Presidents Day: 5 Great Movies About U.S. Presidents (And Where to Watch Them)
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Buy Me a Coffee!
Today (February 16, 2026) is the day we celebrate Presidents Day so let’s look at five great movies that expand our understanding and appreciation of the men who have held the office.
Lincoln (2012)
The Steven Spielberg-directed 2012 bio film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as our 16th president. The movie gets a bit maudlin at times, but it’s a must-see for Day-Lewis’ channeling of the man who guided us during the most critical time in our nation’s history. There may not be a better living actor than DDL and Lincoln is the perfect showcase for his unique talents. Watch this film and you’ll think Lincoln is still alive.
Now available for $3.99 on Amazon’s Prime Video.
JFK (1991)
Oliver Stone’s JFK is brilliant filmmaking but, arguably, suspect history. The director takes the many mysteries surrounding Oswald’s actions leading up to the murder and concocts a complex web of conspiracy involving nearly every member of the government. Kevin Costner is at his Jimmy Stewart best as New Orleans prosecutor Jim Garrison who tried to convict a shady Louisiana businessman of being in a plot to kill the president. And the supporting lineup is Hall of Fame worthy with such notables as Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Tommy Lee Jones, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, and Gary Oldman (as Oswald). Despite the loose history, the cast and Stone’s meticulous attention to detail and powerful storytelling make JFK a must-watch for anyone intrigued by the many facets of the Kennedy assassination. (While the movie focuses on the investigation, Stone’s thesis is that President Kennedy was killed for his beliefs and planned policies.)
Now available on Amazon’s Prime Video for $4.99
Death By Lighting – Netflix Original Series
(Okay, we’re cheating a bit here. This is a series, not a movie. But it’s so good that it had to be on the list.) Michael A. Shannon stars as the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, who was assassinated by a disappointed office seeker, played by Matthew Macfadyen (Succession). The series, which chronicles the events of the Garfield presidency leading up to the assassination, is a different look for Netflix which tends to favor modern murder stories (particularly serial killers). But the show is exceptionally well done with great attention paid to period detail and historical accuracy. (Netflix does a much better job with the story than Apple did with Manhunt, the Lincoln-Booth conspiracy series.) Shannon and Macfadyen are at top form here and the supporting cast includes Betty Gilpin as Mrs. Garfield and Nick Offerman as vice president Chester Arthur.
Now available with all plans on Netflix.
Nixon (1995)
Anthony Hopkins doesn’t look a thing like Richard Nixon, but the great actor manages to pull off a magnificent performance as the 37th president of the United States in this drama from director Oliver Stone. The film portrays Nixon as part brilliant and part psychotic, the latter part leading to his entanglement in the Watergate scandal that brought down his presidency. The strong supporting cast includes Joan Allen as the long suffering Mrs. Nixon; Powers Boothe as the manipulating chief of staff, Alexander Haig; Paul Sorvino as Henry Kissinger; and James Woods as H.R. Haldeman, among many other superb performances.
Now available for free at Hoopla, the free online library service. Also available as part of Amazon Prime subscription.
All the President’s Men (1976)
All the President’s Men is a gripping political thriller about the two Washington Post reporters (Bob Woodard and Carl Bernstein) whose stories helped bring down the Nixon presidency. Directed by Alan J. Pakula as part of his personal 70s paranoia trilogy (Klute and The Parallax View the others), the film brilliantly captures the duo’s dedication to ferreting out the truth behind the scandal in spite of the personal and career risks. Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman are at career peaks here and it’s great fun to watch them cook in their prime. Great film!
Now available for $5.99 on Amazon’s Prime Video.
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