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 253 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 253 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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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 !

23 of 24 users found this helpful231

Assonance

May 4, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Impugn

Jan 11, 2020

Election is a classic with everything you could ask for in a dark comedy drama. It has acerbic dialogue, outstanding acting & the movie is stylishly shot. The movie has narrating, freeze frames, credits that zoom on to the screen and off the screen at the start. It is a unique experienceElection is a classic with everything you could ask for in a dark comedy drama. It has acerbic dialogue, outstanding acting & the movie is stylishly shot. The movie has narrating, freeze frames, credits that zoom on to the screen and off the screen at the start. It is a unique experience that every movie lover should take.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

[Anonymous]

Dec 5, 2007

Great movie. Hilarious. I thought Kevin Kline was surprising good.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

Greatbeallo

Feb 19, 2012

This movie is so great and unique! I am not particularly fond of Matthew Broderick, and he is really detestable in this movie, but he plays a douche bag to perfection. Reese Witherspoon is also on point. Seriously, this movie is an unusual treat. I can't really compare it to anything else IThis movie is so great and unique! I am not particularly fond of Matthew Broderick, and he is really detestable in this movie, but he plays a douche bag to perfection. Reese Witherspoon is also on point. Seriously, this movie is an unusual treat. I can't really compare it to anything else I have seen.… Expand

9 of 9 users found this helpful90

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 4 users found this helpful13

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 12 users found this helpful012

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