Movies like The Contender

If you like "The Contender" you are looking for political, political thriller and serious movies about / with politics, election, strong female lead, president, idealism, campaign and conspiracy themes of Drama and Thriller genre shot in USA or Germany.
Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps: 1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below). 2. Look for them in the presented list.
The Contender (2000)
 6.9
 26K
The Contender (2000)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA, Germany, UK
Duration: 126 min.
Story: Political thriller about Laine Hanson's nomination and confirmation as Vice President. An allegation that she was involved in a sexual orgy at the age of 19 is leaked to the press. As pressure mounts on Laine, she's torn between fighting back or sticking to her principles and refusing to comment on the allegations.
Style: political, political thriller, serious, sincere, suspense, realistic, talky, dark, independent film, contemplative ...
Plot: politics, election, strong female lead, president, idealism, campaign, conspiracy, vice president, political intrigue, government, sex scandal, society, dishonesty, state affairs, american politics, head of state, women, corruption, secrets, affair, illicit affair, u.s. president, strong sexual content, feminist, usa politics ...
Time: 90s, 20th century
Place: washington d.c., usa, virginia, ohio, california

Movie in categories

Most similar movies to The Contender

The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out political, realistic, serious and suspense films with plots about politics, state affairs, politician, corruption, political corruption, dishonesty and greed mostly in Drama, Thriller and History genres. Some movies like The Contender: The Ides of March (2011), JFK (1991), Primary Colors (1998), Advise & Consent (1962), Deterrence (1999). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
The Ides of March (2011)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story: Dirty tricks stand to soil an ambitious young press spokesman's idealism in a cutthroat presidential campaign where 'victory' is relative.
Style: political thriller, talky, tense, political, suspense ...
Audience: adult
Plot: politics, election, political intrigue, campaign, lobbyist, twists and turns, presidential campaign, intern, media, political corruption, conspiracy, corruption ...
Time: year 2011, future, 2010s, 70s, 21st century
Place: ohio, usa, columbus ohio, iran, cincinnati ohio ...
Similarity:
100%
 8.0
 181K
JFK (1991)
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, France
Duration: 189 min.
Story: New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison discovers there's more to the Kennedy assassination than the official story.
Style: tense, political thriller, controversial, political, disturbing ...
Plot: investigation, assassination, kennedy assassination, president, political conspiracy, conspiracy theory, legal, politics, cia, assassination of president, cold war era, courtroom ...
Time: 20th century, 60s, 90s, year 1991, year 1963
Place: america, washington d.c., north america, midwest, chile ...
Similarity:
100%
 6.7
 31K
Primary Colors (1998)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK, France, Germany, Japan, USA
Duration: 143 min.
Story: In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the ...
Style: political, cynical, thought provoking, intense, witty ...
Plot: politics, scandal, satire, president, idealism, propaganda, adultery, presidential election, political satire, election, media, political corruption ...
Time: 90s, 20th century, 70s
Place: new york, florida, washington d.c., new hampshire, miami ...
Similarity:
100%
Advise & Consent (1962)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 139 min.
Story: A Senate investigation into the President's newly-nominated Secretary of State gives light to a secret from the past, which may not only ruin the candidate, but the President's character as well.
Style: political, black and white, realistic, clever, thought provoking ...
Plot: closeted homosexual, politics, gay bar, courtroom drama, president, cold war, political corruption, journalism, american politics, corruption, government, secret past ...
Time: year 1962, 60s, 20th century, 70s, 1930s
Place: washington d.c., new york, usa, manhattan new york city
Similarity:
47%
 6.4
 3K
Deterrence (1999)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: France, USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story: The President of the United States must deal with an international military crisis while confined to a Colorado diner during a freak snowstorm.
Style: tense, suspenseful, independent film, talky, serious ...
Plot: nuclear war, nuclear bomb, nuclear, politics, nuclear threat, diner, president, snow, usa politics, government, politician, nuclear explosion ...
Time: future, year 1999, near future, 2000s, year 2008 ...
Place: iraq, colorado, usa, baghdad iraq, korea ...
Similarity:
42%
 5.7
 4K
Power (1986)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story: Pete St. John is a powerful and successful political consultant, with clients spread around the country. When his long-time friend and client Ohio senator Sam Hastings decides to quit politics, he is rapidly drafted to help with the campaign of the ...
Style: clever, serious, realistic, cynical, political ...
Plot: politics, political corruption, campaign, cover up, manipulation, fighting the system, state affairs, society, journalism, legal, dishonesty, ambition ...
Time: 80s
Place: usa, seattle, new york, washington d.c.
Similarity:
42%
 7.0
 13K
The Candidate (1972)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min.
Story: Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.
Style: political, witty, cynical, thought provoking, biting ...
Plot: politics, election, american politics, satire, father son relationship, underdog, political campaign, campaign, political rally, candidate, election campaign, idealism ...
Time: 20th century, 70s, year 1972
Place: california, usa, san francisco, north america, san diego california ...
Similarity:
41%
Nothing But the Truth (2008)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story: When reporter Rachel Armstrong writes a story that reveals the identity of a covert CIA operative, the government demands that Rachel reveal her source. She defies the special prosecutor and is thrown in jail. Meanwhile, her attorney, Albert ...
Style: psychological, political, suspenseful, twisted, emotional ...
Plot: journalism, cia, courtroom drama, reporter, lawyer, media, courtroom, corruption, espionage, murder, conspiracy, assassination attempt ...
Time: year 2008, 20th century, 21st century
Place: usa, washington d.c., persia
Similarity:
41%
Movie in collections
Commander in Chief (2005)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: Commander in Chief is an American drama television series that focused on the fictional administration and family of Mackenzie Allen, the first female President of the United States, who ascends to the post from the Vice Presidency after the death ...
Style: sincere, realistic, serious, political, talky ...
Plot: white house, head of state, legal, rise to the top, sexism, idealism, workplace, society, workplace intrigue, workplace situations, government official, rivalry ...
Time: 21st century
Place: washington d.c., usa
Similarity:
40%
Seven Days in May (1964)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 118 min.
Story: A U.S. Army general alerts the president of a planned military coup against him.
Style: political thriller, tense, political, black and white, suspense ...
Plot: cold war, conspiracy, politics, u.s. air force, white house, terrorism, president, coup d'etat, u.s. president, betrayal, mistress, espionage ...
Time: 60s, 20th century, future, 70s
Place: austin texas, russia, texas, spain, america ...
Similarity:
40%
 7.6
 4K
The Best Man (1964)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story: The other party is in disarray. Five men vie for the party nomination for president. No one has a majority as the first ballot closes and the front-runners begin to decide how badly they want the job.
Style: serious, realistic, cynical, political, rough ...
Plot: politics, election, political intrigue, election campaign, american politics, corrupt politician, rise to the top, rivalry, head of state, media, state affairs, opponent ...
Time: 60s
Place: los angeles
Similarity:
39%
All the King's Men (2006)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Germany, USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story: The story of an idealist's rise to power in the world of Louisiana politics and the corruption that leads to his ultimate downfall. Based on the1946 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel written by Robert Penn Warren.
Style: political, harsh, captivating, serious, realistic ...
Plot: manipulation, fighting the system, bodyguard, politics, corruption, political corruption, blackmail, mistress, moral ambiguity, journalist, world politics, governor ...
Time: 1930s, year 2006, 20th century, 1950s, 50s
Place: louisiana, usa, new orleans, southern usa, new jersey
Similarity:
39%
The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story: Respected liberal Senator Joe Tynan is asked to to lead the opposition to a Supreme Court appointment. It means losing an old friend and fudging principles to make the necessary deals, as well as further straining his already part-time family life. ...
Style: realistic, serious, clever, suspenseful, political ...
Plot: politics, political corruption, infidelity, betrayal, state affairs, dishonesty, relationship vs career, moral dilemma, couple relations, workplace, legal, workplace situations ...
Time: 70s, year 1979
Place: usa, washington d.c.
Similarity:
39%
 7.3
 5K
King's Game (2004)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Denmark, Sweden
Duration: 107 min.
Story: Starting a new job as a political journalist at a leading newspaper, Ulrik Torp witnesses a brutal struggle for power in the Midparty's ranks -- a struggle that coincides with the charismatic party leader's involvement in a near fatal car ...
Style: political thriller, realistic, serious, suspenseful, stylized ...
Plot: politics, conspiracy, journalist, politician, political scandal, parliament, campaign, state affairs, dishonesty, journalism, trust, nordic ...
Time: 21st century
Place: denmark, copenhagen, europe
Similarity:
39%
Murder in the First (1995)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: France, USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story: Inspired by a true story. A petty criminal sent to Alcatraz in the 1930s is caught attempting to make an escape. As punishment he is put in solitary confinement. The maximum stay is supposed to be 19 days, but Henri spends years alone, cold and in ...
Style: suspense, period piece, emotional, depressing, dark ...
Plot: prison, courtroom, alcatraz, lawyer, court, courtroom drama, legal, justice, murder, escape attempt, corporal punishment, torture ...
Time: 1940s, 1930s, year 1941, 20th century, year 1938
Place: san francisco, bay area, usa, california
Similarity:
39%
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story: The Manchurian Candidate is a political thriller from American director John Frankenheimer. An American soldier is brainwashed into being a killer for the communist Russians during the Korean War.
Style: political thriller, psychological, political, suspenseful, suspense ...
Audience: date night
Plot: conspiracy, cold war, political conspiracy, brainwashing, assassin, manipulation, nightmare, senator, cold war era, communism, korean war, election ...
Time: 1950s, 20th century, year 1962, 50s, year 1952
Place: new york, north korea, china, washington d.c., korea ...
Similarity:
38%
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story: When his army unit was ambushed during the first Gulf War, Sergeant Raymond Shaw saved his fellow soldiers just as his commanding officer, then-Captain Ben Marco, was knocked unconscious. Brokering the incident for political capital, Shaw eventually ...
Style: suspense, political thriller, clever, tense, political ...
Plot: conspiracy, gulf war, political conspiracy, brainwashing, mind control, political corruption, assassin, politics, covert operation, senator, corporation, sniper ...
Time: 20th century, 2000s, year 2004, future, 90s ...
Place: iraq, usa, new york, washington d.c.
Similarity:
50%
 8.6
 557K
House of Cards (2013)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 50 min.
TV show
Story: Set in present day Washington, D.C., House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood, a ruthless and cunning politician, and his wife Claire who will stop at nothing to conquer everything. This wicked political drama penetrates the shadowy world of ...
Style: clever, serious, political, cynical, captivating ...
Audience: boys' night, teens, adult
Plot: politics, political intrigue, political corruption, state affairs, manipulation, intrigue, strategy, usa politics, lobbyist, u.s. president, journalism, media ...
Time: 2010s, 2000s, 21st century
Place: washington d.c., usa, syria
Similarity:
38%
Movie in collections
 6.3
 6K
True Colors (1991)
Genre: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story: Two law school friends find themselves at odds when one becomes a Justice Department lawyer and the other goes into politics.
Style: political, talky, intense, realistic, captivating ...
Audience: girls' night
Plot: politics, friendship, political corruption, betrayal, manipulation, legal action, college, corruption, society, rivalry, dishonesty, campaign ...
Time: 90s, 20th century, year 1991
Place: usa, washington d.c., virginia, florida, connecticut ...
Similarity:
38%
Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 155 min.
Story: After a senator suddenly dies after completing (and sealing) an investigation into the nuclear power industry, the remaining senator and the state governor must decide on a person who will play along with their shady deals and not cause any ...
Style: political, talky, independent film, serious, realistic ...
Audience: boys' night, teens, girls' night
Plot: politics, hippie, murder, death, corruption, cowboy, vietnam war, senator, heroes, campaign, injustice, pardon ...
Time: 70s
Place: washington d.c., usa, los angeles
Similarity:
38%
 7.0
 34K
Nixon (1995)
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 192 min.
Story: An all-star cast powers this epic look at American President Richard M. Nixon, a man carrying the fate of the world on his shoulders while battling the self-destructive demands within. Spanning his troubled boyhood in California to the shocking ...
Style: political, factual, compassionate, talky, intense ...
Plot: politics, vietnam war, government, american politics, political corruption, biopic, nixon, campaign, election, conspiracy, political leader, manipulation ...
Time: 20th century, 60s, 70s, year 1972, year 1973 ...
Place: washington d.c., chile, north america, china, vietnam ...
Similarity:
38%
 6.9
 138K
Syriana (2005)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: United Arab Emirates, USA
Duration: 128 min.
Story: The Middle Eastern oil industry is the backdrop of this tense drama, which weaves together numerous story lines. Bennett Holiday is an American lawyer in charge of facilitating a dubious merger of oil companies, while Bryan Woodman, a ...
Style: political thriller, cerebral, political, intense, serious ...
Plot: terrorism, espionage, corruption, cia, capitalism, spy, oil, globalization, conspiracy, middle east conflict, politics, terrorist ...
Time: 2000s, 20th century, year 2005, 21st century
Place: middle east, iran, lebanon, usa, israel ...
Similarity:
37%
Affairs of State (2018)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story: A young campaign aide gets in way over his head when he sleeps with the wife of a presidential candidate, sending him into a downward spiral of corruption and blackmail. He is left fighting not only for his career, but also his life.
Style: erotic, captivating, political thriller, suspense, tense ...
Plot: campaign, older woman younger man sex, senator, forbidden love, political activism, blackmail, hot and sexy, political unrest, political intrigue, assassination, male female relationship, blind ambition ...
Place: washington d.c.
Similarity:
37%
Movie in collections
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The Tailor of Panama (2001)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: Ireland, USA
Duration: 109 min.
Story: A British spy is banished to Panama after having an affair with an ambassador's mistress. Once there he makes connection with a local tailor with a nefarious past and connections to all of the top political and gangster figures in Panama. The ...
Style: sexy, political, talky, suspense, political thriller ...
Plot: espionage, spy, politics, gangster, roman empire, mentor, adultery, brainwashing, undercover, conspiracy, secret agent, debt ...
Time: year 2001, y2k, 90s
Place: panama, latin america, england
Similarity:
37%
 7.2
 5K
Medium Cool (1969)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min.
Story: John Cassellis is the toughtest TV-news-reporter around. He becomes an expert in reporting about violence in the ghetto and racial tensions. But he discovers that his network helps the FBI by letting them look at his tapes to find suspects. When he ...
Style: independent film, political, cult classic, cynical, disturbing ...
Plot: journalism, politics, hippie, counterculture, television reporter, bare chested male, american politics, journalist, photograph, sex, photographer, political activism ...
Time: 60s, year 1969, year 1968, 20th century
Place: chicago, washington d.c., west virginia, usa, illinois ...
Similarity:
37%
 6.8
 60K
Rendition (2007)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 122 min.
Story: When an Egyptian terrorism suspect "disappears" on a flight from Africa to Washington DC, his American wife and a CIA analyst find themselves caught up in a struggle to secure his release from a secret detention facility somewhere outside ...
Style: sexy, serious, tense, disturbing, suspenseful ...
Plot: terrorism, politics, terrorist, conspiracy, islamic terrorism, war on terror, kidnapping, spy, espionage, islam, cia, intelligence ...
Time: year 2007, 21st century
Place: middle east, iraq, washington d.c., illinois, chicago ...
Similarity:
37%
The Pentagon Papers (2003)
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story: This compelling political drama is based on the true story of high-ranking Pentagon official Daniel Ellsberg, who, during the Nixon era, strove to preserve American democracy by leaking top-secret documents to the New York Times and Washington Post. ...
Style: disturbing, sincere, serious, realistic, captivating ...
Plot: whistleblower, politics, uncover truth, dishonesty, military, introspection, soldier, state affairs, head of state, political conspiracy, political corruption, vietnam war ...
Place: new york, asia, usa, vietnam
Similarity:
37%
The Parallax View (1974)
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story: An ambitious reporter, investigating a senator's assassination, realizes witnesses to the shooting are systematically dying and discovers a multi-million dollar corporation which serves as a front for the recruitment of political assassins.
Style: suspenseful, psychological, neo noir, political, intense ...
Plot: politics, conspiracy, reporter, corruption, political conspiracy, journalism, murder, investigation, undercover, paranoia, assassin, media ...
Time: 70s, year 1974, 20th century
Place: seattle, los angeles, washington state, usa, latin america
Similarity:
37%
 7.3
 66K
Thirteen Days (2000)
Genre: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 145 min.
Story: Dramatisation of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the nuclear standoff with the USSR sparked by the discovery by the Americans of missle bases established on the Soviet allied island of Cuba. Shown from the perspective of the US President, John F Kennedy, ...
Style: political, tense, suspenseful, thought provoking, disturbing ...
Plot: cold war, politics, spy, president, diplomacy, political intrigue, un, race against time, nuclear, cold war era, conspiracy, cuban missile crisis ...
Time: y2k, year 2000, 60s, 20th century, year 1962
Place: cuba, ussr, north america, the philippines, usa ...
Similarity:
50%
 3.7
 511
Fatwa (2006)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story: In the midst of a personal crisis, junior senator Maggie Davidson (Holly) ascertains that she's the subject of a terrorist plot.
Style: tense, captivating, psychological, suspense, independent film ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: save the day, political conspiracy, politics, danger, undercover, terrorism, rivalry, state affairs, dishonesty, murder, terrorist, propaganda ...
Place: washington d.c., usa
Similarity:
36%