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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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- 51Up 5Down 12006
- 52Up 5Down 02005
- 53Up 5Down 01973
- 54Up 5Down 12007
- 55Up 3Down 01965
- 56Up 1Down 01974
- 57Up 15Down 91969
- 58Up 2Down 01933
- 59Up 17Down 101980
- 60Up 9Down 42006
- 61Up 0Down 01987
- 62Up 23Down 172011
- 63Up 1Down 11966
- 64Up 1Down 01962
- 65Up 1Down 12008
- 66Up 17Down 132009
- 67Up 13Down 92008
- 68Up 1Down 12000
- 69Up 0Down 22008
- 70Up 17Down 222002
- 71Up 1Down 11998
- 72Up 1Down 11982
- 73Up 2Down 01957
- 74Up 2Down 01993
- 75Up 2Down 11975
- 76Up 1Down 12009
- 77Up 0Down 01986
- 78Up 1Down 01985
- 79Up 12Down 121974
- 80Up 11Down 102008
- 81Up 10Down 9
Street Fight
2005 - 82Up 2Down 12012added by: Abbey Grantham
- 83Up 1Down 02004added by: Joie
- 84Up 0Down 02005
- 85Up 0Down 01995
- 86Up 12Down 11
The Weather Underground
2002 - 87Up 0Down 02005
- 88Up 16Down 141999
- 89Up 1Down 02010
- 90Up 0Down 01979
- 91Up 11Down 112010
- 92Up 1Down 22005
- 93Up 8Down 9
Our Brand Is Crisis
2006 - 94Up 10Down 11
An Unreasonable Man
2007 - 95Up 7Down 32006
- 96Up 10Down 13
Control Room
2004 - 97Up 3Down 11992
- 98Up 23Down 292006
- 99Up 6Down 14
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
2009 -
items 51 - 99 of 99
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