home > Film > Films
Tags: film, politics & history, films, movies, best movie genres, political movies, political science, satire
The Best Political Films Ever Made
Political movies can approach the notion of politics and government from numerous perspectives, and with many wildly divergent purposes. Some of the earliest and best-remembered films were essentially propaganda tools being used by a political party or ideological group, hoping that the new media of cinema could be useful in helping to persuade or mollify the masses. (In some cases, as with the Nazi documentary "Triumph of the Will" or Sergei Eisenstein's massively influential "Battleship Potemkin," they were undeniable successful, at least initially.)
Political films can also serve the opposite purpose, encouraging people to distrust or even fear their government, or attacking an individual politician or political movement specifically. The paranoia thrillers of the 1970s, for example, reflected America's distrust in its own leaders following the Watergate and other corruption scandals. More recently, George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck" told a true story about journalist Edward R. Murrow facing off against Joseph McCarthy, but as a way of discussing political issues that remained relevant even upon its release in 2005.
Many Americans' understanding of complex political situations, both in their homeland and in other countries, as well, comes from watching popular films. For example, the satirical take on the politics of war in "Wag the Dog," the insights into Greek politics provided by Costa-Gavras "Z" or the look at Bolivian elections in the documentary "Our Brand is Crisis."
This list includes notable and significant political movies from throughout cinema history from all different styles and genres. It is VoteRanked and Open, so be sure to vote up your favorites, vote down the movies you don't think belong on the list and add any other suggestions you have at the bottom of the page.
Political films can also serve the opposite purpose, encouraging people to distrust or even fear their government, or attacking an individual politician or political movement specifically. The paranoia thrillers of the 1970s, for example, reflected America's distrust in its own leaders following the Watergate and other corruption scandals. More recently, George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck" told a true story about journalist Edward R. Murrow facing off against Joseph McCarthy, but as a way of discussing political issues that remained relevant even upon its release in 2005.
Many Americans' understanding of complex political situations, both in their homeland and in other countries, as well, comes from watching popular films. For example, the satirical take on the politics of war in "Wag the Dog," the insights into Greek politics provided by Costa-Gavras "Z" or the look at Bolivian elections in the documentary "Our Brand is Crisis."
This list includes notable and significant political movies from throughout cinema history from all different styles and genres. It is VoteRanked and Open, so be sure to vote up your favorites, vote down the movies you don't think belong on the list and add any other suggestions you have at the bottom of the page.
207 voters +
7 reranks
see all
- 2Up 79Down 141940
- 80Up 11Down 102008
- 93Up 8Down 9
Our Brand Is Crisis
2006 - 98Up 23Down 302006
- 81Up 10Down 9
Street Fight
2005 - 33Up 25Down 81996
- 13Up 20Down 21982
- 77Up 1Down 12009
- 97Up 3Down 21992
- 27Up 36Down 211995
- 25Up 28Down 81939
- 30Up 11Down 11993
- 46Up 6Down 0
1943 - 4Up 73Down 91939
- 7Up 60Down 141962
- 20Up 44Down 222004
- 14Up 48Down 191993
- 57Up 3Down 01933
- 1Up 103Down 161964
- 59Up 17Down 111980
- 91Up 0Down 01979
- 76Up 2Down 01985
- 54Up 5Down 22007
- 26Up 13Down 01975
- 32Up 40Down 241998
- 22Up 32Down 151992
- 6Up 69Down 181997
- 24Up 42Down 221995
- 17Up 51Down 162005
- 37Up 32Down 131999
- 5Up 55Down 161979
- 49Up 16Down 151996
- 82Up 2Down 12012added by: Abbey Grantham
- 68Up 17Down 132009
- 15Up 31Down 91959
- 35Up 21Down 121971
- 90Up 16Down 151999
- 60Up 2Down 01962
- 21Up 14Down 11995
- 66Up 2Down 12000
- 51Up 6Down 01973
- 96Up 10Down 13
Control Room
2004 - 73Up 3Down 01993
- 44Up 8Down 1
The Iron Lady
2011 - 10Up 44Down 132006
- 28Up 11Down 01987
- 78Up 0Down 11986
- 92Up 11Down 112010
- 70Up 2Down 11998
- 39Up 9Down 11988
-
items 1 - 50 of 99
rerank this list your way embed list
what's a rerank? -
LOADING HISTORY
today on Ranker
start a list with results
close sorting window
Rank Name
use the search box to filter your list
leave a comment