Election
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A high school teacher meets his match in an over-achieving student politician.
What critics thought
A sharp, darkly comic takedown of ambition and moral compromise, Election won over critics with its intelligence and its refusal to let anyone — student, teacher, or institution — off the hook. Reese Witherspoon's performance was widely singled out as a standout, and the film has only grown in reputation since its release, landing on numerous all-time lists despite a notably cooler initial response from general audiences.
“here is a movie that is not simply about an obnoxious student, but also about an imperfect teacher, a lockstep administration, and a student body that is mostly just marking time until it can go out into the world and occupy valuable space”
Roger Ebert·RogerEbert.com
“Brandishes the sort of intelligent wit and bracing nastiness that will make it more appealing to discerning adults than to teens who just want to have fun”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
“the satire of the season, a hilarious, razor-sharp indictment of the American Dream”
Desson Howe·The Washington Post
Accolades
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Alexander PayneDirector
Matthew BroderickJim McAllister
Reese WitherspoonTracy Flick
Chris KleinPaul Metzler
Jessica CampbellTammy Metzler
Mark HarelikDave Novotny
Phil ReevesWalt Hendricks
Molly HaganDiane McAllister
Delaney DriscollLinda Novotny
Colleen CampJudith Flick
Frankie IngrassiaLisa Flanagan
Matt MalloyVice-Principal Bell
Jeanine JacksonJo Metzler
Rolfe KentComposer
Jim TaylorWriter
Tom PerrottaWriter
James GlennonCinematographyElection
A high school teacher meets his match in an over-achieving student politician.
What critics thought
A sharp, darkly comic takedown of ambition and moral compromise, Election won over critics with its intelligence and its refusal to let anyone — student, teacher, or institution — off the hook. Reese Witherspoon's performance was widely singled out as a standout, and the film has only grown in reputation since its release, landing on numerous all-time lists despite a notably cooler initial response from general audiences.
“here is a movie that is not simply about an obnoxious student, but also about an imperfect teacher, a lockstep administration, and a student body that is mostly just marking time until it can go out into the world and occupy valuable space”
Roger Ebert·RogerEbert.com
“Brandishes the sort of intelligent wit and bracing nastiness that will make it more appealing to discerning adults than to teens who just want to have fun”
Todd McCarthy·Variety
“the satire of the season, a hilarious, razor-sharp indictment of the American Dream”
Desson Howe·The Washington Post
Accolades
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Cast & Crew
Alexander PayneDirectorMatthew BroderickJim McAllisterReese WitherspoonTracy FlickChris KleinPaul MetzlerJessica CampbellTammy MetzlerMark HarelikDave NovotnyPhil ReevesWalt HendricksMolly HaganDiane McAllisterDelaney DriscollLinda NovotnyColleen CampJudith FlickFrankie IngrassiaLisa FlanaganMatt MalloyVice-Principal BellJeanine JacksonJo MetzlerRolfe KentComposerJim TaylorWriterTom PerrottaWriterJames GlennonCinematographyStream
Rent & Buy