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Dennis Quaid's Reagan has just arrived in theaters on August 30, 2024.
Directed by Sean McNamara, Reagan is a biographical political drama released by ShowBiz Direct. The screenplay, written by Howard Klausner, is based on Paul Kengor's 2006 political biography, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism.
The film stars Dennis Quaid in the eponymous role alongside Penelope Ann Miller, Jon Voight, Mena Suvari, Lesley-Anne Down, Kevin Dillon, and others in prominent characters throughout the film.
Reagan is a dramatized retelling of the life and legacy of the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The film chronicles Reagan's personal life alongside his political career, narrated through the eyes of a retired KGB agent.
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If you find politically charged films or dramatized biopics interesting, then Reagan would be a great film to catch in the theaters right now. And for those who are looking for more similar titles, we have curated a list of films that share thematic elements with Reagan.
All the President's Men, Lincoln, and 5 more of the best political movies to watch if you like Reagan
1) All the President's Men
All the President's Men is a biographical political thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures. Alan J. Pakula directed the movie with a screenplay written by William Goodman, which was an adaptation of Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward's 1974 non-fiction book of the same name based on the infamous Watergate scandal.
The cast featured Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Hal Holbrook, Stephen Collins, and others portraying pivotal characters. The film was a critical favorite and received multiple prestigious accolades after its release in 1976.
All the President's Men recalls one of the largest scandals in American history, the Watergate scandal. The film revolves around the investigative journalists who uncovered the corruption that ultimately led to the demise of the Nixon presidency.
All the President's Men is available to stream on Pluto TV.
2) Selma
Selma is a historical political drama from Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by Ava DuVernay with a screenplay written by Paul Webb and was based on the iconic 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery. The film premiered at the 2014 AFI Festival before releasing in theaters as a 50-year commemoration of the march.
The cast featured David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Oprah Winfrey, and other notable faces in pivotal roles. The film received widespread critical acclaim for its direction and performances by the lead, winning numerous accolades under its name.
Selma depicts the story of the iconic 1965 march led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. demanding equal voting rights. The march from Selma to Montgomery faced numerous hurdles, as did their demands of voting rights, but ultimately culminated with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Selma is currently streaming on Prime Video, FuboTV, MGM+, and Paramount+.
3) Lincoln
Lincoln is a political biography drama film from Walt Disney Studios. Produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, the screenplay was written by Tony Kushner, taking inspiration from Pulitzer Prize-winning Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2005 nonfiction, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. The film premiered at the 2012 New York Film Festival before its wide release.
The film starred Sir Daniel Day Lewis in the titular role alongside Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Adam Driver, David Strathairn, and others in pivotal roles. Lincoln was a critical and commercial success, earning universal acclaim for Spielberg's direction and Lewis' performance. The film won numerous accolades under its name, including two Oscars and a Golden Globe.
Lincoln, as the name suggests, revolves around Abraham Lincoln's presidency, focusing particularly on his efforts to abolish slavery by bringing in the Thirteenth Amendment.
Lincoln is currently not streaming on any platform. However, the film can be bought or rented from Amazon Video, Apple TV, or Microsoft Store.
4) Milk
Milk is a biographical drama from Focus Features. Gus Van Sant directed the film with a screenplay written by Dustin Lance Blank. The film was released in theaters in 2008 and was part of a long list of on-screen depictions of Harvey Milk's life.
The cast featured Sean Penn in the eponymous role alongside Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, and others in pivotal roles. The film received widespread praise for the direction as well as the phenomenal performances by the lead actors.
Similar to Reagan, Milk chronicles the life and story of Harvey Milk, America's first openly gay man to be elected to public office. Set in 1970s San Francisco, the film follows his journey from being a businessman to a social activist demanding change, and ultimately his tragic 1978 assassination.
Milk can currently be streamed only on History Vault in the U.S.
5) Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a British political biographical drama film from PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the screenplay was written by Michael Hirst. The film premiered at the 1998 Venice Film Festival before releasing in theaters across the U.S. at the beginning of the next year.
The cast featured Cate Blanchett as the eponymous character, alongside Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Christopher Eccleston, and others in pivotal roles in the story. Elizabeth was a favorite among the critics and the audience, earning praise for Blanchett's acting prowess along with the direction and production designs.
Just as Reagan is a recollection of Ronald Reagan's legacy, Elizabeth tells the story of Queen Elizabeth I. Set in late 16th-century England, the film depicts Elizabth's journey from her ascention to establishing herself as a capable monarch in an age of political and religious turmoil.
Elizabeth can be streamed in the U.S. with a subscription to Starz.
6) Frost/ Nixon
Frost/ Nixon is a historical political drama film from Universal Pictures. The film was released in 2008 as a cinematic adaptation of Peter Morgan's 2006 play of the same name, which itself was based on the iconic 1977 interview of U.S. President Richard Nixon by the British journalist David Frost. Ron Howard directed the movie while Morgan adapted the screenplay.
The cast featured Michael Sheen and Frank Langella in the titular roles, alongside Toby Jones, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen, Rebecca Hall, and others in pivotal roles. Although Frost/ Nixon received widespread critical acclaim, it was a commercial bust.
The film depicted the fierce exchange between Robert Frost and President Nixon during a series of interviews in 1977. Their intense dialogue even led to Nixon admitting to wrongdoings during his term and in the Watergate incident.
If you want to stream the film, renting it or buying the title from Apple TV, Amazon Video, or the Microsoft Store is your only option. Frost/ Nixon is currently not available on any other streaming platforms.
7) Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a dark comedy political satire from the house of Columbia Pictures. Stanley Kubrick, one of the greatest filmmakers to live, wrote, directed, and produced the film, taking inspiration from Peter George's 1958 thriller novel, Red Alert.
The film starred Peter Sellers in multiple roles, including that of the eponymous character, alongside others like George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Slim Pickens, and others in supporting roles. Dr. Strangelove was a landmark film and is widely considered among the greatest comedies ever made.
While it is quite different from all the other titles on this list, Dr. Strangelove is a satirical take on nuclear warfare and Cold War politics, an era which President Reagan saw wane. For those who are intrigued by Reagan, Dr. Strangelove is a great film to watch next.
Dr. Strangelove isn't available on any subscription OTTs and has to be rented or bought from Apple TV, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, or Spectrum on Demand.
These are our top picks of movies delving into the genres of history and politics. If you want to watch a more recently released film, Reagan is now playing in theaters.
