Best movies like The Perfect Dictatorship
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies similar to The Perfect Dictatorship? Leverage your insights to direct others toward films and tv shows you've watched previously that may also preoccupy them. Support increasing the cohort of people bringing up videos among each other. We appreciate your contribution!
Plot Summary:
TV MX, the most powerful Mexican Television Corporation, discloses a scandalous story involving Governor Carmelo Vargas in serious crimes and illicit business. Governor Vargas worried about his political future, decides to clean his image and negotiates a billionaire secret agreement with the owners of the TV Corporation. Carlos Rojo, an ambitious young news producer, and Ricardo Diaz, TV network star reporter, are responsible for making a dirty campaign to change the image the public has of the corrupt Governor and make him, at any cost, a political star and a great presidential candidate. Mexican Television believes that democracy is a farce and has already placed one President... Will they do it again?.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Mexico
Duration: 143 min
Plot tags: cynical, humorous, semi serious, realistic, dark comedy, political, political thriller, cult classic, biting, soap opera
Best tv shows and movies like The Perfect Dictatorship (2014):
Similar in 86%
The Color of the Chameleon (2012)
Plot Summary:
In Emil Christov's über-stylish spy-movie pastiche, a charismatic schemer in an authoritarian police state, fired from his job as a secret-police informant, conjures up his own imaginary spy network and builds up an archive that he turns against his former masters. (TIFF).
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 445
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: Bulgaria
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, biting, dark comedy, suspense
Similar in 78%
Free Rainer (2007)
Plot Summary:
Frustrated, because he is forced to produce bad TV-shows, a manager of a TV-station, enters the station and manipulates the ratings, to initiate a TV-revolution.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Austria, Germany
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: feel good, serious, realistic, controversial, humorous, melancholic, sincere, captivating, suspense, intellectual
Similar in 89%
A Wonderful World (2006)
Plot Summary:
A fairy tale about the political and socioeconomic realities of Mexico.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: Mexico
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: humorous, captivating, social, disturbing, dark comedy, fairy tale, realistic, semi serious, biting, neorealism
Similar in 85%
¡Que viva México! (2023)
Plot Summary:
After his grandfather's death, a man travels with his wife and kids to his hometown, where chaos ensues with his relatives over the inheritance.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy
Country: Mexico
Duration: 191 min
Plot tags: satirical
Similar in 81%
Herod's Law (1999)
Plot Summary:
Mexico, 1949. The fable of a janitor turned Mayor on a little town lost in the Mexican desert, who gradually realizes how far his new acquainted power and corruption can get him.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: Mexico
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: realistic, political, dark comedy, clever, witty, biting, black comedy, manga, mesmerizing, humorous
Similar in 80%
Absolute Power (2003)
Plot Summary:
Stephen Fry and John Bird star as spin doctors Charles Prentiss and Martin McCabe as they bring the popular and satirical Radio 4 comedy Absolute Power to BBC Two. Stephen as Prentiss and John as McCabe are an unscrupulous pair who run the blue chip PR agency Prentiss McCabe. Dealing with commercial as well as personal PR, their remit covers everything from political communications to celebrity media relations. Their manipulation skills are tested to the full as they frequently find that their work brings them into conflict with political parties, newspaper editors and celebrities.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 29 min
Plot tags: sitcom, witty, humorous, cynical, semi serious, political, clever, realistic, talky, biting
Similar in 90%
Hell (2010)
Plot Summary:
Benjamin Garcia, Benny is deported from the United States. Back home and against a bleak picture, Benny gets involved in the drug business, in which he has for the first time in his life, a spectacular rise surrounded by money, women, violence and fun. But very soon he will discover that criminal life does not always keep its promises.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Western
Country: Mexico
Duration: 149 min
Plot tags: dark comedy, humorous, realistic, semi serious, cynical, neo western, offbeat, hood, crime drama, perverse
Similar in 83%
Your Excellency (1967)
Plot Summary:
Lopitos, who is horribly inefficient but quick-witted, is invited (because of the current ambassador's superstition about 13 sitting down to a meal) to a banquet attended by the ambassadors of both superpowers. After the news of a series of coups d'état in Los Cocos arrives throughout the meal, Lopitos becomes the official ambassador. At a summit of world leaders, the representatives of the two world superpowers court the allegiances of third-world diplomats to tilt the balance of global power in their favor. The last diplomat to remain unaligned, Lopitos instead harangues the superpowers for infringing on the rights of developing countries to self determination, talking to them with his point of view as a citizen not as ambassador because he arranged his demise as ambassador one day before his speech.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 630
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Mexico
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, biting, suspense
Similar in 82%
The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970)
Plot Summary:
Fresh-faced young Michael Rimmer worms his way into an opinion poll company and is soon running the place. He uses this as a springboard to get into politics and in the mini-skirted flared-trousered world of 1970 Britain starts to rise through the Tory ranks.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 706
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: political, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, not serious, biting, suspense, cult film
Similar in 76%
Me and Mrs. Jones (2002)
Plot Summary:
Tabloid journalist Liam Marple, sets about to dig up dirt on Laura Bowden, the new British Prime Minister. Posing as a political fundraiser, Liam gains entrance into Number 10 Downing, where he promptly wins the confidence of the idealistic PM.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 333
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, romantic, sexual
Similar in 87%
Reality (2012)
Plot Summary:
A dark comedy centering on the lives of a Neapolitan based family whose father, a fish merchant, is so infatuated with the reality TV show "Grande Fratello" (the Italian version of "Big Brother") he starts living his life as if he were on it.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, humorous, cynical, semi serious, social, surreal, cult classic, clever, bleak, realistic
Similar in 89%
Hits (2014)
Plot Summary:
A talentless teen will do anything to get on TV's "The Voice." Meanwhile, her father, a municipal worker, creates an uproar when a video of his rants at City Hall goes viral.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, black comedy, independent film, biting, suspense
Similar in 88%
The Witness (1969)
Plot Summary:
Known as the best satire about communism, banned for over a decade in Hungary. 'The Witness' has become a cult classic, well received by critics and general audiences when it was finally released outside of Hungary. 'The Witness' takes place during the height of the Rákosi Era, which was closely modeled after the ruthless and brutal Stalin regime. The film follows the life of an ordinary dike keeper, József Pelikán, who has been caught for illegally slaughtering his pig, Dezsõ. Instead of doing hard time for his "heinous" crime, Pelikán is elevated into an important position, generally reserved for the communist elite. His new benefactor, the mysterious Comrade Virág, is reluctant to reveal the real reason behind Pelikán's preferential treatment. Thus, begins Pelikán's hilarious adventure deep within the "sophisticated" communist society... Until one day, when he gets called for to return the "favour" by falsely testifying against his long-time friend in a mock-up show trial.
IMDB Rating: 8.7
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Drama, Comedy
Country: Hungary
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: satirical, parody, black comedy, cult classic, dark comedy, thought provoking, clever, offbeat, humorous, realistic
Similar in 81%
Amazing Grace (1974)
Plot Summary:
Amazing Grace is a 1974 light comedy featuring black comedienne Moms Mabley as a widow who tries to influence the local mayoral election in Baltimore, Maryland, after she discovers that a black candidate is being used by the incumbent mayor to further his own reelection efforts. Mabley appeared in the film, along with veteran actors Butterfly McQueen and Stepin Fetchit, only a year before her death at the age of 81. The film does not deal with the popular Christian hymn (with words by John Newton) but is a play on Mabley's character, who happens to be named Grace. It has been released on home video.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 275
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, realistic, cynical, semi serious, slapstick, biting, suspense
Similar in 80%
Tanner '88 (1988)
Plot Summary:
In 1988, renegade filmmaker Robert Altman and Pulitzer Prize–winning Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau created a presidential candidate, ran him alongside the other hopefuls during the primary season, and presented their media campaign as a cross between a soap opera and TV news. The result was the groundbreaking Tanner ’88, a piercing satire of media-age American politics, in which actors Michael Murphy (as contender Jack Tanner) and Cynthia Nixon (as his daughter) rub elbows on the campaign trail with real-life political players Jesse Jackson, Gary Hart, Bob Dole, Ralph Nader, Kitty Dukakis, and Gloria Steinem, among many others. The Criterion Collection is proud to present the complete eleven-episode television series—more relevant today than ever.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 936
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 353 min
Plot tags: mockumentary, political, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting, suspense
Similar in 90%
Knife Fight (2012)
Plot Summary:
A political strategist juggling three clients questions whether or not to take the high road as the ugly side of his work begins to haunt him.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, talky, independent film, biting, suspense
Similar in 86%
The Best Man (1964)
Plot Summary:
The other party is in disarray. Five men vie for the party nomination for president. No one has a majority as the first ballot closes and the front-runners begin to decide how badly they want the job.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, cynical, political, rough, clever, witty, contemplative, biting, suspense
Similar in 80%
HealtH (1980)
Plot Summary:
HealtH is set at a health food convention at a Florida luxury hotel, where a powerful political organization is deciding on a new president.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 911
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: political, clever, humorous, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting, postmodern, suspense
Similar in 76%
The Second Civil War (1997)
Plot Summary:
When a planeload of Pakistani orphans are shipped to his state for permanent relocation, the governor of Idaho (Beau Bridges, who won an Emmy) defies the president (Phil Hartman) and closes the state's border. News Net Television, a cable news program that makes hay by reporting on political scandals, quickly spins the racist act into an overnight media sensation, creating a divide in national opinion over the issue.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: offbeat, humorous, futuristic, realistic, witty, cynical, semi serious, biting, black comedy, suspense
Similar in 79%
Spinning Boris (2003)
Plot Summary:
Russian political elite hires American consultants to help with President Yeltsin's re-election campaign when his approval rating is down to single digits.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: clever, realistic, political, humorous, witty, talky, semi serious
Similar in 88%
Man of the Year (2006)
Plot Summary:
The irreverent host of a political satire talk show decides to run for president and expose corruption in Washington. His stunt goes further than he expects when he actually wins the election, but a software engineer suspects that a computer glitch is responsible for his surprising victory.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 35000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags: humorous, political, stylized, semi serious, sincere, realistic, hilarious, satirical, feel good, romantic comedy
Similar in 84%
Bob Roberts (1992)
Plot Summary:
Mock documentary about an upstart candidate for the U.S. Senate written and directed by actor Tim Robbins. Bob Roberts is a folksinger with a difference: He offers tunes that protest welfare chiselers, liberal whining, and the like. As the filmmakers follow his campaign, Robbins gives needle-sharp insight into the way candidates manipulate the media.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 16000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA, UK
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: mockumentary, political, witty, cynical, talky, humorous, funny, satirical, independent film, parody
Similar in 79%
Grassroots (2012)
Plot Summary:
Grant Cogswell, a liberal music critic decides to run for city council against a popular black incumbent and is assisted by a reporter who recently lost his job. Initially given no chance, things turn dark when Cogswell makes it into the general election. Based on a true story.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, semi serious, political, clever, biting, suspense
Similar in 86%
Running Mates (2000)
Plot Summary:
A governor running for President gets revealed to be a serial philanderer.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 693
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, political, biting, suspense
Similar in 75%
Network (1976)
Plot Summary:
A TV network cynically exploits a deranged ex-TV anchor's ravings and revelations about the media for their own profit.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 167000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: talky, political, realistic, clever, dark comedy, biting, black comedy, captivating, absurd, intense
Similar in 86%
The Falling (2010)
Plot Summary:
Natha a poor farmer from Peepli village in the heart of rural India is about to lose his plot of land due to an unpaid bank loan. A quick fix to the problem is the a government program that aids the families of indebted farmers who have committed suicide. As a means of survival Farmer Natha can choose to die. His brother is happy to push him towards this unique 'honour' but Natha is reluctant. Local elections are around the corner and what might have been another unnoticed event turns into a 'cause celebre' with everyone wanting a piece of the action. Political bigwigs, high-ranking bureaucrats, local henchmen and the ever-zealous media descend upon sleepy Peepli to stake their claim. The question on everyone's lips - "Will he or Won't he?" As the mania escalates, nobody seems to care how Natha really feels.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: India
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: black comedy, semi serious, offbeat, suspenseful, dark comedy, psychological, light, entertaining, satirical, social
Similar in 81%
Wag the Dog (1997)
Plot Summary:
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 88000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: black comedy, political, talky, dark comedy, realistic, satirical, funny, melancholic, humorous, thought provoking
Similar in 84%
The Candidate (1972)
Plot Summary:
Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: political, witty, realistic, cynical, thought provoking, clever, talky, biting, entertaining, funny
Similar in 80%
Power (1986)
Plot Summary:
Pete St. John is a powerful and successful political consultant, with clients spread around the country. When his long-time friend and client Ohio senator Sam Hastings decides to quit politics, he is rapidly drafted to help with the campaign of the man destined to succeed him, unknown and mysterious businessman Jerome Cade.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, clever, cynical, political, retro, talky
Similar in 75%
Thank You for Smoking (2005)
Plot Summary:
Nick Naylor is a charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 227000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: black comedy, entertaining, dark comedy, political, humorous, funny, satirical, hilarious, feel good, indie film