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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.
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- 99Up 6Down 14
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
2009 - 98Up 23Down 302006
- 97Up 3Down 21992
- 96Up 10Down 13
Control Room
2004 - 95Up 7Down 32006
- 94Up 10Down 11
An Unreasonable Man
2007 - 93Up 8Down 9
Our Brand Is Crisis
2006 - 92Up 11Down 112010
- 91Up 0Down 01979
- 90Up 16Down 151999
- 89Up 2Down 22005
- 88Up 1Down 02010
- 87Up 0Down 12005
- 86Up 1Down 12004added by: Joie
- 85Up 12Down 11
The Weather Underground
2002 - 84Up 0Down 02005
- 83Up 0Down 01995
- 82Up 2Down 12012added by: Abbey Grantham
- 81Up 10Down 9
Street Fight
2005 - 80Up 11Down 102008
- 79Up 12Down 121974
- 78Up 0Down 11986
- 77Up 1Down 12009
- 76Up 2Down 01985
- 75Up 17Down 232002
- 74Up 3Down 11975
- 73Up 3Down 01993
- 72Up 3Down 01957
- 71Up 2Down 11982
- 70Up 2Down 11998
- 69Up 13Down 92008
- 68Up 17Down 132009
- 67Up 1Down 22008
- 66Up 2Down 12000
- 65Up 23Down 182011
- 64Up 9Down 52006
- 63Up 0Down 11987
- 62Up 2Down 12008
- 61Up 1Down 11966
- 60Up 2Down 01962
- 59Up 17Down 111980
- 58Up 15Down 101969
- 57Up 3Down 01933
- 56Up 2Down 01974
- 55Up 4Down 01965
- 54Up 5Down 22007
- 53Up 5Down 22006
- 52Up 8Down 21987
- 51Up 6Down 01973
- 50Up 6Down 02005
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