.

‘Idiocracy’ (1999)

For the first few years after its release in 2006, it was easy to dismiss this Mike Judge movie as a wild satire — especially the part about former brain-dead professional wrestler Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho becoming the President of the United States. It turned out to be one of the most prophetic movies in Hollywood history when Donald Trump, a proud member of the WWE Hall of Fame, took that same oath of office a little over a decade later. “I know shit’s bad right now,” President Camacho tells Congress midway through the movie, “with all that starving bullshit, and the dust storms, and we are running out of French fries and burrito coverings. But I got a solution.” We were lucky enough to preserve our French fries and burrito coverings during Trump’s first term. Another time around, we might not be so lucky. — A.G.

‘Wag the Dog’ (1997)

WAG THE DOG, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche, Robert DeNiro, 1997.

A master of media manipulation (Robert DeNiro) taps a Hollywood producer (Dustin Hoffman) to help him manufacture an international crisis with enough juice to distract from news that the President of the United States propositioned a Girl Scout in the Oval Office 11 days out from the election. This plot would have sounded far-fetched when it was released in December 1997 — for about a month, at least, until news broke that Bill Clinton had been conducting an affair with a White House intern. (His administration later went on to bomb a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan, drawing criticism that he was trying to pull a “wag the dog.”) Hoffman’s Stanley Motss throws himself into the assignment, hiring a young ingénue (Kirsten Dunst) to play a refugee escaping her burning village, cradling a bag of Tostitos, in front of a green screen (the chips would be subbed out for a kitten in postproduction), among other strokes of brilliance. Motss is ultimately undone, of course, by his burning desire for public recognition of the work he did duping millions of voters into re-electing the guy. (He complains at one point that there is no Academy Award for producing — apparently collecting for Best Picture isn’t credit enough!) Decades later, the cynical send-up of both D.C.’s political operators and the gullible masses they influence not only retains its charm, it feels relevant as ever. — Tessa Stuart

‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ (1939)

1939: American actor James Stewart (1908 - 1997) (R) clutches a wad of letters as British actor Claude Rains looks on, while standing on the floor of the U.S. Senate in a still from director Frank Caprafs film, 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Frank Capra often made movies about idealists: “Most of these heroes have faith… Faith in goodness and in the innate goodness of human beings. They lived that and they believed it.” The Oscar-winning director found the perfect vessel for such optimism in James Stewart, who played Jefferson Smith, the prototypical small-town dreamer who becomes a U.S. senator, discovering to his dismay just how corrupt Washington politicians are. Condemned at the time by some for supposedly being anti-American, this patriotic classic remains prescient about the limitations of idealism when facing a broken system in which business interests and the elite conspire to keep the sort of change Mr. Smith proposes from happening. And for those quick to dismiss Capra’s humanist dramas as corny, look how much Smith’s faith and decency are challenged — such a principled stand is so stirring precisely because it is so staunchly tested. —T.G.

‘The Candidate’ (1972)

Can politics destroy a person’s soul? We know the answer to that now, of course, but when director Michael Richie’s satire came out in 1972, the idea was revelatory. Robert Redford, looking as gorgeously camera-ready as ever, plays Bill McKay, a lawyer who happens to be the son of a former governor. The wily campaign strategist Marvin Lucas (Peter Boyle) sees Bill as a perfect candidate to run against an incumbent Republican Senator. He’s handsome and genuine — just the kind of person who can unseat the tired, fusty opponent. As the campaign drags on, you can see the life seeping out of him, and though McKay still acts the part well, it turns out to be just that: acting. The prescience of this clear-eyed look at where politics was headed can’t be overstated. Back when people assumed we could trust the people in office, The Candidate proved it’s all a machine. —E.Z.

‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned How to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ (1964)

DR STRANGELOVE, (aka DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB), Peter Sellers as Dr. Strangelove, 1964 DST 020P(97118)

Stanley Kubrick had originally planned on doing a dead-serious take on the threat of nuclear annihilation (and should you crave that, we highly recommend Sidney Lumet’s Fail Safe, an equally great political movie released later that same year). Instead, he and screenwriter Terry Southern pivoted to the absurdity of a U.S.-USSR endgame of mutually assured destruction, and produced what may the ultimate black comedy. How else to describe a film that soundtracks our species’ self-destructive demise with the ironically cheery “We’ll Meet Again” ? Everyone remembers Peter Sellers’ bizarro take on the title character, a former Nazi scientist spitting out mass death stats when he’s not fighting with his own mechanical hand. What sticks out now is the second of his three performances here, in which he plays President Merkin Muffley, a liberal-leaning commander-in-chief (based loosely on Democratic candidate Adlai Stevenson). His one-sided conversation with the Russian premier only enhances the idea that even the most powerful leaders are powerless when the clock strikes Armageddon time. And he comes off better than his fellow politicians, foreign bureaucrats, and military wackadoos, all of whom are either complete boobs or the sort of petty, combative cretins that inspire what remains a pitch-perfect punchline: “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here — this is a War Room!” —D.F.

‘In the Loop’ (2009)

IN THE LOOP, from left: Peter Capaldi, James Gandolfini, 2009. Ph: Nicola Dove/©IFC Films/courtesy Everett Collection

When the first line of a movie is, “Morning, my little chicks and cocks,” don’t say you weren’t warned. Armando Iannucci’s profane political satire is far more than a dress rehearsal for his later project Veep — though the two share faux-vérité cinematography and biting insults. (A highly incomplete sampling of nicknames from this film: “Young Lankenstein,” “Abattoir of room meat,” “Leaky Mingebox,” and “Scary little poodle-fucker.”) Set amid the run-up to a possible war pitting the U.S. and England against an unnamed enemy, “there are very few redeeming characters in it,” Iannucci said upon its release. Even that’s an understatement. A State department higher-up doctors an official government transcript, visiting British politicians discuss being too afraid to masturbate in the nation’s capital, and “ram it up the shitter with a lubricated horse cock” is an acceptable, if not encouraged, way to talk to your co-workers. Even if political humor isn’t your bag, hearing a Scottish press officer call opera “Subsidized! Foreign! Fucking! Vowels!” — one of many insults hurled with the speed of a fastball and the twist of a screwball — is worth it alone. Fuckity-bye! — Jason Newman

‘All the President’s Men’ (1976)

American actor Robert Redford wearing a white shirt with brown trousers and a patterned tie, in conversation with American actor Dustin Hoffman, who sits in a striped shirt, in a recreation of The Washington Post's offices in 'All the President's Men', filmed at Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, 1976. The political thriller based on the Watergate scandal, directed by Alan J Pakula, starred Redford as Bob Woodward, and Hoffman as Carl Bernstein. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

A great newspaper drama and an even better political thriller, this Oscar winner turned recent history into an electrifying and reassuring motion picture about the durability of America’s foundational institutions. No one who saw this adaptation of journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward’s book had any doubt about the ending — we already knew those dogged Washington Post reporters were going to connect the Watergate break-in to Richard Nixon, who would resign the presidency — and yet the movie couldn’t be more gripping. Perhaps it was because director Alan J. Pakula and screenwriter William Goldman imagined the film as a taut procedural, in which Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford are the grouchy, unconventional buddy-cop duo who’ll pound the pavement trying to find sources willing to go on the record. Maybe it was because the cast was filled with a murderers’ row of incredible character actors, including Jason Robards, who took home a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as eternally stern Post editor Ben Bradlee. Or maybe it was because everyone involved managed to perfectly balance the story’s mixture of patriotic fervor and stripped-down professionalism, viewing the Watergate cover-up as an urgent crisis that challenged the very principles of our democracy. Those alarm bells have not diminished in the nearly 50 years since the film’s release — if anything, the crisis feels even more present and harrowing now than it did then. Perhaps that’s why so many of us return to All the President’s Men : We want to be reminded that, eventually, justice will prevail and the bad guys will be taken down. Sometimes, that hope is all we have. —T.G.

Contributors: Jon Dolan , David Fear , Andy Greene , Tim Grierson , Jason Newman , Andrew Perez , Tessa Stuart , Esther Zuckerman

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BIOPIC MOVIES- Politics, world leaders and war collection

Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Peter O'Toole, José Ferrer, and Jack Hawkins in Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

1. Lawrence of Arabia

3. The Last Emperor

5. Malcolm X

6. Schindler's List

8. Braveheart

Woody Harrelson in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)

9. The People vs. Larry Flynt

Antonio Banderas and Madonna in Evita (1996)

11. The Hurricane

Russell Crowe and Al Pacino in The Insider (1999)

12. The Insider

13. Steal This Movie

Robert De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. in Men of Honor (2000)

14. Men of Honor

16. Hotel Rwanda

17. Lord of War

18. Jarhead

Anthony Hopkins, Helen Hunt, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Laurence Fishburne, William H. Macy, Elijah Wood, Heather Graham, and Lindsay Lohan in Bobby (2006)

20. The Last King of Scotland

21. World Trade Center

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War (2007)

22. Charlie Wilson's War

24. Frost/Nixon

More to explore

15 Best Political Movies of All Time

Politics is a very clever game and wreaks havoc if not played carefully. It is our misfortune that we spend our lives in the labyrinth of lies and manipulations. However it is fun sometimes to see the players play this game with their best efforts. And to capture it all are our brilliant directors, who never fail to spurn an opportunity to document the events going on around the globe, however obscure they might seem. We, at the Cinemaholic , present to you the list of top political movies of all time. You can watch some of these best political movies on Netflix or Hulu or Amazon Prime. The list includes some really good political drama movies and political thriller movies.

15. American History X (1999)

The reason why ‘American History X’ is ranked so low on the list is because it gets extremely preachy towards the end, which is a shame considering the film is, for the most part, well-written and directed. Nevertheless, it’s still a very good film that is made with noble intentions, which is why I thought it deserves a place on the list. The movie tells the story of Derek Vinyard, who serves three years in prison for a hate crime. Derek was part of a Neo-Nazi movement before being imprisoned and now, years later, he returns from prison as a changed man, but he must stop his brother from following the same path.

‘American History X’ is best remembered for Edward Norton ‘s stunning performance in the lead role. He carries the film on his own and his transition from a cold-blooded white supremacist to a much more mature man with changed beliefs and ideals is unbelievably brilliant. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest screen performances of all time.

14. In the Name of the Father (1993)

Starring the great Daniel Day-Lewis in the lead role, ‘In the Name of the Father’ tells the devastating story of an innocent man who spent 15 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Day-Lewis portrays Gerry Conlon, who was accused and later convicted of being a provisional IRA bomber. The film depicts his struggle to prove his innocence for the next 15 years as he along with his father are imprisoned, after Gerry was forced to sign a confession. The film is well directed by Jim Sheridan who respects the viewers’ intelligence and delivers a neatly crafted drama without choosing the path of sentimentality. The film attempts to provide a complete picture of the case and it achieves what it set out to do.

Day-Lewis is expectedly brilliant in the lead role, delivering a performance of such heartbreaking honesty that tears you apart. The scene where his character is threatened by one of the cops to kill his father if he doesn’t sign the confession is without a doubt the most intense scene in the film. Day-Lewis understands the raw emotional intensity of the scene and he elevates it to a whole new level onscreen. It is a truly outstanding performance by an actor who would later go on to be regarded as one of the greats of his time.

13. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

‘Zero Dark Thirty’ is easily one of the best movies of this decade . Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film chronicles the efforts of the CIA and the US government to track down and murder one of the most feared names in history, Osama Bin Laden. The CIA team is led by a young woman named Maya, who is determined to go to any lengths to capture the dreaded terrorist. Mark Boal’s tight screenplay is one of the highlights of the film — it’s incredibly nuanced and never loses focus at any point. It’s hard to comprehend the numerous political intricacies surrounding the mission and the film does a fantastic job at covering all aspects of it.

Bigelow’s distinctive style and command as a director is evident right from the first scene. There is authority and conviction in her approach, and each and every scene is crafted in a very realistic manner. Jessica Chastain provides complete justice to her role as she delivers the performance of a lifetime. She is enthralling in every single scene and brilliantly compliments Bigelow’s impeccable style and Boal’s nuanced script.

12. Election (1999)

Alexander Payne went creative with his political satire and chose a suburban high school student election to showcase the manipulations and the dirty game that is in play. Humorously written, it not only shows an obnoxious student with her head full of ambition, but also portrays a teacher who is manipulative and shrewd and never surrenders his ego. It is a classic play on the real life politics and the seemingly innocent backdrop of the plot robs it of the grisliness. Instead the audience gets to see cleverly disguised metaphor on the banalities of the real world politics. Resse Witherspoon ’s performance earned plaudits and earned the right to be taken seriously by the critics.

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11. Milk (2009)

Widely remembered for Sean Penn ’s endearing performance as the California politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk, Gus Van Sant ’s epic film was brutally honest about the prevalent social stigma and its vile encroachment in the straight politics. Beautifully made, ‘Milk’ takes the audience on an emotional journey, exploring the avenues of injustice and hypocrisy in the modern, open-minded society. The death of Harvey Milk in the final scene is a piece of art, both cinematically and performance-wise. ‘Milk’ is honest and remains true throughout the length of the reel. Hope and hope, he says.

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10. Downfall (2004)

‘Downfall’ is best known for the famous Hitler Rants that still remains popular on the Internet. And it’s kind of sad that it has kind of overshadowed the greatness of the film. ‘Downfall’ is, in my opinion, one of the greatest war/political dramas of the century. Featuring an unforgettable performance by the great Bruno Ganz in the lead role of Adolf Hitler , the film offers humane insights into the mind of the most evil man to have born on the planet. Ganz effortlessly gets into the skin of his character in a performance that is physically and mentally draining. It must have been extremely difficult to feel compassion and empathy for someone like Hitler, but Ganz manages to do so for the role, which is what makes it one of the great acting performances of all time.

‘Downfall’ is brilliantly directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, whose attention to detail is one of the highlights of the film. His command over the medium is astonishing and never does he lose track of the story. The attention to detail here is commendable and the film attempts to provide an objective look at the events that unfolded days before Hitler’s death. ‘Downfall’ is a film that must be seen for its vision, honest approach and the performances, which further elevate the film to a different level altogether. It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest films of that decade.

9. The Battle of Algiers (1966)

Every event has two sides of the story to it. Man concocts a version of this truth according to his own philosophies and narrates his story to his subsequent generations. The truth becomes divided and so does history. So we cannot really blame the films for taking sides while narrating its story. In 1966 came a film on the Algerian Revolution against the French Colonialism, called ‘The Battle of Algiers’ and directed by Gillo Pontecorvo and it set a benchmark on how history has to be told.

Apart from being well-directed and well filmed, the essence of this black and white masterpiece lay in its unique storytelling, never giving impetus to one part and never admitting the moral superiority of either one. It shows their reasons and flaws in the same note, telling history like it should be told. The audience sympathizes with the revolutionaries as they fight for their freedom but that sympathy is divided when the Algerians openly bombard public French spots, killing dozens of innocent bystanders. The French act of counter- terrorism thus had its reasons but the way they followed raised several questions on ethics. This duality conundrum was ever prevalent in this biopic making the film realistic. ‘The Battle of Algiers’ is one of the best war dramas and most certainly one of the the best movies based on politics ever made.

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8. Malcolm X (1992)

Spike Lee ’s 1992 political biography chronicles the life of Afro-American criminal turned social activist Malcolm X who was brutally assassinated for his work against the prejudices of Islam, his adoptive religion. ‘Malcolm X’ tells us the horrible consequences when one attempts to break the stigma prevalent in society. The cruel retaliation to protect certain individual interests is shown clearly in this film. This is certainly one of the most powerful films in recent history, hitting the nail right on the head. Crisp, accurate and spot on, ‘Malcom X’ is also responsible for giving us a wonderful actor in Denzel Washington who was astonishingly believable as the enigmatic leader.

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7. Z (1969)

Costa-Garvas in his third film, brought to the screen a satire on the military dictatorship in Greece and the assassination of democratic politician Grigoris Lambrakis. In his patented style, he spoke about the eternal political struggle and how a seemingly moral victory may also be corrupted in a style fit for a thriller. He delivered his opinion on the political hypocrisy without making the film seem like a propaganda. He struck a sensitive chord among many of the morally corrupted hypocrites who live in the illusion that their acts are actually right. ‘Z’ is a maze of alibis, facts and official corruption and is one of the most honest political movies ever made.

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6. Munich (2005)

One of Steven Spielberg ‘s greatest works, ‘Munich’ is a film that to this day remains hugely underrated. The film chronicles the efforts of five men who are assigned the task of finding and killing members of the terrorist organization that was responsible for the devastating Munich massacre. The team of five men is headed by Avner Kaufman (played brilliantly by Eric Bana). Their mission, however, involves serious risks and Avner, a Mossad agent, is asked to resign in order to provide plausible deniability to the Israeli government. These men begin their mission but they soon realize that things are far more complicated and struggle to deal with the moral dilemma the mission often poses. They set off for the mission as naive, idealistic men who are hell bent on doing the ”right” thing, but they eventually realize that a world filled with secrets, lies and conspiracies is beyond comprehension.

I never thought Spielberg could make a film that would keep me awake at nights. ‘Munich’ was just that kind of a film. There are several disturbing moments in that film that will haunt you for the rest of you life. The one that shook me the most was the lovemaking scene between Avner and his wife. While they have sex, Avner is haunted by visions of the Munich massacre, leading to a mental breakdown. ‘Munich’ is a film that must be seen for its unflinching honesty and for its sheer craft.

5. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

One of the best political thrillers ever made, ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ revolves around the brainwashing of a right-wing party candidate into becoming an unwitting assassin for a communist conspiracy. Aptly released during the Cuban Missile Crisis, ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ became a cult classic over the years for the ingenuity of the plot and the uniqueness of execution. Political play was shown tensely as the heroes attempt to thwart the conspiracy. It was a silent nod to the actual brainwashing done to the innocents by the top players in order to fulfill their cause. Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey gave stellar performances in the lead in this evergreen movie. The godfather of neo-noir movies, ‘The Manchurian Candidate’ is a gem in the history of Hollywood.

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4. Citizen Kane (1941)

Arguably, the greatest film ever made needs no introduction. Orson Welles’ debut feature broke barriers and revolutionized filmmaking in many ways. Amongst others, it gave the insight of the life of a newspaper magnet who began his journey as an idealist but became consumed by the power in his pursuit of greatness. Sheer political play proved to be the boon and the bane for the protagonist as he was reduced to a mental wreck in the end. Powerfully narrated with flashbacks, ‘Citizen Kane’ trod on the lines of a Shakespearean tragedy whilst staying true to its own origin story. It was visually enhancing and took the audience to a whole new level of realization through the life of the protagonist. Rosebud?

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3. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Frank Capra was much, much ahead of his time, evident by his 1939 political comedy-drama about a common man who enters the complex maze of national politics and immediately becomes a pawn of a much bigger game. This film showed the common man’s gullibility when it came to the nuances of the political game and his urge to clean up the vat of selfishness for society’s benefit. Unsurprisingly, it touched quite a few sore spots with the higher officials who dictate the wheels of the society and generated a fair amount of controversy upon its release. The audience were never deterred though and turned up in throngs to make the film a box office success. James Stewart stepped into the spotlight after this film’s release and the rest is history. ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’ is perhaps Capra’s best work till date and one of the best political-comedies in history.

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2. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Trust Stanley Kubrick to come up with something so ingenious. Loosely based on Peter George’s thriller, Red Alert, Stanley’s satire on cold war fears about a nuclear holocaust is one of the best comedies ever made. The sheer genius of his screenplay coupled by his magical touch of direction set ‘Dr. Strangelove’ apart from other comedies. It touched man’s selfishness and vulnerability through its funny narrative. It showed clearly how man, blinded by political superiority, can make choices which would make the entire world suffer. This film brought down the power players to their knees and showed them what the world looked like from the ground itself. ‘Dr. Strangelove’ gave a powerful message to the world through a comic verse and shook the very foundations of foul politics at play.

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1. All the President’s Men (1976)

It takes great courage to dip your hand in the political dirt and Alan J. Paluka showed great courage when he decided to adapt the 1974 book by journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward for the big screen. The effect was magnanimous, becoming an audience and a critical hit overnight. Alan’s narration of the infamous Watergate Scandal of the U.S. Senate in an investigative journalism pattern stewed the heat away from the mainstream politics, yet never failed to capture the dark side of the manipulations and coercions in the national level politics. Solid performances by Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford aided in the success of the movie, making the story believable to the audience and exposing the horror behind the political games at play. Political Movies don’t come in better form or shape than this.

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