The American President

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The American President

PG-13

Released Nov 17, 1995

1h 54m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

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55 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

With the end of his first term in sight, widowed U.S. President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) knows that overwhelming public support will guarantee his re-election. But when he falls in love with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), Shepherd's supporters question the relationship, and his approval ratings drop. As a rival presidential candidate goes on the attack, Shepherd must choose between his political career and his love for Sydney.

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Critics Consensus

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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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Part romantic comedy, part Capra-corny political drama, this movie exudes so much sympathy, it sweats.

Jun 24, 2006

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

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.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 20, 2003

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Variety

Genial middlebrow fare that coasts a long way on the charm of its two stars.

Feb 13, 2001

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Don Shanahan

25YL (25 Years Later)

What makes both Douglas's president and the movie itself victorious classics is the combination of edge and enchantment.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 6, 2020

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

When the focus is on romantic comedy, the film is breezy and amusing; but when it switches to dramas involving fundraising and campaigning, it grows stickier.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 9, 2020

Full Review

Mary Nemeth

Maclean's Magazine

Despite lapses into sentimental corn-notably in scenes with the president's 12-year-old daughter-director Rob Reiner has crafted a whimsical fable that packs a deceptive punch.

Oct 15, 2019

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Audience Member

Classic that I have watched up-teen times even though I am not a Democrat :-) LOL Great movie!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/25

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Tania G

This movie influenced me in many ways for years. I’ve been a member of the ACLU because of it. I just watched it again and the story holds up and maybe has some hints as to what going on now.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

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M R

"The American President" feels like it was made in the 1950's. There is something Norman Rockwell Esque regarding the story and directing. I liked it. Rating: 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/25

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Scott M

Enjoy the first half of this movie. The notion of a president who needs a date to his political functions is funny and interesting. Annette Benning is wonderful and a good actress. The second half of the movie is just Sorkin's politics and I'm not a fan.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/06/25

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Audience Member

Different kind of presidential movie - nice love story

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

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R B

This film was even worse than I remembered.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/22/23

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Rob Reiner

Director

Michael Douglas

President Andrew Shepherd

Annette Bening

Sydney Ellen Wade

Martin Sheen

A.J. MacInerney

Michael J. Fox

Lewis Rothschild

David Paymer

Leon Kodak

The American President: Official Clip - White House Sleepover

2:49

The American President: Official Clip - The President's Girlfriend

2:26

The American President: Official Clip - Chief Executive of Fantasy Land

2:43

The American President: Official Clip - People Want Leadership

3:07

The American President: Official Clip - Typical First Date

2:45

The American President: Official Clip - The Flower Shop

3:01

The American President: Official Clip - Character and American Values

3:04

The American President: Official Clip - Sending Flowers

3:02

The American President: Official Clip - Presidential Dating

2:54

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Synopsis

With the end of his first term in sight, widowed U.S. President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) knows that overwhelming public support will guarantee his re-election. But when he falls in love with lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening), Shepherd's supporters question the relationship, and his approval ratings drop. As a rival presidential candidate goes on the attack, Shepherd must choose between his political career and his love for Sydney.

Director: Rob Reiner
Producer: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: Aaron Sorkin
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo, Columbia Tristar, MCA/Universal Pictures [us]
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Universal Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment, Wildwood Enterprises
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 17, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $59.0M
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Surround

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