Movies Like Primary Colors (1998)

Primary Colors is a 1998 comedy, drama film from Mike Nichols with a MovieMagicScore of 6.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Wag the Dog and Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party.

Comedy Drama

Wag the Dog

1997

During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.

6.9

MagicScore

Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party

2016

Bestselling author and influential filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza reveals the sordid truth about Hillary Clinton and the secret history of the Democratic Party. This important and controversial film releases at a critical time leading up to the 2016 Presidential campaign and challenges the state of American politics.

5.3

MagicScore

State of the Union

1948

An industrialist is urged to run for President, but this requires uncomfortable compromises on both political and marital levels.

6.6

MagicScore

Long Shot

2019

Journalist Fred Flarsky reunites with his childhood crush, Charlotte Field, now one of the most influential women in the world. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte hires Fred as her speechwriter — much to the dismay of her trusted advisers.

6.7

MagicScore

Peyton Place

1957

In the outwardly respectable New England community of Peyton Place, shopkeeper Constance McKenzie tries to make up for a past indiscretion -- which resulted in her illegitimate daughter Allison -- by adopting a chaste, prudish attitude towards all things sexual. In spite of herself, Constance can't help but be attracted to handsome new teacher Michael Rossi. Meanwhile, the restless Allison, who'd like to be as footloose and fancy-free as the town's "fast girl" Betty Anderson, falls sincerely in love with mixed-up mama's boy Norman Page.

6.8

MagicScore

Swing Vote

2008

In a remarkable turn of events, the result of the presidential election comes down to one man's vote.

5.7

MagicScore

Head of State

2003

When a presidential candidate dies unexpectedly in the middle of the campaign, the Democratic party unexpectedly picks a Washington, D.C. alderman as his replacement.

5.6

MagicScore

The American President

1995

Widowed U.S. president Andrew Shepherd, one of the world's most powerful men, can have anything he wants -- and what he covets most is Sydney Ellen Wade, a Washington lobbyist. But Shepherd's attempts at courting her spark wild rumors and decimate his approval ratings.

6.5

MagicScore

Elvis & Nixon

2016

In 1970, a few days before Christmas, Elvis Presley showed up on the White House lawn seeking to be deputized into the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs by the President himself.

6.0

MagicScore

#10

Nixon

1995

A look at President Richard M. Nixon—a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands from within—spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking Watergate scandal that would end his Presidency.

6.9

MagicScore

#11

Viva Zapata!

1952

The story of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, who led a rebellion against the corrupt, oppressive dictatorship of president Porfirio Díaz in the early 20th century.

6.9

MagicScore

#12

Truth

2015

As a renowned producer and close associate of Dan Rather, Mary Mapes believes she’s broken the biggest story of the 2004 election: revelations of a sitting U.S. President’s military service. But when allegations come pouring in, sources change their stories, document authenticity is questioned, and the casualties begin to mount.

6.5

MagicScore

#13

Man of the Year

2006

The irreverent host of a political satire talk show decides to run for president and expose corruption in Washington. His stunt goes further than he expects when he actually wins the election, but a software engineer suspects that a computer glitch is responsible for his surprising victory.

5.9

MagicScore

#14

In the Line of Fire

1993

Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan is a man haunted by his failure to save President Kennedy while serving protection detail in Dallas. Thirty years later, a man calling himself "Booth" threatens the life of the current President, forcing Horrigan to come back to protection detail to confront the ghosts from his past.

7.0

MagicScore

#15

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

1991

Bumbling lieutenant Frank Drebin is out to foil the big boys in the energy industry, who intend to suppress technology that will put them out of business.

6.8

MagicScore

#16

Absolute Power

1997

A master thief coincidentally is robbing a house where a murder—in which the President of the United States is involved—occurs in front of his eyes. He is forced to run, while holding evidence that could convict the President.

6.7

MagicScore

#17

Dave

1993

A sweet-natured Temp Agency operator and amateur Presidential look-alike is recruited by the Secret Service to become a temporary stand-in for the President of the United States.

6.6

MagicScore

#18

The Assassination of Richard Nixon

2004

It’s 1974 and Sam Bicke has lost everything. His wife leaves him with his three kids, his boss fires him, his brother turns away from him, and the bank won’t give him any money to start anew. He tries to find someone to blame for his misfortunes and comes up with the President of the United States who he plans to murder. Based on a true story.

6.5

MagicScore

#19

White House Down

2013

Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.

6.5

MagicScore

#20

Mars Attacks!

1996

A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.

6.4

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Primary Colors?

The top films similar to Primary Colors by MovieMagicScore are Wag the Dog (6.9), Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party (5.3), State of the Union (6.6). Each shares comedy/drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Primary Colors worth watching?

Primary Colors holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.3/10 from 331 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Primary Colors?

Primary Colors (1998) is a comedy, drama film directed by Mike Nichols, starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton.

Where can I find more recommendations like Primary Colors?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more comedy recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Wag the Dog Movies like Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party Movies like State of the Union Movies like Long Shot Movies like Peyton Place Movies like Swing Vote

About movies like Primary Colors

This ranked list pairs Primary Colors (1998), a comedy and drama film from Mike Nichols, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of John Travolta take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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