Election

Name: Election
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: April 23, 1999
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 83
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon

1999

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 241 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 241 Ratings

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Election

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: April 23, 1999 | R

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon

Summary: This satirical comedy uses a high school election as the backdrop to take an uncommon look at ambition, morality, desire, love and the lies we never cease telling ourselves. [Paramount Pictures]

Director: Alexander Payne

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Awards & Rankings

13	#13 Best Movie of 1999
28	#28 Most Discussed Movie of 1999
46	#46 Most Shared Movie of 1999

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Desson Thomson

The satire of the season, a hilarious, razor-sharp indictment of the American Dream. Read full review

100

Stephen Hunter

A wonderful, piercing and hilarious examination of high school politics and how bitter and ruinous it can become. Read full review

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

Election is a bracingly intelligent adult comedy that shrewdly captures adolescence.

Roger Ebert

Alexander Payne is a director whose satire is omnidirectional. He doesn't choose an easy target and march on it. He stands in the middle of his story and attacks on all directions. Read full review

Marc Savlov

A fine, near-seamless film that finally suffers slightly from an inability to wrap up its tale. Read full review

Maitland McDonagh

Surprise! An intelligent, well-written high school story. Read full review

TNT RoughCut Christopher Brandon

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

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User Reviews

TylerDurden900

Jul 13, 2014

Election is a spot on movie about elections, characters and black comedy mixed in for fun. The actors
give great lines and they feel like their the character's, they don't seem like they are acting when you watch the movie. Election is one of the best comedy-dramas of the last twenty years !

19 of 20 users found this helpful191

Excommunicado

Jan 19, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Aah! I was so mad at God when I broke my leg at Shadow Ridge over Christmas break. Why?! The doctors told me I'd have to quit sports for at least a couple of years, if not forever, which meant no first-string quarterback in the fall. It was like the end of my life. When I got back to school, everybody was so supportive, and they all wanted to sign my cast and everything but I still couldn't shake the feeling that now my life had no purpose. What did God want from me? Why did I exist?

Sometimes you can search everywhere for answers.Then one day, destiny just walks up and taps you on the shoulder. I know because it happened to me. Paul, can I speak toyou for a minute? Mr. McAllister changed my life.
And no matter what they say he did or did not do, I believe he is a good man.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

smartmart

Sep 17, 2015

This has got to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. It is a very darkly comedic satire that looks into some pretty tough subjects for a high school comedy. But, "Election" isn't really just a high school comedy, it is a look at a set of character who are, mostly, pretty patheticThis has got to be one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. It is a very darkly comedic satire that looks into some pretty tough subjects for a high school comedy. But, "Election" isn't really just a high school comedy, it is a look at a set of character who are, mostly, pretty pathetic people, who you both despise yet feel very bad for at the same time.
Alexander Payne has gone on to make a lot more well received comedy dramas including "Sideways", The Descendants", and "Nebraska". I still have yet to see these films, but after watching "election", I'm sure they'll be spectacular!… Expand

11 of 11 users found this helpful110

GaborA.

Feb 28, 2006

One of the best comedies...movies of all time. Hits the nail right on the head over and over.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LuciusMcGibbon

Feb 27, 2018

The most impressive thing to me about this movie is that it may or may not have been cast according to who happened to be hot enough at the time... and somehow everybody seems like the absolute perfect choice for their respective roles.

Everything else that's good about this movie has noThe most impressive thing to me about this movie is that it may or may not have been cast according to who happened to be hot enough at the time... and somehow everybody seems like the absolute perfect choice for their respective roles.

Everything else that's good about this movie has no doubt already been said.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

heeldavid

Aug 27, 2014

Alexander Payne showed us his talent with this 90's classic, a great high school film full of great lines and great black comedy. Nice work by Witherspoon, Broderick and Kline.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Spangle

Jan 25, 2015

Election is certainly a very well made and very entertaining little flick (heh) with some great acting from Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, but I don't know, I just didn't love it. Alexander Payne's direction is great as always and this one is a very interesting film on the ethicsElection is certainly a very well made and very entertaining little flick (heh) with some great acting from Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, but I don't know, I just didn't love it. Alexander Payne's direction is great as always and this one is a very interesting film on the ethics of how far one will go to have success and, above all, is an interesting snapshot of life at this particular high school and in the lives of these kids. The writing is also strong, but ultimately, I just felt like this one meandered a bit. All of it is an exercise in ethics and morals, sure, but I wish it stayed more focused on the election rather than focusing on the personal life of Broderick's character or past events at the school. Adding a bit more depth to the race for Student Government President and disregarding other events a bit would ultimately result in a better film in my mind (though obviously some of the events I wish to shrink are necessary, but I don't think they needed to play as much of a role in the overall story as they did). As a whole, I can certainly see why Election is so widely praised, but I just didn't love it, I guess.… Expand

0 of 10 users found this helpful010

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