Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- serious
- politically tense
- reflective
- history night
- political drama marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found Woody Harrelson’s layered performance and the ensemble effective, but judged the film an ordinary and insufficiently probing treatment of Johnson’s complicated career.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story follows Lyndon B. Johnson’s accession to the presidency and campaign to pass civil rights legislation.
Johnson must navigate congressional opposition and divisions on both sides of the aisle to secure the Civil Rights Act.
Johnson is presented as both power-hungry and committed to expanding civil rights, with his presidency shaped by competing motives.
The film’s central transition begins with Kennedy’s assassination and Johnson’s sudden inheritance of the presidency.
Films like LBJ, and why
The Butler
political biopic centered on presidential power, historical transition, and a commanding lead performance
Lincoln
serious historical drama about executive leadership, civil rights, and morally complicated political figures
The Front Runner
presidential drama focused on political calculation, public image, and the pressures of national leadership
Movie Details
- Director
- Rob Reiner
- Release Date
- 2017-11-03
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (184)
Cast
- Woody Harrelson
- Michael Stahl-David
- Richard Jenkins
- Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Jeffrey Donovan
- Bill Pullman
- Brian Stepanek
- Tim Ransom
- C. Thomas Howell
- Doug McKeon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is LBJ about?
- A politically charged historical biopic follows Lyndon B. Johnson as he inherits the presidency after Kennedy’s assassination and fights to pass landmark civil rights legislation.
- What is LBJ like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of LBJ as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is LBJ violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in LBJ as mild.
- What did critics think of LBJ?
- Critics broadly found Woody Harrelson’s layered performance and the ensemble effective, but judged the film an ordinary and insufficiently probing treatment of Johnson’s complicated career.
- Which films are like LBJ?
- Films with a similar feel include The Butler, Lincoln, and The Front Runner.
- How long is LBJ?
- LBJ runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch LBJ?
- In United States, LBJ streams on Philo.
