Prime Minister
A chronological portrait of Jacinda Ardern’s rise, crisis leadership, family life, and changing place in New Zealand’s political imagination.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- intimate
- hopeful
- political documentary night
- current affairs viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly find the documentary engaging and intimate in its access to Ardern, while its sympathetic perspective can feel incomplete.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film follows Jacinda Ardern from entering Parliament through her premiership, elections, coalition politics, and major national events.
The overview and review describe Ardern's rise to Parliament, successive elections, coalition formation, defeats, and eventual departure from office.
Ardern's inclusive and empathetic leadership style is presented as a defining response to national challenges and a model that changed expectations of leadership.
The film highlights Ardern becoming only the second elected leader to give birth while serving in office and her public relationship with her daughter Neve.
Films like Prime Minister, and why
The Final Year
shares a contemporary political documentary focus on executive leadership, public image, and governing under pressure
Becoming
shares an intimate portrait of a prominent woman navigating public office, personal identity, and media scrutiny
The Fog of War
shares a chronological leadership study examining political power, national crisis, and public responsibility
Movie Details
- Directors
- Michelle Walshe, Lindsay Utz
- Release Date
- 2025-06-13
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (14)
Cast
- Jacinda Ardern
Common questions
- What is Prime Minister about?
- A chronological portrait of Jacinda Ardern’s rise, crisis leadership, family life, and changing place in New Zealand’s political imagination.
- What is Prime Minister like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Prime Minister as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Prime Minister violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Prime Minister as mild.
- What did critics think of Prime Minister?
- Critics broadly find the documentary engaging and intimate in its access to Ardern, while its sympathetic perspective can feel incomplete.
- Which films are like Prime Minister?
- Films with a similar feel include The Final Year, Becoming, and The Fog of War.
- How long is Prime Minister?
- Prime Minister runs 101 minutes.
