Movies About Journalism

From Orson Welles, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead
Rated PG

Citizen Kane tells the story of Charles Foster Kane, an enigmatic and influential newspaper magnate. He is seen as a man of great wealth, power, and influence. As the film progresses, a reporter attempts to uncover the meaning behind Kane's dying word, "Rosebud". Through flashbacks and interviews with Kane's acquaintances, the reporter gradually uncovers the tragic story of Kane's life and the events that led to his mysterious death. The film explores the themes of ambition, power, greed, and regret, ultimately revealing Kane to be a complex, flawed, yet sympathetic character.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall
Rated R

Network is a 1976 satirical drama directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Paddy Chayefsky. The film follows the story of Howard Beale, a television news anchor who is going through a mental breakdown. Beale becomes increasingly unhinged, eventually declaring on air that he will commit suicide in order to become a martyr for his cause. He calls for the nation to rise up and rise against the "monsters" in corporate America, inspiring a ratings spike for the network. The film follows the network's executives as they grapple with the moral issues at hand as well as their own personal ambitions. As Beale's message spreads, the network executives realize they may be exploiting him and his message for their own gain. Ultimately, the film is a commentary on the power of television and the media, as well as the dangers of corporate greed.

From Billy Wilder, starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall
Rated Approved

Ace in the Hole is a 1951 drama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Kirk Douglas. The film follows the story of Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas), an ambitious and unscrupulous journalist, who is down on his luck and desperate for a career-making story. When he stumbles upon a man trapped in a cave, Tatum manipulates the situation to his own ends. He makes a deal with the local authorities, promising to keep the rescue of the man quiet until he can get a big story out of it. As the days progress, Tatum drags out the rescue effort and exploits the situation to the detriment of all involved, pitting the small-town locals against each other and ultimately causing more harm than good. The film paints a scathing portrait of opportunistic journalism and the corrupting influence of power and fame.

From Tom McCarthy, starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber
Rated R

"Spotlight" is a 2015 biographical drama directed by Tom McCarthy. It follows the true story of how the Boston Globe's investigative "Spotlight" team uncovered the massive cover-up of child molestation within the Catholic Church in Boston. Led by editor Marty Baron, the team includes Walter 'Robby' Robinson, Mike Rezendes, Sacha Pfeiffer, and Matt Carroll. Although met with resistance and threats from the Church, they are determined to uncover the truth and bring justice to the victims. Along the way, they discover a pattern of systematic abuse, and their work leads to criminal charges against multiple priests and an unprecedented scandal in the Catholic Church. In the end, their groundbreaking report brings to light a horrible truth that had been hidden for years.

From Carol Reed, starring Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard
Rated Approved

The Third Man is a classic noir film set in post-World War II Vienna, directed by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles. The story follows Holly Martins, an American writer who arrives in Vienna to meet his old friend, Harry Lime, only to find out that he was recently killed in a car accident. As Martins investigates, he discovers that Lime's death is more complicated than it first appears. With the help of Lime's former associates, Martins unravels a web of secrets and lies, uncovering a plot that involves corruption and murder. The Third Man is an acclaimed work of film noir, with memorable cinematography, acting, and storytelling. It stands as a testament to Reed's skill as a director, and remains a classic of cinema to this day.

From Alexander Mackendrick, starring Burt Lancaster, Tony Curtis, Susan Harrison, Martin Milner
Rated Approved

Sweet Smell of Success is a classic film noir that follows the story of an ambitious New York press agent, Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis), who is tasked by an influential columnist, J.J. Hunsecker (Burt Lancaster), to use his power and influence to break up a budding relationship between Hunsecker's sister and a jazz musician. In return for his services, Falco is promised a "big career" break. Falco then embarks on a desperate journey of manipulation and deceit as he seeks to gain favor with the powerful columnist. The film is a gritty exploration of the dark side of ambition and power in the competitive world of New York media. The film was a critical success, garnering three Academy Award nominations, including best screenplay.

From Federico Fellini, starring Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux
Rated Not Rated

La dolce vita (The Sweet Life) is a 1960 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Federico Fellini. The film follows the aimless and hedonistic life of Marcello Rubini, a tabloid journalist, over a seven-day period in Rome. Marcello's journey begins with a wild ride on a Vespa scooter with a young woman, and is filled with parties, celebrities, debauchery, and romantic encounters. Throughout the film, Marcello is always searching for the elusive and ephemeral "sweet life," but never quite finds it. La dolce vita is a cynical examination of the decadence of Rome in the late 1950s, and is a classic of Italian cinema.

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam
Rated PG

All the President's Men, directed by Alan J. Pakula in 1976, is a gripping political thriller based on the true story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein as they investigate the Watergate scandal that shook the US government. With the help of their reluctant source, "Deep Throat", the two reporters uncover a vast political conspiracy involving burglaries, wiretapping, and corruption at the highest levels of government. As the stakes become higher, Woodward and Bernstein face danger and intimidation, but ultimately their determined reporting leads to the downfall of President Richard Nixon and his inner circle.

From Cameron Crowe, starring Billy Crudup, Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand
Rated R

"Almost Famous" is a semi-autobiographical film by director Cameron Crowe. The film follows 15-year-old William Miller, as he embarks on an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to write a piece on an up-and-coming rock band. Through his journey, William grows up quickly and learns more about the realities of the music industry and its people. Along the way, William falls in love with the band's lead singer, Penny Lane. At the same time, he wrestles with the ethics of his own ambition, and discovers the real meaning of friendship, family, and the power of music. In the end, William finds his place in the world, transcending the rock and roll lifestyle.

From Roland Joffé, starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich, Julian Sands
Rated R

The Killing Fields is a 1984 drama film directed by Roland Joffé. It tells the story of two journalists, Cambodian Dith Pran and American Sydney Schanberg, and their friendship through the turbulent years of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. As the regime comes to power, Pran is forced to stay in Cambodia as Schanberg is sent to the US. During the time apart, Pran is put through a series of harrowing experiences of torture and survival, while Schanberg struggles to return to Cambodia and save his friend’s life. The film is a powerful exploration of the effects of war and the resilience of the human spirit.

From Dan Gilroy, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed
Rated R

Nightcrawler is a gripping drama-thriller about a lonely, amoral drifter named Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) who discovers the low-rent world of crime journalism in Los Angeles. Desperate to make money, Lou finds himself in a morally ambiguous and dangerous world. He teams up with a veteran news cameraman (Riz Ahmed) to produce a lucrative business of filming accidents, fires, and other disasters to sell to a local news station. As Lou's business grows, so does his ambition and his willingness to do whatever it takes to get ahead. Along the way, he encounters corruption and indifference to the suffering of others. The film examines the consequences of unchecked ambition and the dark underbelly of the media.

From David Fincher, starring Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård
Rated R

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) as he is hired by the wealthy Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer) to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his niece, Harriet, 40 years ago. Blomkvist teams up with the troubled but brilliant computer hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) to uncover the truth about what happened to Harriet. As the two uncover secrets from the Vanger family's past, they also become targets of a shadowy figure from the past who will stop at nothing to keep buried secrets from being revealed.

From Michael Mann, starring Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora
Rated R

The Insider is a 1999 American drama film directed by Michael Mann and starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. It is based on a true story of the 60 Minutes segment about Jeffrey Wigand, a former executive at Brown & Williamson, the tobacco industry giant, who revealed industry secrets to the press. The film follows Wigand's story as he is recruited by producer Lowell Bergman to help expose the unethical practices of the tobacco industry. Despite pressure from both his former employer and the tobacco industry to keep quiet, Wigand refuses to back down and risks his career, his family, and his life to bring the truth about the industry to light. The film chronicles the struggles he faces in his efforts to tell the truth and the lengths the industry will go to keep their secrets hidden.

From David Fincher, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Edwards
Rated R

Zodiac is a crime thriller film directed by David Fincher and based on the true story of the unsolved murders committed by the serial killer known as the Zodiac. The film follows the story of San Francisco newspaper cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he attempts to identify and capture the Zodiac killer. Throughout the film, Graysmith and inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) are on a quest to try and put an end to the Zodiac’s reign of terror. The film follows the police investigation and Graysmith’s own personal investigation as he dives deep into the case, often at the expense of his own well-being. The film is a tense and thrilling look into this real-life unsolved case, and paints a vivid picture of the events that took place during the search for the Zodiac killer.

From Ron Howard, starring Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell
Rated R

Frost/Nixon is a 2008 drama film directed by Ron Howard and based on the 2006 play of the same name by Peter Morgan. The film chronicles the famous 1977 television interviews between British talk show host David Frost and former President Richard Nixon, who resigned from office two years previously following the Watergate scandal. The movie stars Frank Langella as Nixon and Michael Sheen as Frost and features a supporting cast of Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Matthew Macfadyen and Oliver Platt. During the interviews, Frost attempts to get Nixon to admit guilt for his role in the Watergate scandal and apologize to the American people. The interviews and the lead-up to them provide a fascinating glimpse into an historic moment in American political history.

From Stephen Frears, starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Mare Winningham
Rated PG-13

Philomena is a 2013 British-Irish drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the 2009 investigative book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. The film stars Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. Philomena's story begins in 1952 Ireland, where she is a young girl sent away to a convent after becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Over the next few decades, she searches for her son, Anthony, who was taken away from her decades earlier and sold into adoption in the United States. Along the way, Philomena and Sixsmith, a BBC reporter, embark on a journey to America to find her lost son. After a long and difficult search and lots of emotional ups and downs, they finally find Anthony, who is now a successful lawyer living in Washington, D.C., with a wife and children of his own. Although Anthony is initially hesitant to meet Philomena, they eventually form a strong bond. The film ends with Philomena and Sixsmith reflecting on their journey and what it taught them.

From George Clooney, starring David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels
Rated PG

From Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Susan Sarandon, Vincent Gardenia
Rated PG

From Bennett Miller, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Clifton Collins Jr., Catherine Keener, Allie Mickelson
Rated R

From Rod Lurie, starring Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Vera Farmiga, Angela Bassett
Rated R

From Steven Spielberg, starring Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk
Rated PG-13

From Gary Fleder, starring John Cusack, Rachel Weisz, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman
Rated PG-13

From Wes Anderson, starring Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux
Rated R

From Michael Cuesta, starring Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims, Robert Pralgo
Rated R

From Directors: Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, Randall Park, Lizzy Caplan
Rated R