SPRING 2026 FILM DISCUSSION SERIES

American Politics on Film

This spring, the Horowitz Center presents a special film discussion series exploring how American politics has been portrayed on screen across eight decades of cinema. From idealism and corruption to Cold War paranoia, constitutional crisis, media manipulation, and modern campaign machinery, these films trace the evolving story of American democracy through some of the most influential political movies ever made.

Offered virtually, the discussion series takes advantage of as many popular streaming formats as possible to make access easy for participants. The discussion series is like a book club, but with films. 

Choose the films that interest you from the list below, watch them at your convenience before the scheduled discussion, and join the discussions on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

For more information:

Http://www.howardcc.edu/filmfestivals/ 

Need Help Registering Online? Watch this tutorial to walk through the online registration process.

Sign up here: http://www.howardcc.edu/filmfestivals

The Zoom link will be emailed to registered individuals by noon on each discussion day. If you have any questions or problems during registration, contact the Horowitz Center Box Office.

This week: 

February 13

All the King’s Men (1949) 1 hour 50 minutes
A powerful portrait of populism, ambition, and the corrupting force of political power, inspired by the rise of Huey Long. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Storyline:
Based on Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, this powerful drama traces the rise of Willie Stark, a small-town idealist who transforms into a charismatic, manipulative political titan. As Stark amasses influence and bends state government to his will, his journey becomes a cautionary tale about the corrupting force of ambition and the fragile boundary between serving the people and serving oneself. The film’s moral complexity and historical resonance continue to spark debate.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: $3.99

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DivcuGBAHcI 

Coming Up:

February 20

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) 2 hours 6 minutes
A gripping Cold War thriller about psychological manipulation, political infiltration, and the fragility of American institutions. One of the most influential political films ever made.

Storyline:
This Cold War thriller follows a decorated U.S. soldier who returns from Korea haunted by unsettling memories and strange behavior among his fellow platoon members. As a chilling conspiracy involving psychological conditioning emerges, the film delves into fears of political infiltration, brainwashing, and manipulation at the highest levels of government. Blending suspense with social commentary, The Manchurian Candidate remains a landmark in American political cinema.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video for free

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc8LpuM5Bhs 

March 6

Seven Days in May (1964) 1 hour 58 minutes
A tense Cold War thriller in which a high-ranking military officer plots to overthrow the President, exposing the fragility of American democracy in a time of fear and uncertainty.

Storyline:
Set amid rising Cold War tensions, the film follows a U.S. President who faces growing opposition after signing a contentious nuclear disarmament treaty. When a trusted Pentagon insider uncovers signs of a looming military coup led by a charismatic general, he races against time to determine whether the threat is real—and whether constitutional government can survive it. With its tight pacing and stark political urgency, Seven Days in May offers a gripping look at mistrust, ambition, and the possibility of authoritarian overreach within the American system.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: $3.79

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWL06waOAGw 

March 13

The Best Man (1964) 1 hour 42 minutes
Gore Vidal’s sharp and incisive look at a presidential nominating convention, where backroom deals, loyalty tests, and “electability” collide. A timeless study of party machinery, political strategy, and the moral compromises candidates face.

Storyline:
Set during a fictional presidential nominating convention, this drama pits two sharply contrasting candidates against each other: one principled but indecisive, the other ruthless and opportunistic. As party leaders, operatives, and delegates maneuver behind the scenes, the film exposes the strategic calculations and moral compromises that shape American campaigns. Gore Vidal’s screenplay offers a timeless look at ambition, ethics, and the contest for political power.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video for free

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RayRgWFwes8 

March 20

JFK (1991) 3 hours 9 minutes
Oliver Stone’s explosive, fast-paced investigation of the Kennedy assassination, blending historical detail, conspiracy theory, and political paranoia into one of the most debated political films of the last half-century.

Storyline:
When New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison reopens the investigation into President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, he uncovers a labyrinth of conflicting accounts, vanished evidence, and witnesses with unsettling stories. As Garrison pursues his case, the film reconstructs the events leading up to November 22, 1963 through a blend of courtroom drama, flashbacks, interviews, and speculative reconstructions. Oliver Stone’s sweeping, multi-layered narrative explores the intersection of national trauma, political secrecy, and public mistrust—raising enduring questions about how Americans interpret and remember the defining shocks of their era.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: $3.79

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w16bYZ-4nmE 

March 27

Wag the Dog (1997) 1 hour 37 minutes
A sharp, darkly comic look at media manipulation and manufactured political narratives. When a scandal threatens a presidential campaign, a fabricated war becomes the ultimate distraction.

Storyline:
When a presidential campaign faces sudden scandal, a seasoned political fixer teams up with a Hollywood producer to fabricate an overseas crisis and redirect public attention. As the manufactured narrative grows increasingly elaborate, the film reveals how media, spectacle, and storytelling can be manipulated to serve political agendas. This satirical comedy remains strikingly relevant in its examination of public perception and the shaping of national discourse.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: $3.79

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=steA_PZPkc8 

May 8

Game Change (2012) 1 hour 58 minutes
A behind-the-scenes portrait of the 2008 presidential campaign, focusing on the selection of Sarah Palin and the pressures of modern political branding, strategy, and crisis management.

Storyline:
Based on the bestselling book, this behind-the-scenes drama examines the 2008 presidential election through the lens of the McCain–Palin campaign. Focusing on the pressures of rapid candidate selection, media scrutiny, and the challenges of modern political branding, the film provides an intimate look at the personal and strategic tensions inside a national campaign operation. Its portrayal of campaign staff dynamics offers a revealing study of contemporary electoral politics.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: $3.99

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOa98P_Mv68 

May 15

The Post (2017) 1 hour 56 minutes
Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks star in this riveting drama about the publication of the Pentagon Papers. A story of press freedom, government secrecy, and the moral courage required to uphold democratic principles.

Storyline:
Set during the publication of the Pentagon Papers, the film follows Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham and editor Ben Bradlee as they confront legal threats, political pressure, and internal doubts over whether to release classified documents exposing government secrecy about the Vietnam War. Their decision becomes a turning point for press freedom and the relationship between journalism and the state. With high stakes and moral urgency, The Post dramatizes a pivotal moment in American democratic history.

Streaming on Amazon Prime Video: $3.79