Political Movies
Compiled from the generous contributions of teachers on the AP Government List-Serve
These have not been checked for ratings or content. They may contain language or situations
that are inappropriate for the high school setting.
Constitutional Underpinnings:
1776
John Adams
The Gods Must Be Crazy (First 20 minutes to demonstrate different types of government and
the shift to a social contract type).
A More Perfect Union
Political Beliefs and Behaviors:
Milk
Taking on the Kennedys
Parties, Interest Groups, Elections and Media:
Recount (on the 2000 election)
Control Room (media)
This Film is Not Yet Rated (about rating process of media)
So Goes the Nation (2004 election)
Anytown USA (local elections and government)
Wag the Dog
War Room
Journey's with George
PBS News War
The Perfect Candidate
Food Inc.
Street Fight, the documentary about Cory Booker's failed attempt to unseat Mayor Sharpe
James of Newark is an entertaining and fascinating depiction of campaigning.
The Candidate
Ides of March
Legislative Branch:
Charlie Wilson's War (iron triangles)
14 Women (about women in the Senate)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Legally Blond II
Advise and Consent
The Seduction of Joe Tynan
Executive Branch / Bureaucracy:
Frost/Nixon
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix (bureaucracy)
Inside the U.S. Secret Service,
Dave
The American President
National Geographic documentary on the Presidential Photographer
Taxi to the Dark Side
Truman (HBO movie
National Geographic Inside the Secret Service
Judicial Branch:
Gideon's Trumpet
12 Angry Men
Primal Fear
A Civil Action
First Tuesday
Thurgood (this is a FREE movie available from the Annenberg/Sunnylands Foundation---it is
EXCELLENT)
Civil Rights and Liberties:
Freedom Writers (might work in policy too)
The Green Mile (death penalty)
Manufacturing Dissent (a documentary on Michael Moore)
Milk (could also go under elections)
Tying the Knot (a documentary on gay marriage)
The End of America (post 9/11 erosion of civil liberties)
Deadline (death penalty in Illinois)
Iron Jawed Angels
Forrest Gump
Malcolm X
Separate But Equal
Crisis at Central High
Runaway Jury
(Ain't Scared of your Jails) from the PBS series Eye on the Prize
Soundtrack of a Revolution
The Murder of Emmett Til
Mississippi Burning
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Life of David Gale (2003) Death penalty, civil disobedience (extreme), nudity, sex scenes
Public Policy:
Silkwood (nuclear policy)
Thank You for Smoking
Sicko
Unsorted:
Absolute Power (1997)
Advise and Consent (1962)
Air Force One (1997)
All the King’s Men (2006; 1949)
All the President’s Men (1976)
The American President (1995)
Blue State (2007)
Bob Roberts (1992)
Born Yesterday (1950)
Bulworth (1998)
By Dawn’s Early Light (1990)
Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore (2006)
Canadian Bacon (1995)
The Candidate (1972)
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Citizen Kane (1941)
A Civil Action (1998)
The Contender (2000)
Dave (1993)
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Deep Impact (1998)
Deterrence (1999)
Dick (1999)
The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Dylan’s Run (2002)
Election Day (2007)
Fail-Safe (1964)
The Farmer's Daughter (1947)
First Monday in October (1981)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Gabriel over the White House (1933)
Gideon’s Trumpet (1980)
Good Night and Good Luck (2005)
The Good Shepherd (2006)
The Great Man Votes (1939)
The Great McGinty (1940)
Head of State (2003)
In the Line of Fire (1993)
Independence Day (1996)
Iron Jawed Angels (2004)
JFK (1991)
Journeys with George (2002)
Karl Rove, I Love You (2007)
The Last Hurrah (1958)
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde (2003)
Man of the Year (2006)
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Meet John Doe (1941)
Mr. and Mrs. Loving (1996)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Murder at 1600 (1997)
My Fellow Americans (1996)
Nixon (1995)
The Party’s Over (2001)
Please Vote for Me (2007)
Poster Boy (2006)
Power (1986)
Primary Colors (1998)
Recount (2008)
Rendition (2007)
Running Mates (2000)
Seven Days in May (1964)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Sicko (2007)
Speechless (1994)
Star Chamber (1983)
State of the Union (1948)
Steal this Movie (2000)
Street Fight (2005)
Swing Vote (2008)
Syriana (2005)
The Third Monday in October (2006)
Thirteen Days (2000)
True Colors (1991)
Unprecedented (2002)
W. (2008)
Wag the Dog (1997)
13 Days (PG-13)
14 Women(NR)
A Time to Kill (R)
Air Force One (R)
All the President’s Men (PG)
Breach (PG-13)
Buddy: The Rise & Fall of America’s Most Notorious Mayor (NR)
By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (NR)
Can Mr. Smith Really Get to Washington Anymore? (NR)
Casino Jack (R)
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (R)
Charlie Wilson’s War (R)
Clear & Present Danger (PG-13)
Dave (PG-13)
Food Inc. (PG)
Gideon’s Trumpet (1980 – CBS)
Iron Jawed Angels (NR)
Journey’s With George (NR)
Last Man Standing, Politics Texas Style (NR)
Legally Blonde 2 (PG-13)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Patriot Games (R)
Primary Colors (R)
Recount (R)
Street Fight: Sometimes elections are won and lost in the streets… (NR)
Swing Vote (PG-13)
The American President (PG-13)
The Candidate (PG)
The Pelican Brief (PG-13)
The Rainmaker (PG-13)
The White House Behind Closed Doors (NR)
Lions for Lambs (R)
102 Minutes that Changed America (NR)
All the King’s Men (PG-13)