The Ides of March
An idealistic presidential campaign strategist is forced to trade political loyalty against personal virtue when secret deals and private scandals threaten his career.
Overview
In the high-stakes world of politics, trust can be the most dangerous weapon.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- tense
- cynical
- sardonic
- political discussion night
- serious movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be a well-acted, confidently paced political drama whose familiar cynicism is elevated by its ensemble performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Stephen Meyers must weigh career, electoral victory, and virtue as campaign secrets and betrayals accumulate.
The presidential campaign is shaped by dirty tricks, endorsement negotiations, rival recruitment, and damage control.
Stephen begins as a true believer and second-in-command but becomes increasingly entangled in careerist power struggles.
The plot unfolds through campaign offices, meetings, negotiations, and other behind-the-scenes encounters surrounding the Ohio primary.
Films like The Ides of March, and why
Primary Colors
shared political thriller framework, campaign maneuvering, institutional cynicism, and morally compromised ambition
The Candidate
shared political intrigue, idealism confronting corruption, and tense behind-the-scenes power struggles
Wag the Dog
shared political drama, strategic manipulation, ethical compromise, and strong ensemble performances
Michael Clayton
shared paranoia thriller tension, careerist ambition, and morally ambiguous professional environments
Movie Details
- Director
- George Clooney
- Release Date
- 2011-10-07
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (2804)
Cast
- Ryan Gosling
- George Clooney
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Paul Giamatti
- Evan Rachel Wood
- Marisa Tomei
- Jeffrey Wright
- Max Minghella
- Jennifer Ehle
- Gregory Itzin
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- 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 The Ides of March about?
- An idealistic presidential campaign strategist is forced to trade political loyalty against personal virtue when secret deals and private scandals threaten his career.
- What is The Ides of March like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Ides of March as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Ides of March violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Ides of March.
- What did critics think of The Ides of March?
- Critics broadly found the film to be a well-acted, confidently paced political drama whose familiar cynicism is elevated by its ensemble performances.
- Which films are like The Ides of March?
- Films with a similar feel include Primary Colors, The Candidate, Wag the Dog, and Michael Clayton.
- How long is The Ides of March?
- The Ides of March runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Ides of March?
- In United States, The Ides of March is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
