Primary Colors
1998 · Movie · R · 143 min · ★ 6.3 · 76% critics
A young, idealistic staffer joins a charismatic Southern governor’s presidential campaign and gets swept into the high-pressure world of modern politics. As rumors and personal baggage threaten to derail the run, the team scrambles to control the narrative, forcing hard choices about loyalty, ambition, and what it takes to win.
Based on Primary Colors
Where to watch
Not currently available to stream in the US.
2 hours to watch.
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1998
- Release date
- 1998-03-20
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 143 min
- Critic score
- 76/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.3/10 (349 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a witty, fast-moving look at campaign chaos, charisma, and compromise; Not for you if you dislike scandal-driven stories or long runtimes—Charlie Wilson's War is a close cousin in tone.
Pros: sharp political humor; strong ensemble performances; brisk, engaging pace | Cons: overlong runtime; some characters feel thin; moral points feel repetitive
Themes
- usa president
- the white house
- presidential election
- new hampshire
- scandal
- extramarital affair
- presidential candidate
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1999 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1999 · nominated
- European Film Academy Achievement in World Cinema Award · 1998 · nominated
Cast & crew
John Travolta
as Jack Stanton
Emma Thompson
as Susan Stanton
Billy Bob Thornton
as Richard Jemmons
Adrian Lester
as Henry Burton
Maura Tierney
as Daisy Green
Paul Guilfoyle
as Howard Ferguson
Larry Hagman
as Gov. Fred Picker
Kathy Bates
as Libby Holden
Diane Ladd
as Mamma Stanton
- RW
Rebecca Walker
as March
Directed by Mike Nichols