Well, if you’re reading this, that means you’ve survived another presidential election.
You might be excited about last night’s results, or you might be banging your head against the wall wondering how you’re going to survive the next four years.
Either way, at least we can all take solace in the fact that the quadrennial begging briefing event is now over.
Now that you can turn on your TV again without being bombarded with slanderous political ads, what better time to revisit some of the best presidential biopics?
Politicians and pollsters may tell you they know what the future holds, but the picture is always murky.
Fortunately, we can always look to the United States past Encourage people to remember the challenges we have overcome and the heroes who have stepped up.
Of course, no presidential cinema list would be complete without some villains.
So whether you’re looking for inspiration or want further confirmation of your theory that Washington, D.C. is a festering cesspool, we’re confident you’ll find what you’re looking for in the list below. check it out:
The best:
Lincoln(2012)
Steven Spielberg’s portrayal of Honest Abe is arguably the gold standard for presidential biopics, benefiting from beloved source material (Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “The Rivals”) and Tony Kushner’s Excellent script.
Let’s not forget Daniel Day-Lewis’s stellar performance in the title role, for which he deservedly won his third Academy Award.
Despite its straightforward title, the film no A comprehensive overview of Lincoln’s short but epic life.
Instead, it focuses on the passage of his administration’s most important piece of legislation: the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States.
As tense as any political thriller is, “Lincoln” is also a character study of immense nuance and subtle tragedy.
It lost out to Ben Affleck’s Get Out for Best Picture, but we think it’s safe to say that the film has stood the test of time more effectively.
Nickerson(1995)
Many Oliver Stone fans will put the director’s more famous political biopics ahead of this one.
But for our money, Stone’s surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of our controversial 37th president trumps both Kennedy and Bush.
Stone, a Vietnam War veteran, had no fondness for Tricky Dick and did not shy away from the scandalous side of Nixon.
But the film’s interest in Nixon’s human side—his difficult childhood and the pain of Watergate—surprised audiences when the film was first released.
Thirty years later, this multifaceted approach elevates this three-hour-plus epic above many mediocre political films.
John Adams(2008)
Well, you got us. This is not strictly a biopic, but an HBO limited series.
Hey, just because we write about politicians doesn’t mean you have to be so stubborn!
Regardless, roughly midway through HBO’s brief rise to the top of world-renowned television, the network further established its dominance with this seven-part portrait of our country’s second president.
Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney both won Emmy Awards for their roles as John and Abigail Adams.
They’re supported by a talented cast, including heavyweights like Stephen Dillane, Justin Theroux, Sarah Polley, Rufus Sewell, Mamie Gummer, and Danny Huston .
You can even play as a young John Quincy Adams, playing Ebony Moss-Bachlach as the Bear! That’s two Emmy winners playing presidents for the price of one!
Frost/Nickerson(2008)
Hey, remember when we praised Oliver Stone for his nuanced, sympathetic portrayal of Nickerson?
Well, in 2008’s “Frost/Nickerson,” Ron Howard wasn’t too interested in treating his subjects with care.
In fact, the thrilling film focuses on a famous 1977 series of interviews between Nixon and journalist David Frost, portraying our 37th president as a paranoid, lecherous, alcoholic of arrogance.
While Stone was criticized for casting Anthony Hopkins as Nickerson (there wasn’t much of a physical resemblance), Howard faced no such complaints for casting Frank Langella as the title character.
In fact, the on-screen legend is so accurate here that it’s almost distracting.
Interesting footnote: Howard also adapted J.D. Vance’s memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” for Netflix, making him perhaps the only unconsciously Directing the Vice President biopic!
Kennedy(1991)
Well, it’s not strictly a biopic either – in fact, the presidential title barely appears on screen.
But we’d be remiss if we didn’t include some of the most famous and infamous presidential films of the 1990s.
Once again we have Oliver Stone at the helm, and this time he has zero interest in the subtleties of “both sides.”
In fact, he’s 100 percent sure he knows who killed John F. Kennedy (hint: it wasn’t Lee Harvey Oswald), and he’s ready to prove his point in three hours of insane melodrama, which must You have to see it to believe it.
We won’t spoil the ending here, but if you decide to embark on this journey, be warned, it’s best to let go and follow one of our most controversial directors as he leads you through the looking glass.
There’s You in the South (2016)
One of two biopics released in the last year of Barack Obama’s term (the other being the bland Barry), it centers on the future president’s relationship with a young Michelle Obama Robinson’s first date.
As you might have guessed, the article on our list is less about politics and more about romance, for those looking to tone down the vitriol of election season and remind people that even the president is human , it is an ideal choice.
Of course, as we watch the young couple-to-be walk from an exhibition of African art to a screening of Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” the film gently hints at the shared beliefs that underlie their relationship.
The Apprentice(2024)
How could we conclude this list of the best presidential biopics without discussing the latest entries into this ultra-specific subgenre?
Like Southside, the film focuses on its subject’s early life.
In the film, we meet a young Donald Trump in 1973, when he first met the notoriously ruthless lawyer Roy Cohn.
“The Apprentice,” a more political and less palatable film than Obama’s film, sparked major controversy when it premiered at film festivals and at one point looked like it might never be released in theaters.
Your love for this film may depend somewhat on your political views, but there’s no denying that director Ali Abbasi has crafted a thought-provoking film starring two incredible talents ( Sebastian Stan plays Trump and Jeremy Strong plays Cohen.
worst
Hyde Park on the Hudson (2012)
Bill Murray starring in a comedy about Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s tumultuous love life? What could possibly go wrong?
Well, unfortunately, there are a lot.
Murray’s performance is commendable, and the film’s setting (1939, when the prospect of world war looms over the domestic drama) provides fertile ground for international intrigue.
Sadly, the film is more concerned with what happens between the sheets than overseas, and does a poor job of balancing the personal and political.
Lyndon Johnson(2016)
Speaking of talented actors doing their best against a lackluster script, Woody Harrelson shines in Rob Reiner’s film about the early days of Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration.
Unfortunately, the rest of the film is just as disastrous as Johnson’s attitude toward Vietnam.
This book has all the makings of a compelling historical figure study, starting with the day Kennedy was assassinated and Lyndon Johnson became president.
Unfortunately, the pieces never fit together. The less said about Harrison’s prosthetic nose, the better.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
this(Very) Over the years, loose interpretations of the life and times of the great liberator have amassed a cult following.
Its source material—Seth Graham-Smith’s 2010 novel—makes for a fun, easy read.
But for some reason, director Timur Bekmanbetov decided to abandon the book’s light-hearted tone and instead chose to tell the story in a deadly serious way.
It’s a gamble that doesn’t pay off.
That said, the action scenes offer some impressive effects and plenty of laughs – even if some of the humorous moments are unintentional.
Reagan(2024)
We will end this in 2024 other A controversial biopic about a relatively new resident of the White House.
With the look and feel of a low-budget direct-to-streaming release, this hagiographic look at the great communicator fails to convincingly make its point.
Which is weird, because its only argument (“Ronald Reagan was absolutely the best man who ever lived!”) is a fairly simple one.
Capturing the essence of a man as complex as the President of the United States in just a few hours of screen time is no easy task.
But the challenge becomes even greater when your director refuses to acknowledge that his subject has flaws more serious than a constant craving for jelly beans.
Over to you, TV fanatics! Did we miss your favorite (or most hated) presidential biopic? Hit the comments section below to share your thoughts!
