Last updated March 2024
Looking to watch the top 30 Best political thriller Tv Shows? We've selected the most popular ones based on ratings from IMDB and our users. Vote for your favorites to help others find great Best political thriller Tv Shows to enjoy right now. We appreciate you contributing to the community!
The West Wing (1999)
Plot Summary:
The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 83000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: politics, politician, american politics, white house, election, president, political intrigue, government official, teamwork, chief of staff, liberal, democrat, team, head of state, workplace, workplace situations, social commentary, idealism, government, spy, psychologist, leader, political conflict, lawyer, psychiatrist
I, Claudius (1976)
Plot Summary:
Tracing the lives of several Roman emperors, this is an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have marked him a fool - yet whom prophecies have foretold will one day rule Rome
Duration: 669 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Plot tags: ancient, roman empire, ancient rome, political intrigue, ancient history, intrigue, ancient world, antiquity, politics, emperor, royal family, medieval, roman soldier, power struggle, roman emperor, incest, shakespeare, historical event, ambition, dictatorship, head of state, historical character, female nudity, peplum, lawyer
The Bureau (2015)
Plot Summary:
Within the DGSE (General Directorate for External Security), a department called the Office Of Legends (BDL) forms and remote pilot the most important agents of the French intelligence services: Clandestine. Immersion in hostile country, their mission is to identify individuals who may be recruited as sources of information. Operating "under caption", that is to say in a fabricated identity from scratch, they live for many years in a permanent duplicity. Our hero just returned from a clandestine mission six years in Damascus. But contrary to what is required by safety rules, he does not abandon his legend and the identity under which he lived in Syria, thus putting in danger the whole system
Duration: 52 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Plot tags: spy, espionage, undercover agent, terrorism, secret service, investigation, danger, national security, characters in danger, twists and turns, secret identity, mission, obsession, cia, military, mentally unstable, pow, paranoia, uncover truth, middle east conflict, intelligence, parents, reconnaissance, female nudity, hostage
Yes Minister (1980)
Plot Summary:
Set principally in the private office of a British Cabinet minister in the Department of Administrative Affairs in Whitehall, Yes Minister follows the ministerial career of The Rt Hon Jim Hacker MP, played by Paul Eddington. His various struggles to formulate and enact legislation or effect departmental changes are opposed by the British Civil Service, in particular his Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, played by Nigel Hawthorne. His Principal Private Secretary Bernard Woolley, played by Derek Fowlds, is usually caught between the two. The sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, continued with the same cast and followed the events of the premiership of Jim Hacker after his unexpected elevation to Number 10 upon the resignation of the previous PM
Duration: 30 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Plot tags: british politics, minister, secretary, government official, workplace situations, satire, british government, politician, state affairs, boss and employee, power relations, politics, lawyer, psychology, finance, humour, political satire, civil servant, bureaucracy, social satire, bureaucrat, political humor, political intrigue, manipulation, dimwit
Yes, Prime Minister (1986)
Plot Summary:
James Hacker MP the Government's bumbling minister for Administrative Affairs is propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - No. 10. Could this have possibly have been managed by his trusted Permanent Private Secretary, the formidably political Sir Humphrey Appleby who must move to the “Top Job” in Downing Street to support him, together with his much put upon PPS Bernard Wolley. What could possibly go wrong?
Duration: 30 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Plot tags: satire, lawyer, psychology, humour, government, british prime minister, political satire, international relations, economist, political humor, secretary, responsibility, dimwit, head of state, staff, workplace, government official, dishonesty, state affairs, boss and employee, power relations, bureaucracy, political party, british politics, british government
House of Cards (1990)
Plot Summary:
Francis Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative party. When Margaret Thatcher resigns as leader, he remains neutral and after a general election where the conservatives are returned with a reduced majority, he fully expects the new Prime Minister, Henry Collingridge, to give him his just reward: a senior Cabinet post. When he's informed that he is to stay in his current position, he devises a plot to unseat Collingridge and ensure his own election as party leader which would make his Prime Minister
Duration: 226 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Plot tags: political intrigue, politics, state affairs, manipulation, journalist, reporter, deception, intrigue, power struggle, dishonesty, young woman, corruption, media, conservative, political corruption, merciless, blind ambition, gossip and rumors, revenge, journalism, spy, lawyer, white house, president, vigilante
Andor (2022)
Plot Summary:
The tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. In an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue, Cassian Andor embarks on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero
Duration: 40 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 155000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: star wars, space, galaxy, rebellion, espionage, military, supernatural, future war, capitalism, space program, star trek, drug, rebel, space wars, revolutionary, outer space, lesbian, spy, army, fascism, empire, mission, black market, laser gun, resistance movement
State of Play (2003)
Plot Summary:
A thriller set in London, in which a politician's life becomes increasingly complex as his research assistant is found dead on the London Underground and, in a seemingly unrelated incident, a teenage pickpocket is shot dead
Duration: 312 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: conspiracy, journalism, politics, murder, journalist, corruption, twists and turns, political corruption, manipulation, moral ambiguity, state affairs, media, political conspiracy, murder mystery, secrets, reporter, investigation, husband wife relationship, spy, betrayal, adultery, lawyer, white house, president, espionage
Homeland (2011)
Plot Summary:
CIA officer Carrie Mathison is tops in her field despite being bipolar, which makes her volatile and unpredictable. With the help of her long-time mentor Saul Berenson, Carrie fearlessly risks everything, including her personal well-being and even sanity, at every turn
Duration: 55 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 357000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: terrorism, espionage, cia, spy, national security, investigation, treason, war on terror, secret service, terrorist, danger, top secret, bipolar disorder, mental illness, mental disorder, surveillance, government agency, counter terrorism, victim, characters in danger, cia agent, supportive coworker, muslim, interrogation, paranoia
The Hour (2011)
Plot Summary:
A behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Plot tags: journalism, espionage, politics, reporter, journalist, workplace romance, ambition, uncover truth, spy, investigation, love triangle, workplace, cold war, career, boss, rivalry, media coverage, workplace situations, sexism, relationships, intelligence, post war, intrigue, secrets, colleague
The Diplomat (2023)
Plot Summary:
In the midst of an international crisis, a career diplomat lands in a high-profile job she’s unsuited for, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future
Duration: 50 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 53000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: husband wife relationship, diplomat, future war, world war, female nudity, government agency, politician, usa politics, ambassador, female politician, betrayal, white house, conspiracy, female protagonist, outrage, marriage, politics, cia, job, exploding car
Medici (2016)
Plot Summary:
The story of the Medici family of Florence, their ascent from simple merchants to power brokers sparking an economic and cultural revolution. Along the way, they also accrue a long list of powerful enemies
Duration: 1314 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 22000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: Italy, UK, France
Plot tags: renaissance, wealth, medieval, aristocracy, husband wife relationship, european history, politics, betrayal, ambition, secret, political unrest, rise to power, exile, father son relationship, brother brother relationship, italian history, dead father, banker, ancient rome, gay, women, ancient, villain, tragedy, savage
Condor (2018)
Plot Summary:
Young CIA analyst Joe Turner has his idealism tested when he learns that the CIA has been using an algorithm he developed to spy on American citizens, leading the organization to a terrorist plot that threatens the lives of millions. Inspired by Sydney Pollack’s 1975 political thriller Three Days of the Condor
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: cia, government conspiracy, murder, investigation, spy, twists and turns, analyst, computer hacker, danger, dialogue, fight scenes, hacker, world war two, terrorist, police, subway, espionage, intelligence, traitor, die hard, friendship, mercenary, female nudity, betrayal, terrorism
Scandal (2012)
Plot Summary:
Everyone has secrets and Olivia Pope has dedicated her life to protecting and defending the public images of the elite by keeping those secrets under wraps. Pope and her team are at the top of their game when it comes to getting the job done for their clients, but it becomes apparent that these "gladiators in suits," who specialize in fixing the lives of other people, have trouble fixing those closest at hand -- their own
Duration: 43 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 79000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: white house, lawyer, relationship vs career, workplace situations, politician, president, senator, politics, teamwork, ambition, media, young woman, boss, secret, twists and turns, career, democrat, coworker, investigator, team, slick, protector, strong female lead, u.s. president, crisis
Designated Survivor (2016)
Plot Summary:
Tom Kirkman, a low-level cabinet member is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB Votes: 102000
Genere: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: politics, usa president, counter terrorism, president, investigation, terrorism, american politics, spy, die hard, danger, marriage, first lady, catastrophe, twists and turns, fbi, justice, chases and races, legal, exodus, family relations, dialogue, hopes, usa politics, apocalypse, stephen king
Y: The Last Man (2021)
Plot Summary:
Traverse a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event decimates every mammal with a Y chromosome but for one cisgender man and his pet monkey. Follow the survivors in this new world as they struggle with their efforts to restore what was lost and the opportunity to build something better
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 6.0/10
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: post apocalypse, survival, epidemic, extinction, apocalypse, genocide, social experiment, sole survivor, humanity, male protagonist, worldwide chaos, lesbian, heroes, distopia, experiment, evil, woman, white supremacy, dystopia, post apocalyptic, fight, agent, female nudity, planet, villain