6 Best Political Scandal Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 27, 2026

Cover-ups and moral compromise power sharp political dramas. Vice follows a bureaucrat’s quiet rise to power, The Ides of March has a press secretary disillusioned by ruthless corruption, and Frost/Nixon has televised interviews pushing a disgraced president. Primary Colors, Wag the Dog and All the President’s Men round out the six.

Vice (2018)

IMDb ★ 7.2 RT 64% Metacritic 61

Dick Cheney's quiet accumulation of vice-presidential power, told with deliberate stylistic excess.

Directed by Adam McKay · 2h 12m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar35 wins & 139 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Ides of March (2011)

TMDB ★ 7.0

An idealistic campaign press secretary is disillusioned by the ruthless corruption behind a presidential run.

Directed by George Clooney · 1h 41m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Frost/Nixon (2008)

IMDb ★ 7.6 RT 93% Metacritic 80

A British talk-show host's interviews with the disgraced Nixon become a real reckoning.

Directed by Ron Howard · 2h 02m · Rated R

Nominated for 5 Oscars24 wins & 81 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Primary Colors (1998)

TMDB ★ 6.3

An idealistic campaign staffer discovers the messy compromises behind his charismatic candidate's presidential run.

Directed by Mike Nichols · 2h 23m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Wag the Dog (1997)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A spin doctor and a Hollywood producer fabricate a fake war to distract from a presidential sex scandal.

Directed by Barry Levinson · 1h 37m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

All the President's Men (1976)

IMDb ★ 7.9 RT 95% Metacritic 84

Two Washington Post reporters slowly unravel the Watergate conspiracy.

Directed by Alan J. Pakula · 2h 18m · Rated PG

Won 4 Oscars17 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: TCM · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Political Scandal Movies

Vice (2018)

The Ides of March (2011)

Frost/Nixon (2008)

Primary Colors (1998)

Wag the Dog (1997)

All the President's Men (1976)

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