So it’s Presidents’ Day and you’re thinking to yourself, what movies about presidents do I want to watch? Oh, you aren’t thinking that? Well maybe someone out there is! And we are here for you, whoever you are! Today we’re looking at some of the best ‘90s movies about American presidents. There was definitely a different vibe about the Commander in Chief back in the ‘90s, and these films range from political biopics to action films to more lighthearted comedies. The one requirement of these films is that the president had to play a major character or be a major figure in the film. Ready to see our list? Keep scrolling!
10. Absolute Power (1997)
Now the setup of Absolute Power sounds intriguing – Clint Eastwood plays a thief who witnesses a horrific crime involving the president, played by Gene Hackman. And now he’s being framed for the crime. Sounds like it could be a pretty good thriller, but ultimately it falls a little flat.
9. Dick (1999)
While a lot of the films on this list are super serious, Dick is definitely not. Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst star as two high school girls who accidentally stumble into the middle of the infamous Watergate scandal. It’s a satirical take on the scandal that made Nixon resign, and didn’t get as much attention as it probably deserved back in the late ‘90s.
8. Independence Day (1996)
While Independence Day isn’t necessarily about the president like many of the other films on this list, the president does play a large role as one of the main characters dealing with an alien invasion of planet Earth. It’s a highly entertaining popcorn movie that’s a staple for every 4th of July, and Bill Pullman as the president is a big part of the fun of the movie in addition to the likes of Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
Love ID4? See where it ranks among the best ’90s disaster movies!
7. Nixon (1995)
This take on Nixon explores Nixon as a person, from his childhood years through to the Watergate scandal. Anthony Hopkins stars as the titular president whose chance at greatness was destroyed by his quest for power. While this movie may be decent, it’s super long (a little over three hours), and hence gets demoted a bit.
6. Primary Colors (1998)
Primary Colors is a take on Bill Clinton’s campaign for president in 1992, though the main characters’ names are all changed and the circumstances aren’t 100% the same. Still, anyone who watched it without knowing that ahead of time would probably get it pretty quickly. It’s a pretty funny film and features a high profile cast including John Travolta, Emma Thompson, and Billy Bob Thornton.
5. Wag the Dog (1998)
Satire is the name of the game in a number of these films, and Wag the Dog is the best of them all. The president himself doesn’t play a huge role in the film, but rather all of the people around him who are trying to fabricate a war in order to distract from his sex scandals. You know, so that he can get re-elected in two weeks. While the film is meant as a satire, it feels all too real at times. I mean it seems totally possible that this could happen, right?
4. JFK (1991)
If conspiracy theories are your cup o’ tea, then JFK is probably right up your alley. The film stars Kevin Costner as the New Orleans district attorney responsible for investigating John F. Kennedy’s assassination. While the accuracy of the film is suspect, it’s pretty riveting nonetheless as Costner starts to unravel a deeper mystery behind the JFK assassination.
3. Air Force One (1997)
The president as an action star more your speed? Then Air Force One is the movie you’re looking for. What would happen if terrorists hijacked Air Force One with the president and his family on board? Well, if you’ve got a president like Harrison Ford, then he’s going to hide out and use his old soldier skills to beat the baddies and save the day.
2. The American President (1995)
While The American President is about politics, it’s also about love. Michael Douglas plays the titular president who is on the verge of reelection. Only his budding relationship with a lobbyist, played by Annette Benning, threatens his political future as everyone questions and doubts the relationship. It’s a smart movie and features a great supporting cast, including Michael J. Fox, Martin Sheen, and Richard Dreyfuss.
1. Dave (1993)
If a more lighthearted look at the presidency, with a dash of romance, is more your cup o’ tea (and clearly it is ours), then Dave is a winner. Kevin Kline stars as Dave, a man who looks just like the president of the United States. When the president has a stroke, Dave is hired to step in and pretend to be him. Dave turns out to be pretty good at the job, and, oh yeah, did we mention sparks fly with the first lady, played by Sigourney Weaver? If you’ve never seen Dave, you should.
What’s your favorite ‘90s movie about the president? Do you agree with our ranking? Let us know in the comments!
- Presidents’ Day was originally known as George Washington’s Birthday and was created to celebrate the first president in 1879. Since then, it has become a holiday to commemorate all those who have served as the Commander in Chief.
- Oliver Stone wrote and directed two of the films on this list – JFK and Nixon. He’s always been interested in politics in his films, so it’s not super surprising!
- Gary Oldman plays the “bad guy” in two of the films on this list – both in JFK as the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald and as the lead plane-hijacking terrorist in Air Force One.
- The Oval Office set created for Dave was used numerous times in other films, including others on our list such as The American President and Absolute Power. Oh, and a television show you might have heard of – The West Wing – used it as well.
- Kevin Kline played the president and a man impersonating the president in another ‘90s film as well – Wild Wild West.
- Presidents’ Day was originally known as George Washington’s Birthday and was created to celebrate the first president in 1879. Since then, it has become a holiday to commemorate all those who have served as the Commander in Chief.
- Oliver Stone wrote and directed two of the films on this list – JFK and Nixon. He’s always been interested in politics in his films, so it’s not super surprising!
- Gary Oldman plays the “bad guy” in two of the films on this list – both in JFK as the infamous Lee Harvey Oswald and as the lead plane-hijacking terrorist in Air Force One.
- The Oval Office set created for Dave was used numerous times in other films, including others on our list such as The American President and Absolute Power. Oh, and a television show you might have heard of – The West Wing – used it as well.
- Kevin Kline played the president and a man impersonating the president in another ‘90s film as well – Wild Wild West.
