The Best Political Thriller Movies

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 10.4K votes 1.4K voters 222.5K views
Over 1.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Political Thriller Movies
Voting Rules
Vote for your personal favorite political thriller films, regardless of how popular or successful they were at the box office.

With over 1,400 votes cast by movie fans, this list of the best political thriller movies is sure to give you a thrilling ride. Political thrillers are some of the most intense and captivating films out there, combining action with thought-provoking themes about power and corruption.

From classics like All the President's Men to modern hits like The Manchurian Candidate, these films take us inside government conspiracies and shadowy organizations that threaten our security. We follow protagonists as they uncover secrets buried deep in bureaucratic systems, risking their lives for what they believe in—sometimes with devastating consequences.

Not only do these movies provide plenty of thrills and suspense but also pose important questions about morality and justice. Thrillers such as Clear and Present Danger or Patriot Games explore complex ethical issues around politics while still managing to keep viewers on the edge of their seats throughout. So if you're looking for an adrenaline rush along with a thoughtful exploration into politics then make sure to check out this list. Vote up your favorite political thriller movies today.

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  • Mississippi Burning
    1

    Mississippi Burning

    Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand
    149 votes
    • Released: 1988
    • Directed by: Alan Parker
    Set in the volatile era of civil rights movement, Mississippi Burning is a gripping crime drama. When three civil rights workers go missing in Jessup County, Mississippi, FBI agents Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) are dispatched to investigate. The film navigates the murky waters of racial bigotry as the agents grapple with an uncooperative town steeped in prejudice. Directed by Alan Parker, this politically charged movie won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated for six others including Best Picture. The narrative is taut, the characters unforgettable, making Mississippi Burning a striking depiction of a tumultuous time in American history.

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  • Three Days of the Condor
    2

    Three Days of the Condor

    Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson
    199 votes
    • Released: 1975
    • Directed by: Sydney Pollack
    In the taut thriller, Three Days of the Condor, Joe Turner (Robert Redford), a low-key CIA analyst, finds his life abruptly upended. Returning from lunch to discover his entire office assassinated, he's thrust into a desperate cat-and-mouse game. Faye Dunaway portrays Kathy Hale, a stranger unwittingly entangled in Turner's world of espionage and danger. Directed by Sydney Pollack, this film is a masterful blend of suspense and political intrigue, winning an Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay. As Turner delves deeper into the conspiracy, he grapples with trust issues and survival instincts in a world where friends could be foes.

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  • The Hunt for Red October
    3

    The Hunt for Red October

    Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn
    210 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: John McTiernan
    In The Hunt for Red October, CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) faces a high-stakes naval chase. A renegade Soviet submarine captain, Marko Ramius (Sean Connery), has taken the USSR's most advanced nuclear sub, The Red October, on an unauthorized mission towards U.S. waters. As tensions rise between superpowers, Ryan must decipher whether Ramius plans to unleash nuclear war or defect to the West. Based on Tom Clancy's best-selling novel, this Cold War thriller combines suspense and political intrigue, earning three Academy Award nominations. Exceptional performances by Baldwin and Connery add depth to this tale of strategy and survival at sea.

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  • The Manchurian Candidate
    4

    The Manchurian Candidate

    Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh
    174 votes
    • Released: 1962
    • Directed by: John Frankenheimer
    In the thrilling political drama, The Manchurian Candidate, Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra) and Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey) return as heroes from the Korean War. However, they carry a dark secret - a chilling brainwashing conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of American democracy. As Marco begins to unravel this sinister plot, he finds himself in a high-stakes race against time. Angela Lansbury delivers an unforgettable performance as Shaw's manipulative mother. Directed by John Frankenheimer, this classic film offers a gripping exploration of power, manipulation, and paranoia.

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  • The Day of the Jackal
    5

    The Day of the Jackal

    Edward Fox, Michaël Lonsdale, Tony Britton
    161 votes
    • Released: 1973
    • Directed by: Fred Zinnemann
    An underground French paramilitary group is intent on eliminating President Charles de Gaulle (Adrien Cayla-Legrand), but when numerous attempts on his life fail, they resort to hiring the infamous hit man known as "The Jackal" (Edward Fox). As the enigmatic assassin prepares to shoot de Gaulle, he takes out any problematic people along the way. Meanwhile, Lebel (Michel Lonsdale), a savvy Parisian police detective, begins to solve the mystery of the killer's identity.

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  • In the Line of Fire
    6

    In the Line of Fire

    Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich, Rene Russo
    126 votes
    • Released: 1993
    • Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
    In the heart-pounding thriller In the Line of Fire, seasoned Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan (Clint Eastwood) is haunted by his failure to prevent JFK's assassination. When a cunning and chillingly efficient assassin, Mitch Leary (John Malkovich), threatens to kill the current president, Horrigan is thrust back into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. With Rene Russo as sharp-tongued fellow agent Lilly Raines, the trio traverses a tense landscape filled with political intrigue and imminent danger. This film is an engrossing blend of suspense, action and psychological drama.

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