Top 10 Political Films of All Time | A CineFix Movie List

[@TmasterinoYT]

Cinefix lists need to make a comeback!!

[@Raissa-1456]

Amen

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

They just did with this... 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

And "What's The Difference?"

[@JOrtizDrum]

100% agree. I’ve been introduced to so many amazing films thanks to those lists. Grateful to Cinefix for that.

[@kozakZCH]

Like Kim Kardashian?

[@milohargadine1601]

It feels dirty that Gojira didn’t make the list but you could do a whole top 10 of just Political Allegories so picking Night was still a great call

[@PeterJoll]

It makes me want a Top 10 list of allegorical movies video

[@ADH-pm9zr]

3%er here. Another blistering rundown, Cinefix, I really love what you do. One I think was missed from this one though, while a little on-the-nose is Bob Roberts. It still strikes a chord today and has a brilliant central performance as well as a host of excellent support and cameo roles - Giancarlo Esposito and James Spader being my faves. Keep up the fine work, Cinefix, and love to all you film peeps Xx

[@iagosevatar4865]

Suggestion : a top Ten of the greatests monologue movies of all Time (ex : Marlon Brando in Apocalypse now, the replicant in Blade runner, robin Williams in Will hunting....)

[@Fanciest-Hobo]

Charlie Chaplin's ending speech from the Great Dictator or Sam's monologue about hope from Two Towers

[@HAL-st4ll]

They already did that

[@iagosevatar4865]

@@HAL-st4ll aye, i must have missed it ....

[@josecampos-barahona1520]

Bro yes! Not a movie so it wouldn't qualify but the "Chicanery" screed from Better Call Saul comes to mind.

[@ClaymorTerorist]

+

[@Mark723]

Glad to be part of the 3% - the Top 10 Film videos are the best offerings on KZbin. Thank you. I was happy to see a nod to "The Lives of Others" - this film devastated me eighteen years ago when it was originally released here in the U.S., and again last week when I watched it for the second time in my life. It took me hours to recover. The best line of the film: "To think that people like you ruled a country." Very glad to see the honorable mention for such a magnificent film.

[@neilgh]

The paranoia trilogy is Klute, The Parallax View and All the President's Men. It doesn't include Three Days of the Condor, which was directed by Sydney Pollack not Alan J. Pakula.

[@joppippoj]

thank you!

[@anthonydaniel3545]

Was coming here to say the same thing lol

[@eduardotoscano8916]

Incredible list, as usual for you guys. Surprised not to see "Shin Godzilla" mentioned at least haha

[@RileyZilla1001]

I second that. Great political satire

[@clownpendotfart]

It's an actual political genre film, unlike Night of the Living Dead.

[@BananaBanditos]

The fact that a measurable number of people thought that the film adaptation of Starship Troopers was facist propaganda upon release is wild. The satire isn't subtle at all.

[@gregorstamejcic2355]

Yeah. I was a high school kid back then (from ex-socialist country, but still...). I got it. Many just thought it's Beverly Hills 90210 in space.

[@Tymbus]

no, but its deadpan humour and delivery can easily be taken at face value. I saw the film on its release. I don't think anyone was prepared for it although Robocop should have clued audiences in

[@rvantong]

It should also be noted that on the other side of the aisle, it's also taken at face value.

[@gregorstamejcic2355]

@@rvantong Well, yes and no. There were countries, you see, who were simultaneously socialist and very anti-fascist and anti-stalinist. And Veerhoven always was a comitted anti-fascist, not anti-communist. That said, I'm sure his barbs were generally anti-authoritarian.

[@kelskye]

If that opening propaganda video didn't clue you in, the legless recruiter saying "Infantry made me the man I am today" should have.

[@theowlreviewerofficial]

Ok this should be a good one. Welcome back fellas. What's funny was after the recent presidential debates, I was in the mood to hunt down a couple of Political Movies to watch. Then in came you guys with a list a few weeks later. Great timing.

[@Laurceny]

gravity falls in cinefix…perhaps all i could ever ask for…

[@ChunAsperEndao]

Apart from being one of the most recent contenders in this category, Alex Garland's Civil War certainly fits with the theme of having no real resolution, and I've decided it is one of my favorite political movies. It also holds the distinction of being one of the only movies that I appreciated all the more because of other people's negative reactions. A lot of people were disappointed, even pissed off to find that the movie didn't reflect current politics or their own personal politics, and all I can say to those people is, boy did you miss the point. The movie is very specific in its message that the underlying causes of a civil war don't matter anymore once you're caught in the middle of it, and it operates as a very well-considered indictment of anyone who fantasizes that such a war might be a viable political solution, or that they can somehow live in a war-torn United States while watching its conflict from the outside. I saw people saying that they couldn't be bothered to care about the people and places in the movie if they didn't know what they were fighting about, which again misses the point by a wide margin. If you can watch the monuments of American democracy spoiled by urban combat and not be affected by it unless you know who "the good guys" are, I can't help you. For everyone else, that image would risk losing its power if part of the audience was rooting for/against the the attackers. To think "the good guys won" would undermine the poignant final image, which makes it clear that warfare and societal breakdown can rob everyone of their humanity, even the "enlightened" denizens of first-world democracies.

[@myouman12]

Could not have said this better myself! Excellent job

[@FloraWest]

Oh the speed at which I clicked. One of my favorite things is how long these lists really are with all of the "honorable mentions". So happy to see this. All my love, Part of the 3%

[@gackutog5796]

When Clint talks about movies, everybody listens.

[@henrikhanssen6321]

3 per center. Loved it. I have a great fondness for Dr S. Also Wag the Dog.

[@nin29nin]

Amazed this channel is still around. Good for them

[@gjamdz]

Amazing video as always. I literally had a few goosebumps. I actually thought you were gonna name No Man's Land when you started talking about War Movies, but the selection is great.

[@StonewallSweetsah]

I love these lists so much! They are the reason I initially subscribed to Cinefix

[@creatinotionchannel2680]

Comparing Manchurian Candidate to a zombie film is perfect. Don't think I have ever seen a more chilling movie

[@Cobralalalala]

I would have at least mentioned The Steel Helmet, RoboCop, and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but it was an excellent list none the less. It's hard to argue with any of the choices, and it pushed a couple movies up my must see list. Can't ask for more than that. 😀

[@IDontBeKaren]

I can remember seeing Starship Troopers in theaters and cracking up at the beginning, but no one else was laughing. The satire was lost on them and it made me sad.

[@CM13492]

While I am sad it wasn't mentioned by name, I was so happy to see The Lives of Others on this list. That film was formative in my developing love of cinema as a teenager

[@FloraWest]

I literally clapped my hands when the clip came up. Fantastic film.

[@philipfritz-f8x]

Oof! Good call ! Brilliant film!

[@benstubbins]

I love these lists as they're a great place to find new old films to watch

[@olmogiovannini822]

Yes please, bring the rankings back!

[@ftuT]

Good to see you back. Not sure about this one, a bit vague IMO. But always pleasure to see your lists.

[@woodybalfour8213]

Absolutely brilliant...By far one of the best cinema channels out there...Especially as it takes the width and breadth of the entirety of global cinema into account.

[@blindeyecat101]

Great list. #2 pick is a classic. Need more Cinefix videos

[@hflazo]

WELCOME BACK! Enjoying your videos in Mexico City!

[@EayuProuxm]

We are the 3%! Glad these are back

[@tedioustotoro4885]

I literally got an ad for a Starship Troopers video game while watching this video

[@renanfcorrea]

the game looks fun

[@ncsmith1952]

Same

[@uliczka]

a CineFix list! just what I was missing! and the shoutout to Gravity Falls? iconic.

[@StephenAriagno]

The smartest, best written, best narrated, most educational film lists on KZbin.

[@rodrigueilboudo7102]

Finaly!!!!! A New top video. The way has been long.......

[@ricardodeoliveira5846]

nothing beats cinefix's lists! that's the stuff

[@ohwiseone7069]

Oh Cinefix…how I’ve missed you 🥹

[@mangoman1616]

I wish these videos came out more frequently!

[@melaniemanning2462]

Shin Godzilla is an excellent commentary on the tsunami and Fukushima meltdown in 2011 and the slow moving ineffective bureaucracy of Japan' government.

[@jeremyelmkies383]

I jumped when I saw Paths of Glory picked! In my opinion it’s Kubrick’s greatest movie to this day.

[@MrNotJoker]

the impression I got from this video is Dr Strangelove is the best political movie of all time

[@KennethHoffman-p4k]

In my opinion, it is - hands down.

[@Chiller11]

Cheers for acknowledging the often overlooked star power of Rowdy Roddy Piper.

[@jondaman123]

FINALLY. A mention of The Ides of March. I think that film is severely underrated.

[@joaointiamaralschettino5254]

Brazil´s: Elite Squad: The Enemy Within (2010) - Should be in this list. Worth watching.

[@ahorrell]

You guys always do a great list. I've queued up like 4 of these movies to watch

[@paradisecity0406able]

It's been a hot minute since we've seen a top 10 Cinefix movie list video

[@BananaBanditos]

It's been four months, come on now.

[@yskim2636]

Great presentation. A few on the list I never would have considered “political”. Fascinating stuff!👍

[@victoria.12.03.]

In Hungary there is a brilliant political satire from the 60s, criticizing the regime of late 40s early 50s Hungary. The title is "The Witness". It is absolutely brilliant!!! It was banned for years after the making, because it was too harsh for the reigning political power.

[@danielandrus920]

What a fantastic list! I think one more mention in the category of military/political intersection would be Crimson Tide. I believe it’s a woefully underrated depiction of political and generational conflict done through the lens of a submarine thriller.

[@AltheFolker]

No mention of 'Duck Soup'? Glorious political satire at how petty war can be.

[@isaacmartinez6904]

Night Of The Living Dead, Ikiru, Battleship Potemkin, Paths Of Glory, Z, The Battle Of Algiers and Starship Troopers are amazing movies.

[@Badvision]

😂 what a twist. love these lists. thanks for another and congrats getting through without a mention of “the mirror.. keep up the good work

[@hutch13pbbc]

fantastic list as always. an addition i would liked noted - Oshima's Death By Hanging. Abstract but a powerful film. Paths of Glory, NOTLD, Z, Algiers, Manchurian Candidate, Ikiru, etc - so many classics

[@g.rathbone764]

I’m sure the comments on this video are going to be very polite and civilised

[@StoicTheGeek]

A little disappointed Blackhawk Down wasn’t mentioned in the war category. It’s no Paths of Glory, but it perfectly fits the category. The final scene as they run out is pretty brutal comment.

[@OconByrd519]

Love these lists you guys put together! Would love to see more!

[@historygems1190]

Cmon not one mention of 1984? Great list, need to track down Z …but 1984!

[@pr0jectSkyneT]

Glad the quality of Cinefix is back. I would've thought Network, and Bob Roberts would be on the list.

[@nomadswandering9816]

While I may not necessarily agree with the final picks of this list, I fully understand the reasoning behind these choices. With many of the additional mentions added, this was a good topic overall.

[@FloraWest]

That's why I love their lists-I can't imagine I'll ever fully agree with the whole thing but the choices are well thought out. And the "honorable mentions" making it really a more than top 10 list is a real bonus.

[@sambroecker2713]

CineFix: If we can pick a movie prior to 1970, we will. Excellent list as always, my favorite kind of film snobbery. Gabe me several movies to check out that are new to me.

[@Vladminster]

Pakula didn't direct Three Days of the Condor, it was Sydney Pollack. He did direct All the Presidents Men tho

[@rodgaray]

Great video! But, Alan’s J Pakula the paranoia trilogy are “All the presidents men”, “Klute” and “The parallax view”. Syndney Pollack directed “three days of the condor”

[@Serai3]

Those three films are mentioned in the video, so maybe watch next time before claiming something isn't included.

[@808brian5]

Appreciate the shout out for those of us in the three percent club.

[@Gingerheaddad]

Terrific list. I would offer Danton, Bob Roberts, Elysium, Ivan Grozny (both parts), Buried On Sunday, and Wrong Is Right as contenders in some of the categories.

[@nicegan8902]

One of my favourite political movies is the Australian documentary "Rats in the Ranks" about the mayoral election in a tiny local council. It's just so well done and shows how power struggles at any level can bring out all the tricks you can think of.

[@JP-re9xj]

Me: "What could be more hopeful political cinema than Capra's Mr. Smith?" CineFix: "Kurosawa...." Me: ".....I can't argue." And thank you for including Dave (1993). Most underrated political movie of the 90s. Crazy how each of these categories could be their own Top 10. Only one missing is Aaron Sorkin's greatest achievement, A Few Good Men (but Charlie Wilson's War gets some mentions?). Always thrilled to see these lists!

[@simonwetterlund]

Grave Of The Fireflies is the most haunting anti-war movie ever

[@enriquevarela1522]

Cool video, bring us more!!

[@ZOB4]

I'm always surprised by how many people miss the satirical aspects of Starship Troopers

[@clownpendotfart]

The usual example I see pointed to of someone doing that is Roger Ebert... but his review explicitly refers to it as satire. It's just bad satire.

[@JohnVanDuyne]

Really? How could it be missed?

[@generalrambling7035]

The idea to give each entry a theme worked out surprisingly well. I'm also surprised to what extend I actually agree with the picks. And yes you should have picked Dr. Strangelove over Starship Troopers. All Quiet on the Western Front should be best (anti-)war movie. It was also banned a lot btw. Full Metal Jacket could have been an honourable mention. Casablanca is imho the best propaganda movie of all times. So if it's just about propaganda, it should be ahead; but if it's more about being political, it's Battleship Potemkin. Movies which you haven't mentioned but come to my mind: Judgement at Nuremberg and other political courtroom dramas such as 12 Angry Men. Meet John Doe is another Capra political movie. In a similar line I also see Elmer Gantry. And then there are political movies who are more about media. Such as Network or King of Comedy. I guess those could also be honourable mention in satire. I wouldn't have ended the list with hope and not done the allegory thing. I don't think Night of the Living Dead is such a political movie to end the list with it.

[@joaocardoso6697]

I appreciate how global the list is, I feel like many similiar lists would only include American films

[@TDK360]

I have been waiting for the second place be talked about on CineFlix for years

[@sunainahussain]

I would call Nimona, Sorry to Bother You and Blackkklansman as my favourite political films with Sorry to Bother You in particular being an amazingly sharp, uncomfortable and irreverent combination of allegory and satire I've never seen anywhere else and Blackkklansman being near and dear to me on so many levels but especially because of the experience of watching it in the cinema and being able to laugh, cry and stare in horror along with a whole crowd of strangers I never saw and would never come to know but who understood on the same emotional wavelength that I did. Also Parasite. Emotionally crushed me and I loved every single moment of it.

[@Epicurus341]

Night Of The Living Dead as your number one political film? I'm getting echoes of Star Wars being top of your Westerns list. 😬 It is an excellent example of an allegorical movie. No denying that. But to have it as the top of your list? Very brave. Just to avoid being negative, please may I suggest a couple of Brit movies that would not be out of place on this list? Hidden Agenda (Frances McDormand, Brian Cox, Brad Dourif) and Defence Of The Realm (Gabriel Byrne, Greta Scacchi, Denholm Elliott). Please keep the lists coming - I always learn something new. I had seen the majority of these movies, but Medium Cool was completely unknown to me.

[@dogeshark204]

Day of the Jackal would have been good too

[@popdebris]

I literally cheered and clapped the moment you named the number one film.

[@Nkanyiso_K]

I cant get enough of these lists

[@marcusc4476]

Big fan of the list videos, they help me to find some films to watch. Not just the ones that take the 'spot', but others mentioned in the categories. I struggle knowing what type of movie I enjoy by style of story or filming(in terms of searching). I just know that these are a good starting point!

[@DaveJohnson-d7i]

I called Paths of Glory for the war category as soon as he started talking. Great choice!

[@jbax114]

Have you made an all-time list about time in movies? From Back to the Future to Age of Adeline, this seems to be a great topic!

[@williamblakehall5566]

The Manchurian Candidate is simply one of my favorite movies, and I always get a kick out of a rewatch of Z, but I have to disagree with your two top picks. Ikiru is fine (and even survives a British remake, largely thanks to Bill Nighy), and is my mother's favorite movie, but my own go-to feel-good political movie remains 1964's The Best Man, starring Henry Fonda and based on a play by Gore Vidal. I have been finding Best Man almost as addictively watchable as Manchurian lately and I deeply worry that perhaps we have reached a day when its ideals simply do not matter anymore. As for allegories -- listen, I'm a proud Pittsburgher, but for me Invasion of the Body Snatchers (the original) beats night of the Living Dead hands down. Body Snatchers actually bothers to discuss an idea or two, while Living Dead really is pretty straightforward EC Comics horror. I would love to try to thrash out a list of my own with you guys. Till then, I still need to see Medium Cool.

[@DadCanInJapan]

My favourite political movie? Dr Strangelove. There I said it. (Now in your voice and background music) And while Sean Penn gave a powerful yet tender portrayal of the politician in "Milk", I am going with the 1984 documentary, "The Times of Harvey Milk".

[@DadCanInJapan]

I know you said you weren't doing documentaries, but maybe you could another time.

[@Archivist82]

Love the inclusion of Starship Troopers! My picks would have included Robocop somewhere in the list too, but love the Verhoeven representation! Cinefix is the best 😍

[@TenorioGustavo]

Nice to ser the lists back to form

[@ottokoppius6997]

New Cinefix list? Fastest. Click. Ever.

[@famigliao]

Best Cinefix list of all time

[@Terry.W]

I suppose it depends how wide a net you stretch regarding Political films ..John Wayne would call High Noon a highly political movie ...and I tend to agree with him..

[@erakfishfishfish]

Wayne had less kind words than that for the movie!

[@travisbickle4360]

It is a very poltical film

[@mrndjl]

how about Ashes & Diamonds? Anyway, i was reminded of nightcrawler when medium cool was explained.

[@richardii5989]

Satire is great and all but when you have a film that some take at face value like Starship Troopers, thats when the fun begins pleasantly surprised to see Distinguished Gentleman get a nod.. it really is witty and insightful

[@cgranero1]

I may be alone, but I think Swing Vote is pretty great. It has its flaws, but Costner’s performance is one of his best, I think, and the adds the candidates start making just to pander to his off-the-cuff statements are great.

[@rmcoven]

Great list. You can’t list them all, but Network and Being There would make good additions (I might’ve missed you mentioning being there). The last scene in, the man who shot liberty valance, deserves a mention. You might want to add a superlative category and put Dr. Strangelove there.

[@FloraWest]

Being There did get a nod, Network would have been a good mentions well for sure.

[@brandonwinchester4564]

Maturing is realizing that you seem every film mentioned on a cinefix top 10

[@myu4039]

Bob Roberts! So important now. Scary how much it resonates today.

[@satyb]

My recommendations for political movies that deserve viewing. A Face in the Crowd, Punishment Park, The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (the brilliant Peter Cook), Men with Guns, Rollerball (1975), Series 7 The Contenders and Bob Roberts. Anything can be taken as political in one or another, the NRA would probably claim that Bambi was political.

[@SnehithDevalapalli]

What I love about Cinefix is that I see the top 10 but note down nearly 40 films to watch.

[@TheCreepypro]

one of the best top tens they have ever done!

[@itshelpa]

I am the 3%! 🙂 To the list I will add Lord of War.

[@2003jackb]

Really hope Good Night, and Good Luck is on here. Wonderful film

[@owenL]

Superb. Many thanks for another winner. 🏆 …Now where can I find Paths of Glory & Z…?

[@thelochlord]

I don't know why, but I was so excited to see Welcome to Mooseport show up for a second

[@CAARaeed]

Cinefix is peak movie flex. I wish I had half the knowledge that they do. I've watched very little before 1980

[@calelawlor]

I was really hoping that you would still pick Dr Strangelove for #1 despite the references weaved throughout the entire video

[@rbw3000]

Cinefix posts a list, I watch

[@eduardosilveira6974]

I don’t think this video depicts just how political The Battle of Algiers really is. Imagine making a movie about an armed struggle against European colonialism through the eyes of the resistance fighters in the freaking 60s. I mean, the movie was released a mere four years after the independence of Algeria and was banned in France for five. The FLN used violence against the pied noir (French settlers) including bombing cafes and the movie doesn’t shy away from discussing the morality around the use of violence for deconial struggle. It’s a radical message through and through. (Any similarity with current events is completely accidental) Ok, it actually isn’t. Paradise Now needs a shout for similar reasons.

[@erakfishfishfish]

The liner notes in the Criterion edition go further into the aftermath of the real story. For instance, the woman who bombs a cafe in the film later became a major political figure in Algeria. It’s an uncomfortable thought that literal acts of terrorism is rewarded with positions like that, but at the same time, the Algerians were also victims of French oppression and terrorism. Much like the video’s description of Paths of Glory, the morality of The Battle of Algiers is firmly planted in the grays.