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IMDbPro

Wag the Dog

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
85K
YOUR RATING
Wag the Dog (1997)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
97 Photos
ComedyDrama
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.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
85K
YOUR RATING
    • Barry Levinson
    • Larry Beinhart(book "American Hero")
    • Hilary Henkin(screenplay)
    • David Mamet(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Robert De Niro
    • Anne Heche
    • Barry Levinson
    • Larry Beinhart(book "American Hero")
    • Hilary Henkin(screenplay)
    • David Mamet(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Dustin Hoffman
    • Robert De Niro
    • Anne Heche
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 250User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars

    Videos1

    Wag The Dog
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Wag The Dog

    Photos97

    Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, and Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro and Anne Heche in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Dustin Hoffman, and David Koechner in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, and Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, and Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Robert De Niro and Anne Heche in Wag the Dog (1997)
    Dustin Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, and Barry Levinson in Wag the Dog (1997)
    David Mamet and Barry Levinson in Wag the Dog (1997)

    Top cast

    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
      • Barry Levinson
      • Larry Beinhart(book "American Hero")
      • Hilary Henkin(screenplay)
      • David Mamet(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    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 deceased's left shoulder. At the memorial service, the blue is over the deceased'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 At 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 & Frederick Loewe

      Performed by Maurice Chevalier

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

    User reviews250

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    More Relevant Than Ever!
    As satirical and surreal as this movie seems, it also has that air of 'Dr. Strangelove' that dialog, scenario's, and actions might not be that far off the mark. Past, present or future. And is scary how 'spin and deflection' has become such an art now. Back in FDR's day with his poliomyelitis, it was just common sense and general agreement to not make it an issue, or use it against him and his leadership. Cut to Bill Clinton and his indiscretion in the oval office, was dragged out and questioned to the point of making him a monster. 9/11 to this day is still questioned by many was it a conspiracy or not? To promote Bush Jr and/or give America good reason to infiltrate the middle east and all? And unlike the mystery of the JFK assassination, 9/11 conspiracy and Republican deflection is more probable and provable with technology and communication - either overtly in front of everyone's eyes, or hacked and exposed via WikiLeaks et al. And even then, it's held with scrutiny, unchallenged, and allowed to wither and fade in everyone's memory. With Wag The Dog, it seems so simplistic at first. DeNiro's 'Mr. Fix It' character seems to know how to handle everything just so. But it also shows the complexity and ease of so many involved that can take a minute piece of information and exploit it or counteract it with a simple leak and denial. And I think it's important to advise viewers to pay attention to the ending. As the supposedly internal mucking and manipulations to secure ones leadership CAN have an effect on another region of the world as a gateway trigger effect. Can we ever re-establish 'real news' over 'fake news' today and for the future...?
    helpful•14
    0
    • dungeonstudio
    • Oct 11, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 1998 (United States)
      • United States
      • Barry Levinson
      • Warner Bros.
      • English
      • Albanian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Main Drain Rd., Buttonwillow, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Baltimore Pictures
      • New Line Cinema
      • Punch Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 37 minutes
      • Color
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS

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