You may have heard it’s an election year. While the news of the day is focused on the candidates vying for the most consequential job in the world, there is a whole batch of Hollywood films that have considered the question of what made those who’ve previously held the title great (or not-so-great) leaders.
If you’re looking for insight into our current political predicament by journeying through the (sometimes lightly fictionalized) past, here are 11 films about real presidents: how they rose to prominence, and, in some cases, how they fell from grace.
Frost/Nixon (2008)
One man craved success, and the other needed to rebuild his reputation. Together, they created television history. Ron Howard’s adaptation of the 2006 play by Peter Morgan (The Queen) depicts a battle of wills between David Frost, a talk show host who knows he’s in way over his head, and former President of the United States Richard Nixon, played with aplomb by Frank Langella, and explores how the Watergate scandal still has repercussions today.
Where to stream: Max, Digital rental
Thirteen Days (2000)
The United States was on the brink of nuclear war in 1962, and this suspenseful film depicts the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis to show us how close we came. Journeyman actor Bruce Greenwood plays President John F. Kennedy, but White House assistant Kenneth P. O’Donnell, played by Kevin Costner, is positioned as the smart, level-headed one in the Oval Office, and emerges as the hero. Many who were in the White House at the time take issue with how factual the film is (or isn’t), but it dramatically captures a moment when the nation nearly fought a war on its own soil.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Lincoln (2012)
Based on Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin, this biopic focuses on how the 16th President of the United States and his cabinet engineered the abolishment of slavery by passing the 13th Amendment. Directed by Steven Spielberg and anchored by an Oscar-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, rarely does a film about a political figure capture the personal convictions that led them to leadership. Lincoln achieves this near-impossible task by showing how the wartime leader adhered to his ideals despite overwhelming odds.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Nixon (1995)
Oliver Stone has made three movies about presidents. The first is JFK, which delves into the conspiracies that may have led to President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. The last is W., a stilted, somewhat sardonic take on George W. Bush. His best film about a president came in between, with Nixon. The three-hour film portrays the controversial leader in a compassionate light while also painting him of being indirectly responsible for the assassination of Kennedy. The film stands out from Stone’s other works thanks to a hypnotic performance by Anthony Hopkins and Joan Allen’s powerful portrayal of First Lady Pat Nixon.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Vice (2018)
Depending on what books you’ve read, it could be said that Vice President Dick Cheney actually ran things during George W. Bush’s administration, which is why I’m making an exception for this film’s appearance on this list. Played underneath pounds of makeup by Christian Bale, Adam McKay’s telling of Cheney’s life rides the line between biopic, satire, and scathing critique, effectively establishing for the audience how one man changed the direction of our country forever.
Where to stream: Prime Video, Peacock, Digital rental
The War Room (1993)
Most presidential films look at what a politician does when they are in the White House. This electrifying documentary shows what one did to get there: Viewers witness the origin stories of George Stephanopoulos and James “The Ragin’ Cajun” Carville, who spun the chaotic 1992 presidential campaign to a seemingly improbable victory for President Bill Clinton.
Where to stream: Max, The Criterion Channel, Digital rental
Sunrise at Campobello (1960)
Greer Garson was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Eleanor Roosevelt, though the film is primarily focused on Eleanor’s husband Franklin (Ralph Bellamy), who, despite contracting a paralytic illness, reenters politics in large part due to his wife’s urging. It’s an optimistic and inspirational film that focuses on exploring the extraordinary strength and character necessary for Roosevelt to continue to lead despite the tremendous personal cost.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
As the legend goes, Henry Fonda initially turned down the title role in this John Ford film because he idolized the 16th President of the United States and was intimidated by the prospect of playing him onscreen. Ford persuaded Fonda to accept because the story revolved around Lincoln when he was just a lawyer in Illinois, before he took office and grew a beard (the stovepipe hat was already part of the wardrobe). It set the standard for biopics and riveting courtroom dramas alike, even though liberties were taken with the evens of the great man’s life.
Where to stream: Tubi, The Roku Channel, Digital rental
Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains (2007)
Perhaps better known for his accomplishments after leaving office, Jimmy Carter has played a significant role in bringing about peace in the world even after leaving public life. Jonathan Demme highlights the work of the Georgia politician while following him on a book tour, painting a complicated portrait of a man who continues to work towards global justice even decades after holding the world’s most important job title.
Where to stream: Pluto TV, Tubi, Freevee, The Roku Channel, Digital rental
All the President’s Men (1976)
The movies on this list have shown how presidents come to power and use it. This one shows how one man loses it. The tensely plotted investigative thriller focuses on Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they plumb the depths of the Watergate scandal, which ultimately resulted in President Nixon’s resignation. This masterpiece perfectly depicts why a free press is vital to a democracy.
Where to stream: Digital rental
Primary Colors (1998)
OK, so Jack Stanton (John Travolta) is the fictional presidential candidate at the center of this satirical comedy, but director Mike Nichols fashioned John Travolta to look, talk, and behave like President Bill Clinton, and the film is based on a novel famously based on real events. Written and published anonymously in 1996, the book was later revealed to be the work of journalist Joe Klein, who was covering the Clinton campaign for Newsweek, and it deals with a political scandal not unlike the one that threatened to undo Clinton’s political legacy. Though it is supposedly pulled from the reporter’s imagination, part of the fun, other than soaking in the magnificent performances by Travolta, Kathy Bates, and Emma Thompson as Stanton’s steely spouse, is figuring out which parts were invented for the screen, and which ones really happened.
Where to stream: Digital rental
