Moviefone Editorial

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  • Best Movies About American Presidents

    Bill Pullman in 'Independence Day'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
    Bill Pullman in ‘Independence Day’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

    Monday, February 17th 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!

    25. ‘White House Down‘ (2013)

    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in 'White House Dead'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    (L to R) Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx in ‘White House Dead’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    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.

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    24. ‘Hyde Park on Hudson‘ (2012)

    The story of the love affair between FDR (Bill Murray) and his distant cousin Margaret Stuckley (Laura Linney), centered around the weekend in 1939 when the King (Samuel West) and Queen (Olivia Colman) of the United Kingdom visited upstate New York.

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    23. ‘Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter‘ (2012)

    President Lincoln’s (Benjamin Walker) mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

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    22. ‘LBJ‘ (2017)

    The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson (Woody Harrelson) from his young days in West Texas to the White House.

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    21. ‘Nixon‘ (1995)

    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.

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    20. ‘Elvis & Nixon‘ (2016)

    (L to R) Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon in 'Elvis & Nixon'. Photo: Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street.
    (L to R) Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon in ‘Elvis & Nixon’. Photo: Amazon Studios / Bleecker Street.

    In 1970, a few days before Christmas, Elvis Presley (Michael Shannon) showed up on the White House lawn seeking to be deputized into the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs by the President (Kevin Spacey) himself.

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    19. ‘The Butler‘ (2013)

    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.

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    18. ‘W.‘ (2008)

    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.

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    17. ‘Captain America: Brave New World‘ (2025)

    After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

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    16. ‘Frost/Nixon‘ (2008)

    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.

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    15. ‘Primary Colors‘ (1998)

    John Travolta in 'Primary Colors'. Photo: Universal Pictures.
    John Travolta 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).

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    14. ‘Dick‘ (1999)

    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.

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    13. ‘Reagan‘ (2024)

    Told through the voice of Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight), a former KGB agent whose life becomes inextricably linked with Ronald Reagan’s when Reagan (Dennis Quaid) first caught the Soviets’ attention as an actor in Hollywood, this film offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating.

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    12. ‘Vice‘ (2018)

    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.

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    11. ‘Olympus Has Fallen‘ (2013)

    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.

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    10. ‘The Contender‘ (2000)

    Jeff Bridges in 'The Contender'. Photo: DreamWorks Pictures.
    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.

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    9. ‘Thirteen Days‘ (2000)

    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.

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    8. ‘Independence Day‘ (1996)

    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.

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    7. ‘The Apprentice‘ (2024)

    A young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

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    6. ‘Dave‘ (1993)

    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.

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    5. ‘Air Force One‘ (1997)

    Harrison Ford in 'Air Force One'. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    Harrison Ford in ‘Air Force One’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    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).

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    4. ‘The American President‘ (1995)

    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.

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    3. ‘All the President’s Men‘ (1976)

    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.

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    2. ‘JFK‘ (1991)

    Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner).

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    1. ‘Lincoln‘ (2012)

    Daniel Day-Lewis in 'Lincoln.' Photo: Walt Disney Studios.
    Daniel Day-Lewis in ‘Lincoln.’ Photo: Walt Disney Studios.

    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

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  • Oscar-Nominee Sigourney Weaver Talks ‘The Good House’

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    Opening in theaters on September 30th is ‘The Good House,’ which is based on the best-selling novel by Ann Leary and was co-written and co-directed by Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky.

    The new movie stars Sigourney Weaver (‘Aliens,’ ‘Ghostbusters,’ ‘Avatar‘) as Hildy Good, a funny New England realtor and descendant of the Salem witches, who loves her wine and her secrets. Her compartmentalized life begins to unravel as she rekindles a romance with her old high-school flame, Frank Getchell (Kevin Kline).

    The new relationship ignites long-buried emotions and family secrets, as Hildy is propelled toward a reckoning with the one person she’s been avoiding for decades: herself!

    In addition to Weaver and Kline, the cast also includes Morena Baccarin (‘Deadpool’), Rob Delaney (‘Deadpool 2’), Beverly D’Angelo (‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’), David Rasche (‘United 93’), and Kathryn Erbe (‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with the legendary Sigourney Weaver about her work on ‘The Good House,’ her unique character, the challenges of breaking the fourth wall, and reuniting with her ‘Dave’ and ‘The Ice Storm’ co-star Kevin Kline.

    Sigourney Weaver stars as Hildy Good in Roadside Attractions' 'The Good House.'
    Sigourney Weaver stars as Hildy Good in Roadside Attractions’ ‘The Good House.’

    You can read our full interview with Sigourney Weaver about ‘The Good House’ below or click on the video player above to watch our video from the interview.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to reading this screenplay, and what were some of the aspects of the character you were excited to explore on screen?

    Sigourney Weaver: Well, for one thing, it was the story of an older woman from her point of view, who’s very funny. How rare is that? Then it picks up on Hildy Good, who’s a wonderful character, at the point in her life where everything is falling apart. Her husband has dumped her, her kids have sent her to rehab, she’s losing her business, and so she’s slipping, which I found very interesting. But she’s a fighter, so she’s going to fight back.

    What I found most charming was that she talks to the audience. In between these scenes where you see her putting up this very accomplished front, she turns the audience and basically says, “Can you believe what’s going on in my life now?” The counterpoint between this competent Hildy, and the one who’s just fed up and telling you all about it, was what I just fell in love with about Hildy. She’s wonderful company. I couldn’t resist her.

    Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good in Roadside Attractions' 'The Good House.'
    Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good in Roadside Attractions’ ‘The Good House.’

    MF: As an actress, what are the challenges of acting directly towards camera and breaking the fourth wall?

    SW: I think (she does it) because it’s an emotional thing. She just gets so frustrated, she just wants to tell you what’s really going on from her point of view. I guess the most important thing for me was figuring out who I was really talking to, because I think the audience should feel like they’re at a bar with Hildy, and she’s letting her hair down and throwing back a few Pinot Noirs.

    So, I had someone I felt I could let my hair down to, and every time I connected with the audience, I felt she dropped all the facade and you just saw Hildy. Which is very important because we get to know Hildy better and better, and we get to know her perhaps better than she knows herself. She’s a very smart woman, but she’s quite deluded about certain things, and that’s what I found fascinating. That she can’t see, even though she’s really smart, and we all know people like that. They can’t see what they’re doing, but they think they can handle it.

    Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good, and Kevin Kline as Frank Getchell in Roadside Attractions' 'The Good House.'
    (L to R) Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good, and Kevin Kline as Frank Getchell in Roadside Attractions’ ‘The Good House.’

    MF: Finally, can you talk about the relationship between Hildy and Frank, and having the opportunity to work with Kevin Kline again?

    SW: Well, that was just a joy. I love Kevin. I love his work, and he brings such authenticity to Frank. He’s just a regular guy who doesn’t care what anybody else thinks. I just love his performance. He’s never done anything like this before. The love story, for us, because we know each other so well, those were the most effortless scenes because the relationship is so well written, and they just gravitate toward each other.

    Kevin Kline as Frank Getchell, and Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good in Roadside Attractions' 'The Good House.'
    (L to R) Kevin Kline as Frank Getchell, and Sigourney Weaver as Hildy Good in Roadside Attractions’ ‘The Good House.’
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  • ‘Ghostbusters’ Director Ivan Reitman Dies at 75

    (L to R) Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman at Premiere of 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife.' Photo Courtesy of Reuters.
    (L to R) Jason Reitman and Ivan Reitman at Premiere of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’ Photo Courtesy of Reuters.

    Ivan Reitman, who forever seared his name into the pantheon of cinematic comedy by producing and directing 1984’s ‘Ghostbusters’ has died. He was 75.

    Born in 1946, in Komárno, Czechoslovakia, Reitman was the son of survivors – his mother made it out of concentration camp Auschwitz alive, and his father fought in the Czech resistance. The family escaped the country in 1950 as the Communist regime took hold, arriving in the States and then to Toronto, where Reitman was raised.

    Attending McMaster University in Hamilton, Reitman began the early days of a successful film career by producing and directing shorts, studying alongside a cadre of performers who would go on to be big names in movies and TV, and especially in Canadian comedy series SCTV, including Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, and Rick Moranis. On his return to Toronto, Reitman was hired to produce a comedy show for a local TV station and hired Dan Aykroyd, who would go on to become a lifelong friend and creative colleague.

    On the movie front, Reitman started in horror, but always with a mix of comedy, his most notable initial effort being ‘Cannibal Girls’, which starred Levy and Martin. Also on the terror front, he became an influential supporter of other directors’ work, producing David Cronenberg’s ‘Shivers’ and ‘Rabid’.

    Yet comedy would end up the defining genre of Reitman’s career, including producing ‘Animal House’, which launched several careers. He also had a keen eye for anarchic, creative talent in actors, working with Bill Murray on films including ‘Meatballs’ and ‘Stripes’ and then on the movie for which he’ll best be remembered: ‘Ghostbusters’.

    'Ghostbusters.' Photo Credit: Columbia / The Kobal Collection.
    (L to R) Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis in ‘Ghostbusters.’ Photo Credit: Columbia / The Kobal Collection.

    Originally written by Aykroyd as a sprawling, expensive special effects adventure, Reitman realized the potential of the concept and brought in Harold Ramis, who had co-written ‘Animal House’, ‘Stripes’; and ‘Meatballs’, among others to work on honing it with Aykroyd. They, along with Murray and Ernie Hudson starred in the film, which remains a high watermark in comedy movies.

    A sequel, 1989’s ‘Ghostbusters II’, couldn’t capture the same magic, but helped continue the franchise with which Reitman was associated until his death.

    Just that movie on his resume would be enough to qualify him for the directing/producing hall of fame, but Reitman also made (or helped make) the likes of ‘Dave,’ ‘Beethoven’, ‘Evolution’, ‘Twins,’ ‘Junior’, ‘Kindergarten Cop’, ‘Private Parts’, ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Draft Day’, among others.

    Reitman leaves behind a cinematic legacy not just his own, but that of his family – his wife, Geneviève Robert is an actress and director, son Jason is the Oscar-nominated writer and director of films including ‘Juno’, ‘Up in the Air’ and ‘Thank You for Smoking,’ and who brought the ‘Ghostbusters’ story roaring back to our screens last year with ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’. Eldest daughter Catherine is a writer and actor who created Netflix comedy series ‘Workin’ Moms’, while youngest Caroline is an actress and musician.

    Jason took to twitter to pay tribute to his father: