Election

R

Released May 7, 1999

1h 43m

Comedy

List

92%

Tomatometer

116 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), a well-liked high school government teacher, can't help but notice that successful student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) uses less than ethical tactics to get what she wants. When Tracy runs for school president, Jim feels that she will be a poor influence on the student body and convinces Paul, a dim-witted but popular student athlete, to run against Tracy. When she becomes aware of Jim's secret involvement in the race, a bitter feud is sparked.

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Critics Consensus

Election successfully combines dark humor and intelligent writing in this very witty and enjoyable film.

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Noel Murray

The Verge

Broderick gives a wonderfully nebbishy performance, and the filmmakers do a fine job of using visual cues to define the smallness of his world.

Sep 30, 2019

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

The comedy may not resonate as deeply as the well-named Payne intends, but between Witherspoon's exuberant solipsism and Broderick's talent for absorbing massive humiliation, the chuckles keep coming like poisoned darts.

Mar 3, 2018

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

The treatment of this touchy material is impressive, neither gratuitous nor mincing, but this 1999 satirical comedy doesn't really go anywhere.

Aug 24, 2010

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Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

To modern eyes, it looks like he’s mad at a teenage girl for getting molested by his friend- something that, through a contemporary lens, makes Jim look a lot more evil than he did 25 years ago (25th anniversary)

Rated: 3/5

Apr 20, 2024

Full Review

Al Topich

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The cast is fun and quirky, but Witherspoon really stands out. She gives a perfect performance.

Jan 6, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A movie of unexpected savagery and caustic wit.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 18, 2021

Full Review

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Munkhchimeg T

One of the good movies in 90s. Liked the 90s vibe and dominant music.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/24

Full Review

Bahad j

In my opinion, I felt that the movie was very good, behind all this, the filmmaker was able to come up with the right festive details to congratulate the members of the behind-the-scenes team.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/10/24

Full Review

Keith S

Very enjoyable from start to finish. It's a good quirky that is refreshingly stimulating.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/13/24

Full Review

Jon L

Reese is incredible in this! Great character and great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Alec C

An incredibly funny and satirizing film of politics, self-delusion and lack or morality, all in the setting of a common high school! The characters are humorously narrating themselves with a sense of self-importance that makes them surprisingly relatable. As the election to class president heats up and the irony increases, we're left in stitches as the circumstances get more bizarre and amoral as you can get!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Johnathon W

Hilarious political satire that shows politics don't change much from high school. The cast is brilliant across the board, with Reese Witherspoon superb as Tracy Flick, an overly ambitious student who scares her teacher (a brilliant Matthew Broderick) so much he tries to sabotage her election. Behind the camera, Alexander Payne delivers a hilarious comedy pointing out the absorbing of politics and elections (at one point, the most popular candidate is the one who promises to dissolve the student government). Just a great, hilarious film from beginning to end.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/15/23

Full Review

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Alexander Payne

Director

Matthew Broderick

James T. 'Jim' McAllister

Reese Witherspoon

Tracy Enid Flick

Chris Klein

Paul Metzler

Jessica Campbell

Tammy Metzler

Mark Harelik

Dave Novotny

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Election: Official Clip - McCallister Must Stop Tracy Now

1:30

Election: Official Clip - Apples, Oranges and Democracy

1:36

Election: Official Clip - Tracy Flick Isn't Upset

1:32

Election: Official Clip - Who Cares About This Stupid Election?

1:38

Election: Official Clip - Pre-Election Prayers

1:56

Election: Official Clip - Seeing Tracy Again

2:11

Election: Official Clip - All Over for McAllister

2:09

Election: Official Clip - Tammy Runs for President

2:09

Election: Official Clip - Slanderous Accusations

2:13

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Synopsis

Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick), a well-liked high school government teacher, can't help but notice that successful student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) uses less than ethical tactics to get what she wants. When Tracy runs for school president, Jim feels that she will be a poor influence on the student body and convinces Paul, a dim-witted but popular student athlete, to run against Tracy. When she becomes aware of Jim's secret involvement in the race, a bitter feud is sparked.

Director: Alexander Payne
Producer: Albert Berger, David Gale, Keith Samples, Ron Yerxa
Screenwriter: Tom Perrotta, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Distributor: MTV Productions, Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Bona Fide Productions, MTV Films
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 7, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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