20 Best Movies About American Presidents
In honor of President's Day, Moviefone looks back at the best movies that feature American Presidents.
Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Lincoln.'
Monday, February 19th is President's Day in the United States. Coinciding in the same month as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays, the holiday is now used to celebrate all U.S. Presidents, past and present.
Over the years, there have been many great movies to feature U.S. Presidents, both real and fictional. From Bill Pullman's President Thomas J. Whitmore fighting aliens in 'Independence Day,' to Daniel Day Lewis' Oscar winning performance as "Honest Abe" in 'Lincoln,' now is a perfect time to look back at the greatest movies about American Presidents of all-time.
Let's Begin!
20. 'White House Down' (2013)
(L to R) Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in 'White House Down.' Photo: Sony Pictures.
Capitol Policeman John Cale (Channing Tatum) has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). Not wanting to let down his little girl (Joey King) with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.
19. 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' (2012)
Benjamin Walker in 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
President Lincoln's (Benjamin Walker) mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.
18. 'LBJ' (2017)
Woody Harrelson in 'LBJ.' Photo: Electric Entertainment.
The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson (Woody Harrelson) from his young days in West Texas to the White House.
17. 'Nixon' (1995)
Anthony Hopkins in 'Nixon.' Photo: Hollywood Pictures.
A look at President Richard M. Nixon (Anthony Hopkins), a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.
Nixon
16. 'The Butler' (2013)
(L to R) Robin Williams and Forest Whitaker in 'The Butler.' Photo: The Weinstein Company.
A look at the life of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) who served eight presidents as the White Houses head butler from 1952 to 1986 and had a unique front-row seat as political and racial history was made.
15. 'W.' (2008)
Josh Brolin in 'W.' Photo: Lionsgate.
The story of the eventful life of George W. Bush (Josh Brolin), his struggles and triumphs how he found both his wife and his faith and the critical days leading up to his decision to invade Iraq.
14. 'Frost/Nixon' (2008)
(L to R) Michael Sheen and Frank Langella in 'Frost/Nixon.' Photo: Universal Pictures.
For three years after being forced from office, Nixon (Frank Langella) remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting David Frost (Michael Sheen) as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost's team harboured doubts about their boss's ability to hold his own. But as the cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted.
13. 'Primary Colors' (1998)
(L to R) John Travolta and Emma Thompson in 'Primary Colors.' Photo: Universal Pictures.
In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton (Adrian Lester) is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton (John Travolta). Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan (Emma Thompson), and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons (Billy Bob Thornton).
12. 'Dick' (1999)
(L to R) Dan Hedaya and Dave Foley in 'Dick.' Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Two high school girls (Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams) wander off during a class trip to the White House and meet President Richard Nixon (Dan Hedaya). They become the official dog walkers for Nixon's dog Checkers, and become his secret advisors during the Watergate scandal.
11. 'Vice' (2018)
(L to R) Christian Bale and Sam Rockwell in 'Vice.' Photo: Annapurna Pictures.
George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell) picks Dick Cheney (Christian Bale), the CEO of Halliburton Co., to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive résumé includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and Defense Secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world.
10. 'Olympus Has Fallen' (2013)
(L to R) Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart in 'Olympus Has Fallen.' Photo: Millennium Films.
When the White House Secret Service Code "Olympus" is captured by a terrorist mastermind (Rick Yune) and the President (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond they are forced to rely on Banning's inside knowledge to help retake the White House save the President and avert an even bigger disaster.
9. 'The Contender' (2000)
Jeff Bridges in 'The Contender.' Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.
The vice president is dead and as the president (Jeff Bridges) makes his choice for a replacement as a secret contest of wills is being waged by a formidable rival. When Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen) is nominated as the first woman in history to hold the office hidden agendas explode into a battle for power.
The Contender
8. 'Thirteen Days' (2000)
(L to R) Steven Culp, Kevin Costner, and Bruce Greenwood in 'Thirteen Days.' Photo: New Line Cinema.
The story of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the nuclear standoff with the USSR sparked by the discovery by the Americans of missile bases established on the Soviet-allied island of Cuba.
Thirteen Days
7. 'Independence Day' (1996)
Bill Pullman in 'Independence Day.' Photo: 20th Century Fox.
On July 2, a giant alien mothership enters orbit around Earth and deploys several dozen saucer-shaped 'destroyer' spacecraft that quickly lay waste to major cities around the planet. On July 3, the United States conducts a coordinated counterattack that fails. On July 4, a plan is devised to gain access to the interior of the alien mothership in space, in order to plant a nuclear missile.
Independence Day
6. 'Air Force One' (1997)
Harrison Ford in 'Air Force One.' Photo: Columbia Pictures.
When Russian neo-nationalists hijack Air Force One the worlds most secure and extraordinary aircraft the President (Harrison Ford) is faced with a nearly impossible decision to give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country's dignity but the lives of his wife (Wendy Crewson) and daughter (Liesel Matthews).
Air Force One
5. 'Dave' (1993)
Kevin Kline in 'Dave.' Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
A sweet-natured Temp Agency operator and amateur Presidential lookalike (Kevin Kline) is recruited by the Secret Service to become a temporary stand-in for the President of the United States.
4. 'The American President' (1995)
Michael Douglas in 'The American President.' Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), one of the world's most powerful men, can have anything he wants -- and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd's attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.
The American President
3. 'All the President's Men' (1976)
(L to R) Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in 'All the President's Men.' Photo: Warner Bros.
During the 1972 elections, two reporters' (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) investigation sheds light on the controversial Watergate scandal that compels President Nixon to resign from his post.
All the President's Men
2. 'JFK' (1991)
(L to R) Kevin Costner and Donald Sutherland in 'JFK.' Photo: Warner Bros.
Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner).
1. 'Lincoln' (2012)
(L to R) David Strathairn and Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Lincoln.'
The revealing story of the 16th US Presidents tumultuous final months in office In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) pursues a course of action designed to end the war unite the country and abolish slavery With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come
