From ‘Lincoln’ to ‘Elizabeth’ – Top Movies about Political Leaders

Politics is a fundamental part of any society. It helps people organize their lives and thrive. However, not all countries have a successful political system. In some cases, it may ruin the well-being of entire nations. To understand why it happens this or that way, you should learn more about the subject. Let’s consider in more detail why it’s important to educate yourself about politics.

Why study politics?

First of all, it helps you know your rights. You will see how you can engage in political processes, using the pressure points built into the system. Eventually, you will realize how your decisions help to change the world. Secondly, studying politics is the way to discover your own political beliefs as you can notice the advantages and disadvantages of different ideologies. 

What’s more, it prepares youths for adult life. Being an adult means having the right to vote in government elections. By having in-depth understanding of political processes, you can make more thoughtful choices. If you feel that your school program doesn’t provide you with sufficient knowledge, you can choose among completely free essays about politics on the web to get more information on this topic. There are a lot of online resources offering free materials for students studying politics, so you can find something interesting on the Internet. If you don’t like reading, then watch a movie about great political leaders. Consider some of the best films below!

Top movies about political figures

Lincoln (2012)

This movie was directed by Stephen Spielberg and released in 2012. Day-Lewis stars as the legendary President Abraham Lincoln at the beginning of his second term. At that time the American Civil War was raging on, so Lincoln had to take radical decisions that faced strong opposition. The President made huge effort to abolish slavery and deal with his family issues, which deserves much respect. This movie sheds life on the American political system, so you can learn a lot from it.

Frost/Nixon (2008)

The events shown in this film take place in 1977, three years after the post-Watergate resignation of Nixon. You will see how David Frost persuaded Nixon to record a series of interviews in order to demonstrate his journalistic skills. While Frost was trying to use Nixon’s broken reputation to become a serious reporter, the former president viewed this as a chance to clear his name. This movie directed by Ron Howard was released in 2008. The main characters are played by Martin Sheen and Frank Langella.

Elizabeth (1998)

If you want to dig deeper into the biography of Queen Elizabeth I, you should watch this movie. The historical drama portrays her transformation from an innocent young woman into England’s legendary “Virgin Queen.” The film does not only tell a story of the endless attempts made by her council to marry her off but also shows what decisions the Queen made when Britain was bankrupt and divided. ‘Elizabeth’ was directed by Shekhar Kapur and released in 2008.

The Gathering Storm (2002)

The movie shows Winston Churchill’s wilderness years before World War II. You can see how he was perceived by people in the 1930s, being out of government and sitting at a backbench Member of Parliament. In fact, Churchill was a lonely voice warning about German rearmament. Besides, he lost almost all his money in the Wall Street crash so the future Prime-Minister confronted debt and depression. How did he manage to become an energetic hero and national hero eventually? You can understand it by watching this movie directed by Richard Loncraine in 2002.

Gandhi (1982)

This biographical movie is based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement. His nonviolent approach impressed people and inspired political leaders of the 20th century. Since Gandhi’s philosophy was praised all over the world, numerous artworks about his views have been created until now. This film released in 1982 received eleven nominations at the 55th Academy Awards and won eight of them. ‘Gandhi’ became a great  commercial success as it grossed over $127 million on a $22 million budget.

Final thoughts

Watching movies is not just a form of entertainment. Actually, films can serve for educational purposes as well. For example, you can watch The Gathering Storm, Gandhi, Lincoln, Elizabeth or Frost/Nixon to learn more about outstanding political figures. Choose the movie that meets your interests and enjoy your time!