A very biased take on the 20 best political movies of all time. And I'm talking movies with literal politicians and political figures featured, not just political issues (otherwise…isn't 50% of all media political if you look hard enough?).
Yes, it's corny; it's cheesy. It still gets me.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) ⭐ 8.1 | Comedy, Drama
A predecessor to VEEP, Peter Capaldi is gold in this nasty satire.
In the Loop (2009) ⭐ 7.4 | Comedy
School politics count as politics when it's a movie this good.
Election (1999) ⭐ 7.3 | Comedy, Romance
Slow-burning classic with two of the best actors of the 70s.
All the President's Men (1976) ⭐ 7.9 | Drama, History, Thriller
A friend of mine designed that excellent movie poster, so I'm biased. But it also came out when I graduated from college and I felt very smart for enjoying it. It holds up!
The Ides of March (2011) ⭐ 7.1 | Drama, Thriller
Sharp anti-war satire that now feels a little too close to reality.
Wag the Dog (1997) ⭐ 7.1 | Comedy, Drama
I will watch anything about LBJ.
All the Way (TV Movie 2016) ⭐ 7.3 | Biography, Drama, History
The Ava DuVernay movie that catapulted her career, it's poignant and fiery, inspiring and honest.
Selma (2014) ⭐ 7.5 | Biography, Drama, History
The documentary that inspired a thousand wannabe campaign managers (me included at a certain point).
The War Room (1993) ⭐ 7.4 | Documentary, History
Gus Van Sant portrays a hero of the gay rights movement without making him an untouchable, flawless figure.
Milk (2008) ⭐ 7.5 | Biography, Drama, History
Nixon making his second – and not final – appearance in a movie on this last. Watch for Will Ferrell as Woodward.
Dick (1999) ⭐ 6.2 | Comedy
Hell yeah
Air Force One (1997) ⭐ 6.5 | Action, Drama, Thriller
Rewatchable for Philip Seymour Hoffman. Just like every other Philip Seymour Hoffman movie.
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) ⭐ 7.0 | Biography, Comedy, Drama
I'm fascinated with psychopath President Richard Nixon, and this is an intriguing look at his rage and humanity.
Frost/Nixon (2008) ⭐ 7.7 | Biography, Drama, History
Not the greatest movie featuring George W. Bush (Harold and Kumar had a better version), but it's silly and interesting enough that I wrote about it in my undergrad senior thesis.
W. (2008) ⭐ 6.3 | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Many would rank this higher, but Daniel Day Lewis's performance gets into the top 20 for me.
Lincoln (2012) ⭐ 7.3 | Biography, Drama, History
Iconic, even if portions of it don't quite hold up today.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) ⭐ 8.4 | Comedy, War
Sorkin doing what Sorkin does. Snappy dialogue pre-The West Wing.
The American President (1995) ⭐ 6.8 | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Light and easy, something that doesn't happen much anymore with films about politics or presidents
Dave (1993) ⭐ 6.9 | Comedy, Romance
Pitch-perfect casting and a classic Adam McKay style made me laugh and made me angry.
