The American President (1995)
Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 46 | Rotten: 5
A charming romantic comedy with political bite, Rob Reiner's American President features strong lead performances and some poignant observations of politics and media in the 1990s.
Average Rating: 7.2/10
Critic Reviews: 19
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 2
A charming romantic comedy with political bite, Rob Reiner's American President features strong lead performances and some poignant observations of politics and media in the 1990s.
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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 53,824
My Rating
Movie Info
This earnest, intelligent, and well-written romantic comedy is enjoyable and optimistic in classic Hollywood style, even if its idealism doesn't seem quite so credible against the cynical political backdrop of the Nineties. President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas), an unabashedly liberal Democrat, is just gearing up for re-election when he meets an attractive and sharp environmental lobbyist named Sydney Wade (Annette Bening). The two fall in love and the President must soon deal with the
Nov 17, 1995 Wide
Aug 31, 1999
Columbia Pictures
Watch It Now
Cast
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Michael Douglas
President Andrew Shephe... -
Annette Bening
Sydney Ellen Wade -
Martin Sheen
A.J. MacInerney -
Michael J. Fox
Lewis Rothschild -
David Paymer
Leon Kodak -
Richard Dreyfuss
Senator Bob Rumson -
Samantha Mathis
Janie Basdin -
-
Leslie Bega
White House Staffer Lau... -
Beau Billingslea
Agent Cooper -
Ron Canada
Reporter Lloyd -
Frank Cavestani
Rumson Staffer -
Tom Dahlgren
Defense Secretary -
Rick Garcia
Reporter -
Googy Gress
Gil -
Anne Haney
Mrs. Chapil -
Efrat Lavie
Madame D'Astier -
Jordan Lund
Carl -
John Mahon
Chairman of the Joint C... -
John Mahoney
Leo Solomon -
Wendie Malick
Susan Sloan -
Karen Maruyama
Leo's Secretary -
Bernie McInerney
Congressman Millman -
George Murdock
Congressman -
Taylor Nichols
Stu -
Mathew Saks
Congressional Staffer -
Arthur Senzy
Deputy -
Nina Siemaszko
Beth Wade -
Anna Deavere Smith
Robin McCall -
Richard Stahl
Rumson Staffer -
Gail Strickland
Esther MacInerney -
Mark Thompson
Kenneth Michaels -
Clement von Franckenstein
President D'Astier -
Maud Winchester
White House Aide -
Aaron Sorkin
Aide in Bar -
Beans Morocco
Doorkeeper -
Shawna Waldron
Lucy Shepherd -
Andrew Steel
Secret Service Agent -
Steve Gonzales
Hud Secretary -
Thom Barry
Guard -
Joseph Latimore
Secret Service Agent -
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The American President Trailer & Photos
All Critics (51) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (47) | Rotten (5) | DVD (7)
Part romantic comedy, part Capra-corny political drama, this movie exudes so much sympathy, it sweats.
With great looks, a dandy supporting cast, a zinger-filled screenplay by Aaron Sorkin and Mr. Douglas twinkling merrily in the Oval Office, The American President is sunny enough to make the real Presidency pale by comparison.
Genial and entertaining if not notably inspired.
Genial middlebrow fare that coasts a long way on the charm of its two stars.
Top CriticGreat entertainment.
You can't dislike this movie, but you won't be swept away by it either.
Light, fluffy romantic comedy, well acted by Michael Douglas.
Witty, wise, and idealized political romance.
as the 1995 film veers away from the romance, into definable (and dated) political issues, it loses some of its magic.
A potentially good adult romance is undone by a preachy left-wing agenda.
Sorkin starts his West Wing warm-up with a winning political rom-com.
Glorious romantic comedy.
Predictable and PC, but fun.
Good romantic comedy. Some funny irreverence about the White House, and a well-meaning political message.
The casting is inspired, with uniformly crisp performances all around.
While there are a lot of funny lines in the film, well-delivered by an all-star cast, the film's politics are funniest of all.
So-so fantasy about what a more courageous Bill Clinton might have been like.
Audience Reviews for The American President
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Sydney Ellen Wade: How'd you finally do it?
- President Andrew Shepherd: Do what?
- Sydney Ellen Wade: Manage to give a woman flowers and be president at the same time.
- President Andrew Shepherd: Well it turns out, I've got a rose garden.
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- Robin McCall: Fellas, we haven't slept in three years. Can't we forget about work for one night and take a moment to enjoy each other as friends? It's Christmas.
- Lewis Rothschild: It's Christmas?
- Leon Kodak: Yeah. You didn't get the memo?
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