Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

      View All
      Movies Tv shows Movie Trivia News Showtimes

      Wag the Dog

      1997, Comedy/Drama, 1h 37m

      78 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      Smart, well-acted, and uncomfortably prescient political satire from director Barry Levinson and and all-star cast. Read critic reviews

      You might also like

      See More
      Open Range
      The Cider House Rules
      Fearless
      Primary Colors
      John Grisham's The Rainmaker

      Where to watch Wag the Dog

      Rent/buy Rent/buy Rent/buy

      Rent Wag the Dog on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, or buy it on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu.

      Rate And Review

      User image

      Verified

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Rate this movie

        Oof, that was Rotten.

        Meh, it passed the time.

        It’s good – I’d recommend it.

        Awesome!

        So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

        What did you think of the movie? (optional)



      • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Step 2 of 2

        How did you buy your ticket?

        Let's get your review verified.

        • Fandango

        • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

        • Cinemark Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Regal Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Theater box office or somewhere else

        You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

      • User image

        Super Reviewer

        Rate this movie

        Oof, that was Rotten.

        Meh, it passed the time.

        It’s good – I’d recommend it.

        Awesome!

        So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

        What did you think of the movie? (optional)

      • How did you buy your ticket?

        • Fandango

        • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

        • Cinemark Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Regal Coming Soon

          We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

        • Theater box office or somewhere else

      Wag the Dog  Photos

      Wag the Dog (1997) Wag the Dog (1997) Wag the Dog (1997) Wag the Dog (1997) Wag the Dog (1997) Wag the Dog (1997)

      Movie Info

      Two weeks prior to reelection, the United States president lands in the middle of a sex scandal. In need of outside help to quell the situation, presidential adviser Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) enlists the expertise of spin doctor Conrad Brean (Robert De Niro), who decides a distraction is the best course of action. Brean approaches Hollywood producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman) to help him fabricate a war in Albania -- and once underway, the duo has the media entirely focused on the war.

      • Rating: R (Language)

      • Genre: Comedy, Drama

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: Barry Levinson

      • Producer: Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson, Jane Rosenthal

      • Writer: Larry Beinhart, Hilary Henkin, David Mamet

      • Release Date (Theaters):  wide

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $43.0M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: New Line Cinema

      • Production Co: Punch Productions, New Line Cinema, Baltimore Pictures, Tribeca Productions

      • Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Stereo, SDDS, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital

      • Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

      Cast & Crew

      News & Interviews for Wag the Dog

      Critic Reviews for Wag the Dog

      Audience Reviews for Wag the Dog

      • May 26, 2021

        This screenplay likely shook things up during the Clinton administration, yet, tragically by this point, seems like what an average week for Trump's press secretaries must've been like. 'Wag the Dog' still lands its ceaselessly relevant satire with a steady stream of sass (anchored by a spicy, blithering Dustin Hoffman) and the wrap-up delivers the right amount of bite.

        marisol m Super Reviewer
      • Apr 22, 2019

        Great film that is a black satire on politics and the many scandals surrounding officials in the oval office. This is a mainstream indie film that works well and provides evidence of the importance of storytelling and character. A strong script in development is a must and you can see this is a passion film for everyone involved. The film was made in 28 days, that fact should entice you all the more, structured film. Hoffman and Levinson are a dynamite team and they offer a film that is more commercial compared to Sphere, which I did review favourably. Wag the Dog is a great film and one film you should watch before reviewing the events of the Clinton scandal. 18/04/2019

        brendan n Super Reviewer
      • May 22, 2014

        Hoffman and De Niro seem to have a contest as to who can bore the other more effectively. This film which could have been an interesting talking point instead becomes a forgettable food note.

        Super Reviewer
      • Jul 26, 2013

        Wag the Dog is an average dark comedy that relies on a great cast and an effective script. Enjoyable, but could have been better, this film is a bit dull at times and suffers from a so-so script. The idea is good, but the result is a decent film that just touches the surface of what it tries to accomplish. The cast were quite good and they clearly try to elevate film's material. This is a decent affair, but it could have been much better than what it turned out to be. I was really looking forward to seeing this one, but I was slightly let down. I expected a much better film than this and though it has a great cast, it never becomes anything truly worthwhile to rewatch again. With its ideas, Wag the Dog could have been a standout feature, but it just ends up being a so0so movie that never really takes off. I thought that there could have been more effort put into this one, and though it is a decent film, it's also quite dull in places and it should have been better. This may appeal to viewers looking for satire, but there are some elements missing to make it the film that it should have been. Enjoyable, but flawed, Wag the Dog is decent fun with a cast that try their best at making this a film watchable experience. The idea makes this film enjoyable, but simply can't shrug off how could this one could have been otherwise. Wag the Dog is fun, and quite decent, but it could have been much better.

        Super Reviewer

      Movie & TV guides

      View All