Ten Most Famous President Assassination Movies

This is a list of most famous president assassination movies I have seen so far. Most of these movies are based on real life stories and tragedies. These movies always carries a huge amount of excitement, original plot and realistic screenplay. It's a real challenge for any director to choose a perfect star casts and portray real life characters on screen with accurate details. This is where "Art Director & Cinematography" plays very crucial role in setting up the whole sets and camera angles to reproduce same original effects.

1. JFK (1991)

***Oliver Stone's One Of The Most Brilliant And Controversial Film Ever***

"Jim Garrison: The Warren Commission thought they had an open-and-shut case. Three bullets, one assassin. But two unpredictable things happened that day that made it virtually impossible. One, the eight-millimeter home movie taken by Abraham Zapruder while standing by the grassy knoll. Two, the third wounded man, James Tague, who was knicked by a fragment, standing near the triple underpass."

"Jim Garrison: I never realized Kennedy was so dangerous to the establishment. Is that why?
X: Well that's the real question, isn't it? Why? The how and the who is just scenery for the public. Oswald, Ruby, Cuba, the Mafia. Keeps 'em guessing like some kind of parlor game, prevents 'em from asking the most important question, why? Why was Kennedy killed? Who benefited? Who has the power to cover it up? Who? "

JFK was adapted by Stone and Zachary Sklar from the books On the Trail of the Assassins by Jim Garrison and Crossfire: Kevin Costner plays Jim Garrison, the New Orleans DA, who (after 3 years) discovers that things were just not right with the investigation and findings of the Warren commission regarding the murder of John F. Kennedy. Together with his office, a small yet dedicated bunch, he sets out to investigate. Against all odds and a labyrinth of characters, threats, murders and political intrigue, he manages to bring forth the case to trial. Regardless of the outcome of the trial, the final monologue by Costner has to be seen to be believed. 

It is Oliver Stone's greatest work. The acting talent assembled for this movie is just incredible. Kevin Costner, Jay Sanders, Gary Oldman, Michael Rooker, Laurie Metcalf, Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, and the list goes on and on. My only gripe was that it was a bit long to watch in one sitting, its a film you have to watch 2 or 3 times so you can absorb all the info it gives you.

2. The Day of the Jackal (1973)

***An Original And Iconic Assassination Thriller Movie***

"August 1962 was a stormy time for France. Many people felt that President Charles de Gaulle had betrayed the country by giving independence to Algeria. Extremists, mostly from the Army, swore to kill him in revenge. They banded together in an underground movement, and called themselves the OAS. "

"The Day of the Jackal" captures to the true spirit of Frederick Forsyth's exceptional first novel. During the early 1960's, the OAS (Organization Armee Secret) waged a terrorist campaign against French President Charles De Gaulle's administration. Angered by the loss of French lives after De Gaulle abandoned the French colonial war in Algeria, and hoped to eventually remove him through a coup d'état.

Director Fred Zimmerman is the man who brings all these elements together and weaves them into a solid film that holds up to this day. This film is far superior to the 1997 remake with Bruce Willis. Edward Fox makes for a great Jackal. He is a focused professional who always knows what he is doing. Recommended if you want a good escapist thriller with which to escape from the world for a few hours.

3. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

***Unpredictable, Tense And Intelligent Political Thriller***

"If you come in five minutes after this picture begins, you won't know what it's all about! When you've seen it all, you'll swear there's never been anything like it!" 

"Marco: Intelligence officer. Stupidity officer is more like it. Pentagon wants to open a Stupidity Division, they know who they can get to lead it. "

Frank Sinatra, in one of his best performances, stars as Major Bennett Marco, a member of a platoon that was taken prisoner during the Korean conflict and subjected to some really scary brainwashing techniques. At the outset, Marco and some of his former buddies are having terrible nightmares about their experiences, and Marco is eventually affected by it enough that his commanding officer orders him to take sick leave. He decides to visit his former sergeant, an unlikable man named Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), who is not suffering from nightmares but who reacts strangely when confronted by a deck of cards.

Frankenheimer heightens the tension beyond what was already on the page, creating a thriller that makes its audience think while also keeping them on the edge of their seat.

4. In The Line Of Fire (1993)

***Classic, Underrated And Incredibly Filmed***

"Mitch Leary: What did happen to you that day? Only one agent reacted to the gunfire, and you were closer to Kennedy than he was. You must have looked up at the window of the Texas Book Depository, but you didn't react. Late at night, when the demons come, do you see the rifle coming out of that window, or do you see Kennedy's head being blown apart? If you'd reacted to that first shot, could you have gotten there in time to stop the big bullet? And if you had - that could've been your head being blown apart. Do you wish you'd succeeded, Frank? Or is life too precious? "

Veteran Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan (Eastwood) is pulled back into President protection duty when a deadly assassin, Mitch Leary (Malkovich), surfaces and announces his intention to kill the current incumbent of the Whitehouse. But Frank is feeling his age and he is haunted by his failure to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy; and Leary know this and uses it to toy with Horrigan's mindset.

The cast turns in strong performances, particularly Clint Eastwood and John Malkovich. This film is expertly directed by suspense master Wolfgang Petersen. Thrillers don't get much better than this, don't miss it.

5. Shooter (2007)

***A Straightforward And Very Entertaining Movie***

"Bob Lee Swagger: There's going to be more shooting, more people are going to die. I didn't start it, but I mean to see it through. "

"Senator Charles F. Meachum: There's always a confused soul that thinks that one man can make a difference. And you have to kill him to convince him otherwise. That's the hassle with democracy. "

This film is about a sniper who loses his best friend while on a shooting mission. A few years later, he is now retired and living in a woodland with his do. Then he is visited by the military to plan an assassination of the president. The shot is fired. Unfortunately he is set up to being the shooter and is hunted by cops everywhere. He must find out why he has been set up and also try and stop the real killers.

Mark Wahlburg was excellent, the movie was brilliant, the effects and sounds got everyone in the cinema deeply involved and it was one hell of a ride throughout. Very little boring bits as well, the action kept on coming right until the very end.

6. Valkyrie  (2008)

 ***Well-Crafted And Gripping Wartime Drama***

"Henning von Tresckow: We have to show the world that not all of us are like him. Otherwise, this will always be Hitler's Germany. "

"Adolf Hitler: The Valkyrie; handmaidens of the gods, choosing who will live and who will die, sparing the most heroic from an agonizing death. One cannot understand National Socialism if one does not understand Wagner. "

Tom Cruise does a surprisingly good job at portraying at Colonel Von Stauffenberg, a veteran of the German Army's North African campaign, whose battlefield injuries clinch his determination to end Hitler's life. Hence, his recruitment by a cadre of like-minded German generals and civilian politicians.

The direction/cinematography was flawless. The action scenes at the beginning depicting the Afrika Korps under attack was the finest battle sequence I have ever seen. The sequences where airplanes from the period were flying and landing added to the realism of the film.

The film was unforgettable and inspirational. I would certainly recommend it to any history buff or anyone interested in a riveting suspense yarn.

7. The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)

***A Good Historical Film And Impressive Sean Penn***

"Samuel Bicke: Slavery never really ended in this country. It just gave it another name... Em-plo-yee."

"Samuel Bicke: My name is Sam Bicke, and I consider myself a grain of sand. On this beach called America there are 211 million grains of sand. Three billion on the beach we call Earth. If I am lucky, if I am lucky, the action that I am about to take
[big smile] And  will show the powerful that even the least grain of sand has is him the power to destroy them. "

The film is set in the 1970s and revolves around it's central character, Sam Bick, a man who can't hold down a job, and has problems connecting with people socially. The film follows Sam on his unrelenting course of bad luck that will eventually prove to be too much for him to take.

The Assassination of Richard Nixon has everything you could hope for in a quality film. An engaging story full of interesting characters, great acting, score and all that jazz, a great piece of work. The subtle descent of a meek furniture salesman into a kind of hostile, sociopath despair is portrayed with a great sense of truth and a pure delivery by Penn.

8. Suddenly (1954)

***An Excellent Film, For It's Time***

"John Baron: Tonight at five o'clock I kill the President. One second after five there's a new President. What changes? Nothing!"

"Sheriff Tod Shaw, Suddenly California: Don't play God just because you have a gun.

John Baron: You know when you have a gun you ARE in a way sort of a god. If you had the gun then you would be the god. "

In "Suddenly", Merciless crooks infiltrate a small town and take an innocent household hostage with the purpose of assassinating the United States President, who'll be stepping off the train just outside of the prime residence. 

Sinatra plays a very good role as Baron the assassin. The movie portrays the Baron's psychological struggle with his captives, and presents an interesting portrait of what nowadays is a controversial matter, the function of firearms in the home.

Suddenly is a must see for all old movie fans. Very gripping.

9. The Conspirator (2010)

***Accurate, Authentic And Intriguing Drama***

"Joseph Holt: One bullet killed our beloved president. One bullet but not one man! "

"Mary Surratt: Have you ever believed in something far greater than yourself? "

'The Conspirator' tells the story of Mary Surratt, the only female co- conspirator charged in the Abraham Lincoln assassination and the first woman to be executed by the United States federal government.

James McAvoy delivers a natural performance. Robin Wright is sincere. Kevin Kline is terrific, as always. Justin Long is decent, while Tom Wilkinson gets limited scope. Others lend support. ames D. Solomon's Screenplay works in parts. Robert Redford's Direction is taut. Cinematography, Editing & Art Design, are satisfactory.

On the whole, 'The Conspirator' is a decent watch.

10. Vantage Point (2008)

***A Good Engaging Action Thriller***

"Angie Jones: The President of the United States has been shot."

"Luis: Is everything going to plan?

Suarez: To the last detail.

Luis: And the President? Are you sure they sent a double?

Suarez: The beauty of American arrogance is that they can't imagine a world where they're not a step ahead. "

The story begins with an historic counterterrorism summit in Spain, the President of the United States is struck down by an assassin's bullet. Eight strangers have a perfect view of the kill, but what did they really see? As the minutes leading up to the fatal shot are replayed through the eyes of each eyewitness, the reality of the assassination takes shape. But just when you think you know the answer, the shattering final truth is revealed.

Almost every character in the movie is believable and the performances are quite solid. Two thumbs up for Dennis Quaid in his role of veteran secret service agent Barnes and to Forest Whitaker who impresses me with every single performance he gives.

It remains a suspenseful and thrilling movie but its flaws outweigh its strong points. My advice: Watch it once, forget it and don't expect to see or learn anything new from it.

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