X
- 1999
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
- 1999
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
Summary This satirical comedy uses a high school election as the backdrop to take an uncommon look at ambition, morality, desire, love and the lies we never cease telling ourselves. [Paramount Pictures]
Directed By: Alexander Payne
Written By: Tom Perrotta, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
- 1999
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
- 1999
- R
- Paramount Pictures
- 1 h 43 m
Election
7.8
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Summary This satirical comedy uses a high school election as the backdrop to take an uncommon look at ambition, morality, desire, love and the lies we never cease telling ourselves. [Paramount Pictures]
Directed By: Alexander Payne
Written By: Tom Perrotta, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 33 Critic Reviews
83
91% Positive
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 33 Critic Reviews
83
91% Positive
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
This is a nearly flawless little film, a cheerful nightmare that knows just where it wants to go and uses precisely calibrated comic effects to get there.
American satire rarely comes more winning than Election, an exuberantly caustic comedy that shows the symbiotic relationship between political go-get-'em-ism and moral backsliding.
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 137 User Ratings
7.8
82% Positive
112 Ratings
112 Ratings
14% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
4% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 137 User Ratings
7.8
82% Positive
112 Ratings
112 Ratings
14% Mixed
19 Ratings
19 Ratings
4% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
Sep 17, 2015
This has got to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. It is a very darkly comedic satire that looks into some pretty tough subjects for a high school comedy. But, "Election" isn't really just a high school comedy, it is a look at a set of character who are, mostly, pretty pathetic people, who you both despise yet feel very bad for at the same time. Alexander Payne has gone on to make a lot more well received comedy dramas including "Sideways", The Descendants", and "Nebraska". I still have yet to see these films, but after watching "election", I'm sure they'll be spectacular!
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Resonates with the fluorescent horror of real-life high school, something few movies about this generation have managed to successfully capture.
When it comes to eloquently telling it like it is, Election puts the nation's political pundits to shame.
At best, the humour in Election is perceptive, nasty, pointed, and lets no one off its barbed hook, not even the audience. In other words, it's a lovely piece of satire, made all the more relevant by the setting.
Happily, this irreverent, sharply observant comedy sweeps us into the maelstrom too. Amid the glut of teen movies rolling out of the studios every week, Election deserves special attention.
Jul 13, 2014
Election is a spot on movie about elections, characters and black comedy mixed in for fun. The actors give great lines and they feel like their the character's, they don't seem like they are acting when you watch the movie. Election is one of the best comedy-dramas of the last twenty years !
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Mar 30, 2022
I had heard several great things about Election, and when I saw the film for myself I can totally see the praise for the film. It is filmed and directed beautifully, and the soundtrack is cool. The story is strong with a good structure without being too simplistic or complicated and doesn't fall into the predictability trap, and the humour is just great, there is some clever black humour but there is also some room for some quirkiness as well. The characters are engaging, even Reese Witherspoon's and I can understand where some are coming from when they say she is annoying. This is Matthew Broderick's most likable character since Ferris Bueller in my opinion. Both Broderick and Witherspoon give some of their best work here, and Chris Klein is a welcome presence without overdoing the humour or feeling out of place. All in all, a fantastic movie. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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Feb 27, 2018
The most impressive thing to me about this movie is that it may or may not have been cast according to who happened to be hot enough at the time... and somehow everybody seems like the absolute perfect choice for their respective roles. Everything else that's good about this movie has no doubt already been said.
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Jan 25, 2015
Election is certainly a very well made and very entertaining little flick (heh) with some great acting from Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, but I don't know, I just didn't love it. Alexander Payne's direction is great as always and this one is a very interesting film on the ethics of how far one will go to have success and, above all, is an interesting snapshot of life at this particular high school and in the lives of these kids. The writing is also strong, but ultimately, I just felt like this one meandered a bit. All of it is an exercise in ethics and morals, sure, but I wish it stayed more focused on the election rather than focusing on the personal life of Broderick's character or past events at the school. Adding a bit more depth to the race for Student Government President and disregarding other events a bit would ultimately result in a better film in my mind (though obviously some of the events I wish to shrink are necessary, but I don't think they needed to play as much of a role in the overall story as they did). As a whole, I can certainly see why Election is so widely praised, but I just didn't love it, I guess.
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Production Company
- Bona Fide Productions
- MTV Films
- Paramount Pictures
Release Date Apr 23, 1999
Duration 1 h 43 m
Rating R
Tagline Reading, Writing, Revenge.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Film Independent Spirit Awards
• 3 Wins & 5 Nominations
