IMDb Polls

Poll: Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction — Presidential Campaign Election Movies

The 2024 U.S. presidential election campaign is in the home stretch, and it has been entertaining in its own right. But, it has been hard to determine whether the real thing or the plots of fictional campaigns and/or elections from the movies push the boundaries of reality / fiction more. American humorist and writer, Mark Twain (who was likely influenced by Lord Byron's 1823 poem, "Don Juan") once said: "truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; truth isn't."

In your opinion, which of these select movie plots set against the backdrop of a fictional presidential campaign and/or election is the most bizarre story of them all?

Discuss the topic here.

Make Your Choice

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    Taxi Driver (1976)

    A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action as he pursues an aide to a U.S. presidential candidate's campaign.
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    Les marches du pouvoir (2011)

    An idealistic staffer for a new presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.
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    Idiocracy (2006)

    Joe Bauers, an average American, is selected for a top-secret hibernation program but is forgotten and left to awaken to a future so incredibly moronic that he is easily the most intelligent person alive and rises to the highest office in country.
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    Dans la ligne de mire (1993)

    Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan couldn't save Kennedy, but he's determined not to let a clever assassin take out a president on his watch ever again. But, this president is running for reelection and has to remain visible and on the campaign trail making him an easier target.
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    Un crime dans la tête (2004)

    In the midst of the Gulf War, a squad of soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed. It is the first step of an elaborate plan to assassinate the next President-elect, so that the conspirator's chosen man, the Vice President-elect can become the next President of the United States.
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    American Nightmare 3 : Élections (2016)

    Senator Charlie Roan, a U.S. Presidential candidate has been targeted for death on Purge night due to her vow to eliminate the Purge. Its up to Leo Barnes, her head of security to foil the attempts on her life.
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    Des hommes d'influence (1997)

    Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join the efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a U.S Presidential sex scandal.
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    Le président et Miss Wade (1995)

    A widowed U.S. President running for reelection and an environmental lobbyist fall in love. It's all above-board, but "politics is perception," and the sparks fly anyway.
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    My dear f***ing prince (2023)

    In the midst of a U.S. presidential campaign, the feud between the son of the American President and Britain's prince threatens to drive a wedge between Anglo-American relations. The two young men are forced into a staged truce that sparks something deeper, but could derail the future of both countries leaders.
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    Opération funky (2002)

    When "The Man" tries to derail a black candidate's presidential campaign, Undercover Brother and his fellow secret agents come to the rescue.
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    Man of the Year (2006)

    A comedian who hosts a news satire program decides to run for president, and a computerized voting machine malfunctions and gets him elected.
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    Primary Colors (1998)

    A man joins the political campaign of a smooth-operator candidate for President of the United States of America.
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    Nashville (1975)

    Over the course of a few hectic days, numerous interrelated people prepare for a political convention to nominate their party's candidate for U.S. president.
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    Que le meilleur gagne (2015)

    A battle-hardened American political consultant is sent to help re-elect a controversial president in Bolivia, where she must compete with a long-term rival working for a compteting candidate.
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    Un crime dans la tête (1962)

    In the midst of the Korean War, squad of soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed. It is the first part an elaborate plan to assassinate the next U.S. President-elect, so that an international Communist conspiracy can place their chosen man, the Vice President-elect to become the next U.S. President.
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    À cause d'un assassinat (1974)

    Investigative reporter, Joe Frady discovers that the Parallax Corporation is assassinating presidential aspirants and covering their tracks by killing witnesses and establishing patsies to be framed as lone gunmen to take the fall for their crimes. Frady goes undercover at the corporation to get the evidence needed to expose them. He collects the proof needed, but before he can expose them, he is set up to be the scapegoat for another presidential candidate assassination and is shot and killed.
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    Président par accident (2003)

    When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, Washington, D.C. alderman Mays Gilliam is unexpectedly picked as his replacement.
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    Swing vote - La voix du coeur (2008)

    In a remarkable turn-of-events, the result of the presidential election comes down to one man's vote.
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    Un homme dans la foule (1957)

    A female radio reporter turns a folk-singing drifter into a powerful media star who could influence who will become the next president of the United States.
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    Président? Vous avez dit président? (1996)

    Two former U. S. Presidents, hated rivals, join forces to expose the current, corrupt President and to prevent his re-election at the risk of their own lives.
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    L'enjeu (1948)

    An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.
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    Bad President (2021)

    The devil encourages media personality, Donald Trump to run for president of the United States, so he can have a political puppet. But throughout Trump's many gaffes, the devil wonders if he even has a chance of winning.
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    Que le meilleur l'emporte (1964)

    The two front runners for their party's presidential nomination, one principled and the other ruthless, vie for the former president's endorsement.
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    L'empire du Grec (1978)

    A fictionalized account of the Greek shipping magnate, Onassis, and his meeting and subsequent marriage to the widow of assassinated U.S. president, Jacqueline Kennedy.
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    Tanner '88 (1988)

    A comical behind-the-scenes look at a former Michigan U.S. Representative's campaign, as he vies for his party's Presidential nomination.

    * The 353 minute movie was initially released as "The Dark Horse", a 1-hour pilot TV movie and broken into a total ten part "Tanner '88" limited run series

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    Pleine lune sur Parador (1988)

    A U.S. actor gets a gig in South American Parador. When the dictator dies, he's forced to play him for real and gets his mistress. Can they change Parador for the better?
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    The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947)

    A bumbling, long-winded and crooked Southern senator, considered by some as a dark horse for the Presidency, panics his party when his tell-all diary is stolen.
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    Running Mates (2000)

    Governor James Reynolds Pryce is the leading candidate to win his party's nomination to be its nominee for the next president of the United States. He needs to select a ticket running mate and the four main influencers in the decision, all happen to be current or former love-interests of the candidate.
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    Le numéro quatre (1972)

    Douglass Dilman, President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate succeeds to the presidency through a series of unforeseeable events. Dillman becomes the first black U. S. President and attempts to end the bigotry standing in his way of leading the nation.
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    Confrontation finale (2000)

    Four members of the media are chosen as moderator and panel for the single televised debate of presidential candidates one week before the election. These four use the debate forum as never before, resulting in what critics call a hijacking of the electoral process.
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    The Magnificent Fraud (1939)

    A con man hires a character actor to masquerade as the recently assassinated dictator of a tiny unnamed Latin American country, so he can bilk the arriving American ambassador out of his fortune.

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