Political dramas make for some of the best television. Not only do we get to experience the politics in our society reflected back to us, we can also learn so much about events that happen in politics and get a behind the scenes look at the current climate. There are so many good political dramas that have revealed details about politics of the present and past, so here’s Ready Steady Cut’s list, with details of where to watch them.
Best political drama TV shows
The Crown
Netflix’s dramatisation of the royal family and its history has been a smash hit for the streaming service. Although it technically is not solely focused on politicians, it gives viewers a detailed view of the political climates throughout the Royal Family’s reign. From early seasons with depictions of Winston Churchill to a more recent series that included Queen Elizabeth II’s relationship with Margaret Thatcher, The Crown is one of the best political drama series on Netflix. Whatsmore, there’s a new season coming soon.
This England
Boris Johnson has only just left 10 Downing Street, but that hasn’t stopped the creators of this Sky Atlantic series. This series has just been released to stream on NOW TV and it follows Johnson’s time as Prime Minister, particularly during the pandemic, and the decisions he made that affected the lives of individuals throughout the UK. Johnson is portrayed by Belfast star Kenneth Branagh.
House of Cards
House of Cards is the legal political drama about a cheating politician that everyone was talking about in the early 2010’s. The series follows Frank Underwood on an obsessive rise to power. The season ended in 2018, but it’s available to stream on Netflix UK.
Borgen – Power and Glory
Borgen was widely acknowledged as one of the best political dramas back in 2013 and it’s been revisited by Netflix. This Danish show follows Birgitte Nyborg, the first female prime minister in Denmark and her respective rise to power. It’s been compared to the classic The West Wing in the realm of scriptwriting political drama, but equally details Birgitte’s difficulty in a quick rise to power counterbalanced with her personal life. Borgen is new on Netflix UK now and available to stream.
The Goodwife
Part law drama, part political drama, The Good Wife follows Alicia Florick, wife of the State Attorney. She’s Harvard educated but put this aside to support her husband and family until she learns about his infidelity. Alicia returns to law and what follows is one of the best law and political drama mixes you can find on streaming services. It has amazing Amazon Prime TV show reviews and you can stream all 7 seasons of The Good Wife on the platform.
Best political drama movies
Selma
Selma is one of the most important political movies of recent years. It follows Martin Luther King Jr in the struggle to secure equal voting rights, which culminated in a daring campaign from Selma to Montgomery that led to the president signing the Voting Rights Act. It’s available on Amazon Prime.
Argo
Six Americans are held hostage in Iran and Tony Mendez (played by Ben Affleck) is given the mission to rescue them. He devises a plan to pose as a Hollywood producer. The film details the 1979 militant storming of the US embassy in Tehran, Iran. The film is highly rated as one of the best political movies out there and it’s available on Amazon Prime.
The Queen
This biographical film follows Queen Elizabeth II after the events surrounding Diana’s death. The movie explores the political figure and the public’s reaction to her during this time. Although following the monarch, it does investigate the politics of the late 1990s in the UK and features a renowned performance from Helen Mirren. It’s currently available on Netflix.
The Iron Lady
This political drama follows the life and career of Margaret Thatcher, escorting exactly how she rose to power and became Britain’s ‘most hated Prime Minister’. Meryl Streep won several awards for her performance as Thatcher and the political drama movie has great Netflix film reviews, where you can stream it.
Munich: The Edge of War
A Netflix premiere, Munich: The Edge of War is a spy thriller that is well engaged with politics of the beginnings of World War II as Hitler prepares to invade Czechoslovakia. With a surprising ending, many political drama fans will appreciate the movie, which they can watch on Netflix.
More with Ready Steady Cut
Ready Steady Cut offers opinions and information on the latest and upcoming releases and you can find our latest Netflix film reviews and Amazon Prime TV show reviews on our website.
Additional reading:
- Everything you need to know about The Crown Season 5
- Borgen – Power & Glory review – the rare reboot that feels right on time
- The Independent review – why is this political thriller lacking?
- The West Wing at 20: Ranking the 20 Best Episodes of All Time
- What’s coming to Netflix in November 2022?
