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Wag the Dog

  • 1997
  • PG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
90K
YOUR RATING
Wag the Dog (1997)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
97 Photos
Dark ComedySatireComedyDrama

Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal.Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal.Shortly before an election, 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
  • Writers
    • Larry Beinhart
    • Hilary Henkin
    • David Mamet
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Robert De Niro
    • Anne Heche
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    90K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Barry Levinson
    • Writers
      • Larry Beinhart
      • Hilary Henkin
      • David Mamet
    • Stars
      • Dustin Hoffman
      • Robert De Niro
      • Anne Heche
    • 260User reviews
    • 104Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 23 nominations total

    Videos1

    Wag The Dog
    Trailer 0:31
    Wag The Dog

    Photos97

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    + 91
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Dustin Hoffman
    Dustin Hoffman
    • Stanley Motss
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Conrad Brean
    Anne Heche
    Anne Heche
    • Winifred Ames
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Sgt. William Schumann
    Denis Leary
    Denis Leary
    • Fad King
    Willie Nelson
    Willie Nelson
    • Johnny Dean
    Andrea Martin
    Andrea Martin
    • Liz Butsky
    Michael Belson
    • President
    Suzanne Cryer
    Suzanne Cryer
    • Amy Cain
    John Michael Higgins
    John Michael Higgins
    • John Levy
    Suzie Plakson
    Suzie Plakson
    • Grace
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Tracy Lime
    Jason Cottle
    Jason Cottle
    • A.D.
    David Koechner
    David Koechner
    • Director
    Harland Williams
    Harland Williams
    • Pet Wrangler
    Sean Masterson
    Sean Masterson
    • Bob Richardson
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Mr. Young
    Bernard Hocke
    Bernard Hocke
    • Technician
    • Director
      • Barry Levinson
    • Writers
      • Larry Beinhart
      • Hilary Henkin
      • David Mamet
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "Why change horses midstream?" was originally a campaign slogan for Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
    • Goofs
      When the coffin is unloaded from the aircraft, the flag is positioned properly, with the blue field over the decedent's left shoulder. At the memorial service, the blue is over the decedent's right shoulder.
    • Quotes

      [Repeated line]

      Stanley Motss: This is NOTHING.

    • Crazy credits
      "Special Thanks to The Cast and Crew for Completing Principal Photography in 29 Days!"
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Wag the Dog/Home Alone 3/For Richer or Poorer/Deconstructing Harry/Scream 2 (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Thank Heaven for Little Girls
      Written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe

      Performed by Maurice Chevalier

      Heard sarcastically during TV spot accusing the President of sexually exploiting an underage girl

    User reviews260

    Featured review
    7/10

    Brilliant!!!

    I missed this movie. Recovered! Brilliant film, grotesque and satirical at the right point, with clear intentions to make people understand how the goat people are manipulated by a few, for the intentions of a few, with obvious comic and satirical implications that make people laugh (in the film), but with the evident metaphor of how these plans are actually adopted on public opinion. Extraordinary actors, brilliant script. A must see, together with "The Second Civil War" and the cult "Dr. Strangelove" and if you want "1941".
    • verbal_666
    • Jul 3, 2021
    • Permalink

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Wag the Dog?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros.
    • Languages
      • English
      • Albanian
    • Also known as
      • Des hommes d'influence
    • Filming locations
      • Main Drain Rd., Buttonwillow, California, USA(Atwood Barker Market Scene)
    • Production companies
      • Baltimore Pictures
      • New Line Cinema
      • Punch Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $43,061,945
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $92,079
      • Dec 28, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $64,256,513
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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