Films about President Kennedy often explore his time in office, his impact on American history, and the enduring fascination with his life and legacy. These films offer a glimpse into the political and personal challenges he faced, as well as the broader historical context of his presidency.
“JFK”, 1991
Director: Oliver Stone
Directed by Oliver Stone, this film is a political thriller that investigates the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It delves into the theories and controversies surrounding the assassination and its aftermath.
Starring: Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Sissy Spacek, Joe Pesci, Jack Lemmon, Laurie Metcalf, Donald Sutherland, Michael Rooker, Sally Kirkland, Vincent D'Onofrio, Edward Asner, Walter Matthau, Wayne Knight, Brian Doyle-Murray, Anthony Ramirez, Gary Taggart, Ray LePere, Steve Reed, Jodie Farber, Columbia Dubose, Randy Means, Jay O. Sanders, E.J. Morris, Cheryl Penland, Jim Gough, Perry R. Russo, Mike Longman, Ann Strub, Pat Pierre Perkins, Gary Grubbs, Beata Poźniak, Tom Howard, John William Galt, Ron Jackson, Sean Stone, Amy Long, Scott Krueger, Allison Pratt Davis, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Red Mitchell, Ronald von Klaussen, John S. Davies, Michael Ozag, Tony Plana, Tomas Milian, Raul Aranas, John Candy, John C. Martin;
Production year: 1991;
Genre: thriller, drama, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 181 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “JFK” on the website imdb.com
“Thirteen Days”, 2000
Director: Roger Donaldson
This historical drama directed by Roger Donaldson portrays the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, during Kennedy's presidency. The film focuses on the tense negotiations and decisions made by Kennedy and his advisors during this critical moment in history.
Starring: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Dylan Baker, Bill Smitrovich, Ed Lauter, James Karen, Shawn Driscoll, Drake Cook, Lucinda Jenney, Caitlin Wachs, Jon Foster, Matthew Dunn, Kevin O'Donnell, Janet Coleman, Bruce Thomas, Stephanie Romanov, Frank Wood, Dakin Matthews, Liz Sinclair, Colette O'Connell, Karen Ludwig, Audrey Rapoport, Marliese Schneider, Henry Strozier, Michael Fairman, Walter Adrian, Tim Kelleher, Dan Ziskie, Len Cariou, Peter White, Kevin Conway, Kelly Connell, Olek Krupa, Ilya Baskin, Timothy Jerome, Jack McGee, Lamar Smith, John Aylward, Madison Mason, Vivien Straus, Christopher Lawford, David O'Donnell, Gene Del Bianco, Benjamin Koldyke, Daniel Vergara, Ruben Moreno, Thomas Roberts, Sean Bergin, Alan Francis Sullivan;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: thriller, drama, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 140 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
More information about the film “Thirteen Days” on the website imdb.com
“Parkland”, 2013
Director: Peter Landesman
Directed by Peter Landesman, this film recounts the events at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, on the day of Kennedy's assassination. It offers a close look at the impact of his death on the medical staff and the people involved in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Starring: Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacki Weaver, Paul Giamatti, David Harbour, James Badge Dale, Jackie Earle Haley, Colin Hanks, Ron Livingston, Jeremy Strong, Matt Barr, Mallory Moye, Elizabeth Tulloch, Jason Douglas, Larry Dotson, Austin Nichols, Jonathan Breck, Eugene Lee, Nico Evers-Swindell, Irene White, Luci Christian, Kat Steffens, Tom Welling, Mark Duplass, Gil Bellows, Sean McGraw, Brett Stimely, Paul Sparks, Samuel Davis, Gary Grubbs, Arthur Simone, Matthew Tompkins, Gary Clarke, Chamblee Ferguson, Bryan Batt, Ellen Halper, Chris Freihofer, Rob Gallavan, John Taylor Phillips, Robert Catrini, Chuck Huber, Rory Cochrane, Richard Dillard, Richard Jackson, Drew Waters, Walt Roberts, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Jeffrey Schmidt, Glenn Morshower;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, history, thriller;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 93 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “Parkland” on the website imdb.com
“Jackie”, 2016
Director: Pablo Larrain
This biographical drama directed by Pablo Larraín examines the life of Jacqueline Kennedy in the days following her husband's assassination. The film provides a personal and emotional portrayal of the First Lady's grief and resilience in the face of tragedy.
Starring: Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup, John Hurt, Richard E. Grant, Caspar Phillipson, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Grant, Max Casella, Sara Verhagen, Hélène Kuhn, Deborah Findlay, Corey Johnson, Aidan O'Hare, Ralph Brown, David Caves, Penny Downie, Georgie Glen, Julie Judd, Peter Hudson, John Paval, Bill Dunn, Vivienne Vermes, Yann Bean, Ken Starcevic, Craig Sechler, Rebecca Compton, Bryan Ashby, David DeBoy, Stéphane Höhn, Serge Boutleroff, Sunnie Pelant, Aiden Weinberg, Brody Weinberg, Roland Pidoux, Antoine de La Morinerie, Gérard Pierrot, Ian McCleary, Justin Schweiger, Emmanuel Herault, William Beaux d'Albenas, Nicolas Guigou, David Friszman, Chloé Berthier, Eric Soubelet, Gaspard Koenig, Mathilde Ripley, Barbara Foliot, Albain Venzo;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
These films about President Kennedy provide diverse perspectives on his presidency, his impact on American history, and the enduring fascination with his life and legacy.
The films about President Kennedy offer a compelling glimpse into one of the most captivating figures in modern American history. From biopics that delve into his personal struggles and political triumphs to documentaries that explore the impact of his presidency, these films capture the complexity of Kennedy's legacy. They invite audiences to reflect on the enduring fascination with this enigmatic leader and the enduring impact of his vision. Whether portraying the glamour of Camelot or the challenges of navigating a nation in turmoil, these films about President Kennedy continue to captivate and inspire, ensuring that his story will remain a timeless source of cinematic exploration and contemplation.
