Six Movies About Presidents

From Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Dan O'Herlihy
Rated Approved

Fail Safe is a 1964 Cold War drama directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda and Walter Matthau. Set during the height of Cold War tensions, the film tells the story of a U.S. military blunder that nearly triggers a nuclear war. When a technical malfunction sends a group of nuclear-armed U.S. bombers towards Moscow, the President must find a way to avert a disaster of unprecedented proportions. With the help of his advisors, the President comes up with a daring plan that could save the world, but it comes at a great human cost. Through tense and thought-provoking scenes of tense global diplomacy, Fail Safe explores the frightening reality of nuclear war and its devastating consequences.

From Oliver Stone, starring Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau
Rated R

JFK is a 1991 American historical political thriller film directed by Oliver Stone. The film investigates the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy and alleged cover-up connections to the Warren Commission Report. The film combines historical facts with speculation and fictionalized interpretations of the events. The film focuses primarily on former New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) and his investigation into the assassination. Garrison is convinced there has been a cover-up and begins gathering evidence to prove it. He meets and interviews witnesses and suspects, including David Ferrie (Joe Pesci), Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) and Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman). He is eventually able to link Shaw to the Central Intelligence Agency and the military-industrial complex, which he believes was involved in the assassination. He also comes to believe that the real murderer was a lone gunman, not Oswald. The film culminates with a dramatic courtroom scene, in which Garrison confronts Shaw with his evidence and is ultimately able to prove his case. The film ends with a quote from former President John F. Kennedy: "Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names."

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

Frost/Nixon is a 2008 historical drama film directed by Ron Howard, based on the 2006 play of the same name by Peter Morgan. The film tells the story of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former US President Richard Nixon. In 1977, three years after Nixon resigned from office, he agreed to sit down for a series of interviews with the British talk-show host. Despite Nixon's efforts to avoid questions about Watergate, Frost persists, eventually leading to a series of explosive revelations. The film is nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and features an all-star cast, including Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt, and Sam Rockwell.

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, Edie Adams, Margaret Leighton
Rated Approved

The Best Man is a 1964 drama directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and starring Henry Fonda, Cliff Robertson, and Edie Adams. It follows the story of William Russell (Fonda), a presidential candidate who finds himself in a tight race between two of his former college friends: Joseph Cantwell (Robertson) and Secretary of State Art Hockstader (Lee Tracy). When Cantwell tries to use any means necessary to gain the upper hand in the race, Russell is forced to make a tough decision about which of the two he is willing to support. As the truth about each candidate is revealed, Russell must ultimately decide which man is the best man for the job. The Best Man was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Fonda, Best Supporting Actor for Robertson, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received critical acclaim for its exploration of the inner workings of American politics and the real stakes associated with the presidential election.

From John Ford, starring Henry Fonda, Alice Brady, Marjorie Weaver, Arleen Whelan
Rated Passed

Young Mr. Lincoln is a 1939 biographical drama directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda as the titular character. The film follows the life of Abraham Lincoln before he became the 16th President of the United States. It begins with Lincoln as a young man working as a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, and chronicles his rise to become a successful lawyer and eventual President. Along the way, he faces challenges such as defending two young men accused of murder and struggling with his own prejudices. The film culminates with his election as President, which is celebrated with a brief speech. The film is a powerful portrait of one of America's most beloved Presidents and the struggles he had to overcome to get there.

From Jay Roach, starring Ed Harris, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, Peter MacNicol
Rated TV-MA

From John Cromwell, starring Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon, Mary Howard
Rated Approved

From Jay Roach, starring Kevin Spacey, Bob Balaban, Denis Leary, Ed Begley Jr.
Rated TV-MA

From Roger Donaldson, starring Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Shawn Driscoll, Drake Cook
Rated PG-13

From Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Rated PG-13

From Steven Spielberg, starring Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman
Rated R

From Jonathan Demme, starring Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, Lillian Carter, Elizabeth Hayes
Rated PG

From Adam McKay, starring Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell
Rated R

From Lee Daniels, starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda
Rated PG-13

From George Clooney, starring Paul Giamatti, George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Gosling
Rated R

From Oliver Stone, starring Anthony Hopkins, Joan Allen, Powers Boothe, Ed Harris
Rated R

From Ivan Reitman, starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Frank Langella, Kevin Dunn
Rated PG-13

From Rod Lurie, starring Joan Allen, Gary Oldman, Jeff Bridges, Christian Slater
Rated R

From Rob Reiner, starring Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox
Rated PG-13

From Pablo Larraín, starring Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup
Rated R

From Mike Nichols, starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates, Larry Hagman
Rated R

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett
Rated R

From Gregory La Cava, starring Walter Huston, Karen Morley, Franchot Tone, Arthur Byron
Rated Passed

From Roland Emmerich, starring Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Clarke
Rated PG-13