There was a time when the political movies and series Hollywood cooked up were so out there we couldn’t imagine these stories happening in the real world. Of course, now that we live in the darkest timeline, life has gotten much stranger than fiction. With voting in the 2024 Presidential election kicking off soon, we thought you might want to escape with some of our favorite political movies and TV series.
Suggested Reading
‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ – Disney+
This Marvel Studios drama bridges the gap between “Avengers: Endgame” and “Captain America: Brave New World.” It shows exactly how twisted the government’s super soldier conspiracy was and how they only want a specific type of person to be called Captain America.
‘Black Lightning’ – Netflix
Make no mistake, “Black Lightning” is definitely a superhero show. However, the overarching thread that often leads Jefferson Pierce, his family and friends to use their abilities to fight for their city stems from a long-running conspiracy to use the Black neighborhood as a science experiment.
‘Head of State’ – Sling TV
Underneath all the ridiculous jokes, “Head of State” actually delivers a pointed political message about government corruption. Chris Rock is an Alderman who runs an unconventional presidential campaign that ends up connecting with the people.
‘Scandal’ – Disney+/Hulu
Things are so crazy nowadays, we’re having a hard time distinguishing reality from a Shonda Rhimes storyline.
‘The West Wing’ – Max
If only the actual government worked as well as President Bartlett’s fictional administration.
‘Idiocracy’ – Disney+/Hulu
After what we saw at the Republican National Convention, it doesn’t feel like the absurdity of “Idiocracy” is that far off.
‘Deep Impact’ – Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV
If the world is coming to an end, you really want to hear Morgan Freeman’s voice assuring you that everything will be okay.
‘The Manchurian Candidate’ – Max
If you love a good conspiracy thriller, this one’s for you. Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep and Liev Schreiber deliver masterful performances in a twisted tale of power at any cost.
‘Tyler Perry’s The Oval’ – BET+
Politics is basically a never-ending carousel of messy drama, and no one does messy drama like Tyler Perry. This might be the most bonkers show on TV.
‘Hamilton’ – Disney+
Explore the messy origins of American politics and enjoy unforgettable, brilliant musical numbers at the same time.
‘Selma’ – Prime Video, Paramount+
Black folks weren’t invited into American politics. We had to march up to the voting booth and demand a voice. Don’t ever take it for granted.
‘Veep’ – Max
The vice president was suddenly elevated into the spotlight. HBO’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus comedy couldn’t be timelier.
‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ – Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV
Forest Whitaker is absolute perfection as White House butler Cecil Gaines. History is told through his eyes as he balances his life as a Black man with the pressures of being so close to the seat of power.
‘Game of Thrones’ – Max
You’d be hard pressed to find a more high stakes playing field than the politics of the Seven Kingdoms. One wrong move doesn’t result in your career ending…it leads to a painful death.
‘Parks and Recreation’ – Peacock
Big-time presidential politics might lead to great drama, but the ridiculousness of local government is more fun.
‘Benson’ – Prime Video
The legendary Robert Guillaume is endlessly brilliant as butler turned top gubernatorial aide Benson DuBois. He runs the governor’s house, battles with his staff and even helps him create policy. It’s a classic that never gets old.
‘The First Family’ – Sling TV
With the Obama administration still firmly in control, this sitcom gave us another Black president in Christopher B. Duncan as William Johnson. With a star-studded cast as his family, he worked to balance the Oval Office with his life as a father and husband.
‘24’ – Disney+/Hulu
Fair warning: Once you start a “24″ binge, you will not be able to stop until you reach the final hour. Also, we’ll always love Dennis Haysbert as President David Palmer.
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