Political thriller movies have captivated audiences for decades with their brilliant mix of suspense, intrigue, and real-world threats. Dealing with corruption at the highest levels, assassination plots, and salacious scandals, political thrillers have a lot to offer. While the genre was perhaps at its height during the 1970s, there were some excellent examples of the genre before that and there are still some great political thrillers being made today. In fact, the genre has helped to establish some of the best movies of all time.
There are a lot of different approaches the political thrillers can make, from basing the stories on real-world events that audiences are familiar with to telling grander stories that stretch the realism of the genre. Over the years, some of the greatest filmmakers of all time have taken on the genre, from Steven Spielberg to Oliver Stone, as well as some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, like Will Smith, Meryl Streep, and Robert Redford. While it can be hard to determine which political thriller movies are worth watching, it is hard to go wrong with the best of the genre.
Enemy Of The State
Cast
Enemy of the State is a political thriller directed by Tony Scott, featuring Will Smith as Robert Dean, a lawyer unwittingly thrust into a covert government conspiracy after obtaining evidence of a politically motivated murder. Gene Hackman co-stars as an ex-NSA operative who aids Dean in navigating the perilous landscape of surveillance and corruption. The film examines the far-reaching implications of government overreach and personal privacy invasion.
Government surveillance is a subject that has been brought up many times in the political thriller genreand continues to be a concern for people today. In the 1990s, there was much less known about the realities of this threat, butEnemy of the Statemade for a thrilling ride that explored that idea. Will Smith stars as a lawyer and family man who is unknowingly given an incriminating piece of evidence. Seeking to get it back, a rogue government team tracks his every movement and seeks to destroy his life.
The movie is a terrifying and pulse-pounding thriller that shows how impossible it is for someone to hide in the modern day. The fact that it is the government using these tools is all the more chilling. Smith fits into a more everyman role that he was used to at the time, while Gene Hackman has a great supporting role thatlinks to his other political thriller,The Conversation.
The Post
The Post is a dramatic thriller directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks and tells the story of the unexpected partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee. The two will work tirelessly and race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets spanning three decades.
Another common area that is explored in political thriller movies isthe role of journalists digging deep into political secrets. While there are many great movies of this kind based on original ideas, there are also terrific movies based on true stories of history’s biggest news stories being broken. This makes for an exciting setup forThe Post,but it is also the movie’s incredible line-up of talent that makes it such a must-see political thriller.
Steven Spielberg directedmultiple Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in this riveting and inspiring thriller.The Postexamines the true story of theWashington Postchoosing to publish the Pentagon Papers, leaked classified documents that showed the American people were being misled about the war in Vietnam. It is a movie about the government’s pressure to hide the truth and the real-life heroes who pushed back against that pressure.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, follows Steve Rogers as he adapts to contemporary life while confronting a new adversary, the mysterious Winter Soldier, amidst internal threats to S.H.I.E.L.D. The film explores themes of trust and loyalty as Rogers teams up with allies to uncover hidden conspiracies.
The MCU has had a lot of success in melding other genres into their superhero world, including political thrillers.Captain America: The Winter Soldierpicks up Steve Rogers’ story as he tries to make a life for himself in the 21st century. However, as he works as a SHIELD agent under Nick Fury, Rogers begins to uncover a conspiracy that suggests there is a dangerous secret hiding within the organization.
It is a brilliant move to place Captain America in a political thriller as he isa hero who has such a strong sense of right and wrong but finds himself in a new reality in which it is not as easy to determine who the true enemy is. There is also a thrilling conspiracy at the center of the story that reshapes the MCU in a significant way.
Interestingly,Captain America: The Winter Soldieris not the only comic book movie that also serves as a political thriller. Based on Alan Moore’s graphic novel,V for Vendettais set in a future in which England has become ruled by a totalitarian government that suppresses any forms of dissent. However, the people are given a symbol of freedom by a masked vigilante with a personal grudge who sets out to bring down the corrupt leaders.
V for Vendettais a thrilling action ride with a unique and engaging hero, along with a committed performance from Natalie Portman as the young woman caught up in the vigilante mission. However, it is alsoan exploration of the power of citizens questioning their government and keeping them in their place. It deals with corruption at the highest levels and the evil in those who use their positions of power to control others through fear and intimidation.
Argo
Argo is a historical thriller adapted from the memoir of CIA operative Tony Mendez. The film follows Mendez as he infiltrates Tehran, Iran, by pretending to be filming a sci-fi movie during the Iran hostage crisis at the beginning of the 1980s. Ben Affleck stars as Mendez as he infiltrates to save the six escaped embassy staff members.
Ben Affleck’s third movie as directorled to a snub for Best Director but a win for Best Picture.Argofocuses on the real-life conflict of the Iran hostage Crisis in which several Americans from an embassy were taken hostage by Iranian Islamists in 1979. However, the movie focuses on a secret operation that was hidden from the world until decades later. Affleck stars in the movie as a CIA operative who concocts a plan to stage a fake movie production in Iran to rescue some of the stranded Americans.
WhileArgoreceived plenty of criticism for the facts of the true story that were changed or left out,it is still an exciting and oddball thriller. The strange plan hatched at the center of the story also allows for a lot of unexpected humor, with co-stars Alan Arkin and John Goodman lightening the mood. However, Affleck is the real star behind the camera, proving his talents for crafting intense thrillers.
The Contender
The Contender is a political drama directed by Rod Lurie, centering on the intense confirmation process of a female Vice President nominee, played by Joan Allen. Jeff Bridges stars as the sitting President who must navigate political adversaries and ethical dilemmas. The film delves into themes of power, integrity, and gender politics within the realm of American government.
Not all political thrillers need to be about people running for their lives and dark secrets being held in the deepest corners of the government. Some of them, likeThe Contender, are grounded and realistic examinations of the current political world with the intense situations that sometimes arise.The Contenderstars Joan Allen as a politician who is selected to fill the position of Vice President following the death of the previous one. However, she soon finds herself the target of attacks by the opposition trying to discredit her character.
In the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal,The Contenderis a rivetingexploration of how personal lives and political roles collide. The movie asks complex questions with layered characters on both sides of the political sphere. Allen received an Oscar nomination for her lead performance, while Jeff Bridges was also nominated for his supporting role as the President.
The Ides of March
The Ides of March is a drama film that sees Ryan Gosling star as Stephen Meyers, an employee of Governor Mike Morris' campaign trying to run for president. Though Morris' ideas could present a significant shift in the world, one primary goes south, leaving Stephen to rush to try to pick up the pieces. Stephen’s morality and integrity and challenged when he realizes the only way to help his candidate win is to play as dirty as his opponents.
George Clooney’s directing career started with a focus on political thrillers, with his second movie as a director,The Ides of March, telling an effective story about political optimism being shattered.Ryan Gosling starsin the movie as a talented and smart campaign advisor working for a politician (Clooney) whom he truly believes in. However, after the young advisor takes a meeting with the rival team, it sets in motion a series of events that threaten that idealistic point of view.
The movie is a fascinating look behind the scenes of the campaign world, providing great insight into the maneuvers and strategies. However,once the secrets begin to be revealed, it exposes the darkness in this world as well. Gosling makes for a great lead, and he is joined by an incredible supporting cast, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Jeffrey Wright.
State of Play
State of Play is a political thriller directed by Kevin Macdonald. The film features Russell Crowe as a journalist who investigates the death of a congressman’s aide. Co-starring Ben Affleck as the congressman, the storyline delves into themes of corruption, media, and political intrigue. The ensemble cast includes Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, and Robin Wright, who contribute to unraveling a complex narrative marked by suspense and moral ambiguity.
Based on the miniseries of the same name,State of Playstars Russell Croweas an investigative journalist who finds himself in a difficult position when his former friend, an up-and-coming congressman (Ben Affleck) is wrapped up in a scandal that turns deadly. However, as he digs deeper into the story, he finds that it is not merely a bit of hot political gossip, but rather a deeper conspiracy that puts him in the crosshairs.
State of Playis a great popcorn thriller with smart and exciting twists around every corner as the movie maintains a fast pace leading toward the final reveal.It explores the idea of corporate interests and the complexities of modern media, yet also hides a darker truth. Crowe and Affleck are joined by a strong cast that includes Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, and Helen Mirren.
Thirteen Days
Thirteen Days is a drama film that recounts the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day political and military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. The film focuses on the decisions made by President John F. Kennedy, played by Bruce Greenwood, and his brother Robert Kennedy, played by Steven Culp, as they navigate the crisis and search for a peaceful resolution.
The Cold War is a moment in history that has been featured in many political thrillers. It makes sense that one of the key moments from that era was also the basis for some of the genre’s biggest movies. The Cuban Missile Crisis is the main focus of the movieThirteen Days,which stars Bruce Greenwood as John F. Kennedy in the days leading up to that fateful final moment, as he and his key advisors debated the actions that would either bring about peace or a war that could end all wars.
Thirteen Daysis a reminder of the tension and high stakes of this moment in history. It is a war movie in which there are no battlefields but rather, it focuses on the people in the White House who made some of the most important decisions in the history of the country.
16Good Night, And Good Luck. (2005)
Edward R. Murrow Versus Sen. McCarthy
WhileThe Ides of Marchwas a great second feature, George Clooney’s best movie as director isGood Night and Good Luck. The movie is a look back at a paranoid and destructive era in American history in which Senator Joseph McCarthy launched a relentless campaign to expose communists in high-ranking positions in society and culture, leading to people naming names and lives being ruined. The story focused on newscaster Edward R. Murrow and his team, who stood against the fearmongering and publicly condemned McCarthy on their broadcasts.
Similar toThe Post,Good Night and Good Luckis a look both at the controlling tactics of the governmentover its people as well as a celebration of the journalists who had the integrity to stand up to threats and highlight such issues. David Strathairn’s reserved turn as Murrow highlights why the newscast remains a hero in his field.
