PRESIDENTS IN MOVIES

We hold these truths to be self-evident…

1 AIR FORCE ONE

Harrison Ford plays no-nonsense ’Nam vet James Marshall, taking on the Kazakh terrorists who are attempting to hijack his jet. Skulking around the bowels of the plane, Marshall’s solo-actionhero routine recalls Die Hard, but with an aeroplane and a president.

2 MARS ATTACKS!

After her president dad (Jack Nicholson) is murdered by alien invaders, young Taffy Dale (Natalie Portman) steps up to usher what remains of humanity into the new world, assisted by Tom Jones and a collection of headacheinducing country records.

3 DEEP IMPACT

The Earth may be on a collision course with a seven-mile-wide comet, but who better to deliver the bad news than dulcet-toned Morgan Freeman, who plays President Tom Beck. The prospect of mass extinction has never gone down so well.

4 INDEPENDENCE DAY

President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) gives a rousing speech for the ages as he fronts the global resistance against a race of genocidal aliens. Speech done, the former fighter pilot then takes to the front lines to lead by example. Hooah!

5 DAVE

Hapless business owner and professional president impersonator Dave (Kevin Kline) is thrust into the big time when he takes on a lookalike gig for POTUS. The charming everyman proves so popular that he bumps up the ratings of the real guy.

6 2012

With Mayan predictions of the apocalypse proving true, President Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover) opts to go down with the ship, giving up his place on the humanitysaving ark. ‘One young scientist is worth more than 20 old politicians,’ he sagely declares.

7 LINCOLN

Notorious Method actor Daniel Day-Lewis insisted that everyone – even director Steven Spielberg – address him as ‘Mr. President’ during the shoot. Set during his second presidential term, the film follows Abe’s bid to abolish slavery during the Civil War.

8 LONG SHOT

Charlize Theron plays presidential candidate Charlotte Field, her bid for the big job complicated when she falls for the hapless journalist (Seth Rogen) who she also babysat as a child. With Charlotte sworn in, Fred takes the title ‘First Mister’.

9 IDIOCRACY

The title of president is just another feather in the cap for the former pro wrestler and porn star Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho (Terry Crews), making up what he lacks in smarts with an assault rifle and boundless charisma.

10 THE SIMPSONS MOVIE

‘I was elected to lead, not to read,’ asserts President Schwarzenegger as he locks Springfield away under a mighty dome. Arnie’s presidency is one rare Simpsons prediction that hasn’t yet come to pass, despite the Austrian Oak’s political aspirations…

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