In honor of the United States' 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, it's fitting we look back at some of the most unforgettable presidential performances in film and TV. If there's one thing we love as a culture, it's the biopic. But capturing the essence of a political leader isn't always easy. (Looking at you, James Brolin as Ronald Reagan in the TV movie The Reagans.) That said, a few performances particularly stand out, from Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln to Anthony Hopkins in not one but two films.
This list was inspired by my recent conversation with William Franklyn-Miller, who plays George Washington in the new film Young Washington. You can listen to that conversation on the latest episode of the Parting Shot Podcast.
While the performances below make up the best presidential portrayals, a few honorable mentions are worth noting. Frank Langella picked up an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon. (Nixon is perhaps one of the most portrayed presidents in history, right up there with Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.) And while James Brolin's performance in The Reagans wasn't great, his son Josh Brolin did a fantastic job playing George W. Bush in W. Parker Sawyers makes for a great young Barack Obama in Southside with You. And while it's not a traditional film, the documentary The War Room is an essential political doc everybody should watch.
Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
No list of unforgettable presidential portrayals would be complete without Day-Lewis' Abraham Lincoln. In fact, no list of the greatest performances in film history would be complete without it, because it's just that good. Simply put, Day-Lewis became Lincoln.
Paul Giamatti in John Adams
While Day-Lewis' performance in Lincoln is the best on film, Giamatti's performance in John Adams is the best on TV. The HBO limited series is required viewing for anybody looking to honor the memory of the founding fathers.
Anthony Hopkins in Nixon
This is the first of two appearances from Anthony Hopkins on this list. While Oliver Stone's Nixon is certainly biased and almost definitely factually inaccurate, Hopkins' performance as Richard Nixon is a masterclass. He and Joan Allen, who plays Pat Nixon, are chemistry defined. The Oscar nominations they both picked up were well deserved.
Anthony Hopkins in Amistad
Let's just stick with Hopkins, shall we? In the 1997 Steven Spielberg film Amistad, Hopkins picked up another Oscar nomination, this time for playing John Quincy Adams. While the film isn't about Adams, it captures an essential part of history and of Adams' legacy.
John Travolta in Primary Colors
OK, I know what you're thinking: Primary Colors is a fictional film. Sure, yeah, but come on, we all know it's really about Bill Clinton. And when you watch John Travolta's performance, you just can't help but see Clinton.
Sebastian Stan in The Apprentice
While The Apprentice takes place years before Donald Trump became president, it offers insight into his early years in a way we've never seen before. Stan's Oscar-nominated performance walks that fine line between camp and greatness, and you leave the film understanding Trump in a whole new way.
Bruce Greenwood in Thirteen Days
OK, this film is less about Greenwood's performance as John F. Kennedy and more about the gripping days of the Cuban Missile Crisis. That said, Greenwood plays Kennedy in a way that feels real, a difficult task considering how large his legacy looms and how thoroughly it's been mythologized.
Michael Gambon in Path to War
Gambon, probably best known for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter franchise, picked up an Emmy nomination for playing Lyndon B. Johnson in Path to War. What's great about this TV movie is that it brings Johnson to life in a way we've never seen before, capturing his larger-than-life persona and how the Vietnam War shaped his legacy.
Gary Sinise in Truman
While Paul Giamatti's John Adams is arguably the best presidential performance ever on TV, Gary Sinise's Harry Truman in Truman is a worthy second place. Sinise, fresh off an Oscar nomination for Forrest Gump, brings to life a sometimes misunderstood president, one best remembered for two things: succeeding Franklin D. Roosevelt and dropping the atomic bomb.
Kenneth Branagh in Warm Springs
Branagh's performance as a young Franklin D. Roosevelt in Warm Springs isn't talked about a lot, but it captures a fascinating chapter of Roosevelt's story. The film focuses on his battle with polio in 1921, a full decade before he became president, and that moment would define how the world saw him for the rest of his life. Branagh shows it in masterful ways.