Best True Story Election or Campaign Movie?
by urbanemovies | created - 02 Nov 2018 | updated - 13 Nov 2018 | PublicTuesday, November 6, 2018 is Election Day in the United States of America, normally set as "the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November" in even years.
Which of these biographical election or campaign movies* most earns your vote?
*Movies can encompass any political aspect from grassroots movement, campaign, convention, election, or post-election event for any candidate from dog catcher to president or be a solitary issue-centric campaign or set in any country. Optional movie recaps with topical connections paraphrased from Wikipedia.
Take the companion poll: Best Fictional Election or Campaign Movie?
Cast your vote here or Discuss the topic here.
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1. Game Change (2012 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 118 min | Biography, Drama, History
Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska becomes Senator John McCain's running mate in the 2008 Presidential election.
Director: Jay Roach | Stars: Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Peter MacNicol
Votes: 23,221
Movie details the selection and performance of Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin as Republican running mate to Senator John McCain in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign. The choice was intended to be a game changing strategic move to secure the election in the face of the rising prospects of his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama.
2. Milk (I) (2008)
R | 128 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of American gay activist Harvey Milk, who fought for gay rights and was elected as California's first openly gay official.
Director: Gus Van Sant | Stars: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna
Votes: 179,895 | Gross: $31.84M
Movie chronicles Harvey Milk's foray into San Francisco politics, and the various battles he waged against political campaigns to limit the rights of gay people in 1977 and 1978. He eventual rose to become the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1978.
3. Recount (2008 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 116 min | Drama, History
A chronicle of the weeks after the 2000 U.S. Presidential election, and the subsequent recounts in Florida.
Director: Jay Roach | Stars: Kevin Spacey, Bob Balaban, Denis Leary, Ed Begley Jr.
Votes: 13,606
Movie chronicles the 2000 U.S. presidential election's Bush v. Gore case between Governor of Texas George W. Bush and U.S. Vice President Al Gore. It begins with the election on November 7 and ends with the Supreme Court ruling, which stopped the Florida election recount on December 12.
4. The Front Runner (2018)
R | 113 min | Biography, Drama, History
In 1987, U.S. Senator Gary Hart's presidential campaign is derailed when he's caught in a scandalous love affair.
Director: Jason Reitman | Stars: Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, J.K. Simmons, Mark O'Brien
Votes: 14,177 | Gross: $2.00M
Movie details the rise of Colorado Senator Gary Hart, a Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1988, and his subsequent fall from grace when media reports surfaced of his extramarital affair.
5. No (I) (2012)
R | 118 min | Drama, History
An advertising executive comes up with a campaign to defeat Augusto Pinochet in Chile's 1988 referendum.
Director: Pablo Larraín | Stars: Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Antonia Zegers, Luis Gnecco
Votes: 26,226 | Gross: $2.34M
Movie chronicles the surprisingly lighthearted and upbeat advertising campaign to advocate the "NO" side of the national Chilean plebiscite of 1988 on whether dictator General Augusto Pinochet should stay in power for another eight years, or whether there should be an open democratic presidential election the following year.
6. All the President's Men (1976)
PG | 138 min | Drama, History, Thriller
"The Washington Post" reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Richard Nixon's resignation.
Director: Alan J. Pakula | Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam
Votes: 126,151 | Gross: $70.60M
Movie details the Committee for the Re-Election of the President's involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters, better known as Watergate, as told from the point-of-view of Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
7. Truth (I) (2015)
R | 125 min | Biography, Drama, History
Newsroom drama detailing the 2004 CBS "60 Minutes" report investigating then-President George W. Bush's military service, and the subsequent firestorm of criticism that cost anchor Dan Rather and producer Mary Mapes their careers.
Director: James Vanderbilt | Stars: Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss
Votes: 21,248 | Gross: $2.54M
Movie details Rathergate, a controversy that influenced the 2004 U.S. presidential election, when 60 Minutes II aired unauthenticated documents, critical of U.S. President George W. Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard in 1972–73, just two months prior to the election.
8. Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017)
PG-13 | 103 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Mark Felt, who under the name "Deep Throat" helped journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein uncover the Watergate scandal in 1972.
Director: Peter Landesman | Stars: Liam Neeson, Diane Lane, Marton Csokas, Tony Goldwyn
Votes: 14,729 | Gross: $0.77M
Movie details the Committee for the Re-Election of the President's involvement in the break-in at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) headquarters, better known as Watergate as told from the point-of-view of the anonymous informant, nicknamed "Deep Throat".
9. Bobby (I) (2006)
R | 117 min | Biography, Drama, History
The destinies of 22 people of different races, sexes, beliefs and social classes are intertwined on the night that politician Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated.
Director: Emilio Estevez | Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, Harry Belafonte
Votes: 42,812 | Gross: $11.24M
Movie is a fictionalized account of the hours leading up to the real-life shooting of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles following his June 5, 1968 win of the 1968 Democratic presidential primary in California.
10. Z (1969)
M/PG | 127 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
The public murder of a prominent politician and doctor amid a violent demonstration is covered up by military and government officials. A tenacious magistrate is determined not to let them get away with it.
Director: Costa-Gavras | Stars: Yves Montand, Irene Papas, Jean-Louis Trintignant, François Périer
Votes: 31,366 | Gross: $0.08M
Movie is a slightly fictionalized account of the events surrounding the assassination of democratic Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis, in advance of his speaking at a nuclear disarmament rally. The death of the opposition faction leader led to the popular Greek protest slogan, Ζει, meaning "he lives" and the subsequent banning of the letter Z by the ruling Greek military junta of 1967–74.
11. The Iron Lady (2011)
PG-13 | 105 min | Biography, Drama
An elderly Margaret Thatcher talks to the imagined presence of her recently deceased husband as she struggles to come to terms with his death while scenes from her past life, from girlhood to British prime minister, intervene.
Director: Phyllida Lloyd | Stars: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant, Susan Brown
Votes: 113,646 | Gross: $30.02M
Movie details the life of Margaret Thatcher including her early days as a Member of Parliament for Finchley starting in 1959, to serving as Secretary of State for Education and Science in Edward Heath's Cabinet in 1970. As well as, her decision to stand for Leader of the Conservative Party in 1975 and eventual victory in the 1979 to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
12. W. (I) (2008)
PG-13 | 129 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A chronicle of the life and Presidency of George W. Bush.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ioan Gruffudd, Colin Hanks
Votes: 50,052 | Gross: $25.53M
Movie details the life of George W. Bush including his 1977 Congressional run for Texas's 19th district, his role in his father's successful 1988 presidential campaign, his own 1994 run for Governor of Texas and his 1999 successful bid to become U.S. President.
13. Braveheart (1995)
R | 178 min | Biography, Drama, War
Scottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen
Votes: 1,092,028 | Gross: $75.60M
Movie details the fight for Scottish independence, the competing claims by Scottish nobles and eventual assertion of a unified claim for Robert the Bruce in the Declaration of Arbroath.
14. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)
PG-13 | 141 min | Biography, Drama, History
A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.
Director: Justin Chadwick | Stars: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto, Robert Hobbs
Votes: 29,202 | Gross: $8.32M
Movie chronicles Nelson Mandela's early life and twenty-seven years in prison before negotiating an end to apartheid. Subsequently, Mandela led the ANC to victory and became President in the 1994 multiracial general election and work with others to rebuild and unite the country's once segregated society.
15. Nixon (1995)
R | 192 min | Biography, Drama, History
A biographical story of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, from his days as a young boy, to his eventual Presidency, which ended in shame.
Director: Oliver Stone | Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris
Votes: 32,745 | Gross: $13.56M
Movie details the life of Richard M. Nixon, including his tumultuous time in the White House and details his political career, as told through a series of flashbacks within the film.
16. George Wallace (1997)
TV-14 | 178 min | Biography, Drama
Following Alabama governor George Wallace through segregation, presidential elections, an assassination attempt and personal trauma.
Stars: Gary Sinise, Angelina Jolie, Stieven Davidson, Richard Yett
Votes: 1,601
Movies details George Wallace's rise from a Barbour County circuit court judge in the 1950s to the most powerful Governor in Alabama's history. Also, depicted is his symbolic "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door", where Wallace attempted to block black students from entering the University of Alabama. The final act chronicles Wallace's rise as a 1968 presidential hopeful, his surprise victory in several states and the attempted assassination on his life.
17. The Deal (2003 TV Movie)
90 min | Biography, Drama
Follows the rise to power of Tony Blair, and his friendship and rivalry with his contemporary, Gordon Brown.
Director: Stephen Frears | Stars: David Morrissey, Matt Blair, Michael Sheen, Dexter Fletcher
Votes: 1,481
Movie is the first of Peter Morgan's Blair movie trilogy depicting the political career of Tony Blair. It focus is the Blair-Brown deal, a well-documented pact that Blair and Brown made, whereby Brown would not stand in the 1994 Labour leadership election, so that Blair could have a clear run at becoming leader of the party and Prime Minister.
18. Wilson (1944)
Passed | 154 min | Biography, Drama, History
A chronicle of the political career of US President Woodrow Wilson.
Director: Henry King | Stars: Alexander Knox, Charles Coburn, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Thomas Mitchell
Votes: 1,698 | Gross: $2.00M
Movies details Woodrow Wilson, then President of Princeton University being urged in 1909 to run for Governor, his 1910 New Jersey Governor's win. His subsequent rise in national prominence led to a run for President the following year and the party nomination at the Baltimore party convention and election to the Presidency in 1912.
19. Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)
Approved | 110 min | Biography, Drama, History
Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.
Director: John Cromwell | Stars: Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon, Mary Howard
Votes: 2,061
Movie details the life of Abraham Lincoln from his departure from Kentucky through his time as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1934-1942), his time serving Illinois's 7th district in the U.S. House of Representatives (1947-1949) and his election in 1860 as President of the United States.
20. Coalition (2015 TV Movie)
TV-MA | 74 min | Drama
An accurate depiction of the events surrounding the United Kingdom hung parliament in 2010 and the aftermath involving the three main party leaders in attempting to form a government, despite contrasting policies and personal beliefs.
Director: Alex Holmes | Stars: Bertie Carvel, Mike Sengelow, Syreeta Kumar, Mark Gatiss
Votes: 275
Movie details the formation of a coalition government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrat parties following the 2010 United Kingdom general election, after neither secured enough votes to form a majority government.
21. Trudeau (2002 TV Movie)
208 min | Biography, Drama
A biography of the famous, controversial and flamboyant Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Elliot Trudeau.
Director: Jerry Ciccoritti | Stars: Colm Feore, Polly Shannon, Patrick McKenna, Don McKellar
Votes: 440
Movies is a biographical account of Canada's controversial and flamboyant Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. It details his political career up to the patriation of the Canadian Constitution. A prequel, Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making (2005) focuses on Pierre Trudeau's political career in Quebec before he came to Ottawa.
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