MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Down 578 this week

Primary Colors (1998)

 -  Comedy | Drama  -  20 March 1998 (USA)
6.6
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 6.6/10 from 19,307 users   Metascore: 70/100
Reviews: 151 user | 113 critic | 30 from Metacritic.com

A man joins the political campaign of a smooth-operator candidate for president of the USA.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)
Watch Trailer
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 2369 titles created 4 months ago
 
a list of 10000 titles created 2 months ago
 
a list of 1228 titles created 02 May 2012
 
a list of 3627 titles created 1 month ago
 
a list of 1216 titles created 2 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: Primary Colors (1998)

Primary Colors (1998) on IMDb 6.6/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Primary Colors.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 15 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

Photos

Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.5/10 X  

Substance-addicted Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on the skids. After a spell at a detox centre her film company insists as a condition of continuing to employ her that she live with her... See full summary »

Director: Mike Nichols
Stars: Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid
Wag the Dog (1997)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

Before elections, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to "fabricate" a war in order to cover-up a presidential sex scandal.

Director: Barry Levinson
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche
Wonder Boys (2000)
Drama | Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X  

An English Professor tries to deal with his wife leaving him, the arrival of his editor who has been waiting for his book for seven years, and the various problems that his friends and associates involve him in.

Director: Curtis Hanson
Stars: Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand
Election (1999)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

A high school teacher's personal life becomes complicated as he works with students during the school elections.

Director: Alexander Payne
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Klein
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

Satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor, who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.

Director: Jason Reitman
Stars: Joan Lunden, Aaron Eckhart, Cameron Bright
About Schmidt (2002)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

A man upon retirement embarks on a journey to his estranged daughter's wedding only to discover more about himself and life than he ever expected.

Director: Alexander Payne
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Kathy Bates, Hope Davis
Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

In Mexico, two teenage boys and an attractive older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life, friendship, sex, and each other.

Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Stars: Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.4/10 X  

An old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years.

Director: Bruce Beresford
Stars: Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite of what the principal thinks of that.

Director: John Hughes
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara
Parenthood (1989)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

The Buckman family is a midwestern family all dealing with their lives: estranged relatives, raising children, pressures of the job, and learning to be a good parent and spouse.

Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.7/10 X  

A movie crew invades a small town whose residents are all too ready to give up their values for showbiz glitz.

Director: David Mamet
Stars: Michael Higgins, Rebecca Pidgeon, William H. Macy
Mean Girls (2004)
Comedy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.9/10 X  

Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.

Director: Mark Waters
Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Mamma Stanton
...
Rebecca Walker ...
March
...
Lucille Kaufman
Tommy Hollis ...
William McCullison (Fat Willie)
...
Izzy Rosenblatt
...
Arlen Sporken
J.C. Quinn ...
Uncle Charlie
Edit

Storyline

Jack Stanton is running for president. The election is seen through the eyes of young Henry Burton. Along the way Stanton must deal with a sex scandal. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

How Much Spin Does It Take To Win? See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual references | See all certifications »
Edit

Details

Country:

| | | |

Language:

Release Date:

20 March 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Mit aller Macht  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£238,918 (UK) (30 October 1998)

Gross:

£497,545 (UK) (6 November 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| | |

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Larry Hagman's appearance at the political rally was kept a secret from the extras in the crowd. The reaction when he walks on stage is genuine. However, Hagman was recovering from a broken rib at the time and was in great discomfort so was unable to really enjoy the moment. See more »

Goofs

During the Mill speech you can see 2 TelePrompTers hidden in the crowd that John Travolta's character uses to give his dialog. In the reverse shot (back of his head) the TelePrompTers are removed from the shot. See more »

Quotes

Jack Stanton: [about the cellphone] You wouldn't have found it if I hadn't thrown it out the car!
See more »

Connections

References The Montel Williams Show (1991) See more »

Soundtracks

"GOOD OLE BOYS LIKE ME"
Written by Bob McDill
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

A political movie for people who don't like political movies
15 July 2003 | by (Canada) – See all my reviews

This movie and the book upon which it was based caused a major stir when first released because President Bill Clinton felt the movie was based too much on his own life, even though the author denied that Clinton served as the model for the book's lead character.

It's kind of hard to believe the author, since John Travolta's character has a haircut and a Southern accent identical to Clinton's. Also, the scandals Travolta suffers in the film, such as adulterous affairs and having children out of wedlock, also plagued Clinton during his presidency.

Whoever you believe, Primary Colors is a very enjoyable film, even if you don't like political movies. The entire cast is great, especially Larry Hagman as an aging Florida senator who fills in for one of Travolta's opponents after he has a heart attack. It's a good step away from his J.R. Ewing character, even if his accent sounds the same.

Primary Colors is rated R for profanity and sexual references, but I think a PG-13 would have been more appropriate.

Krispy Kreme dougnuts, anyone?


4 of 4 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
So, how close is Stanton to clinton? Godlesslouisianalady
When you're feeling sad after watching W. ryan-1370
Iowa Caucus Ignored! gregher
Kathy Bates ROCKS Arietro
Travolta softened his Clinton act for Scientology tax-exemption? Blaargh_42
Who are the character's real-life counterparts? MovieDood
Discuss Primary Colors (1998) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?