The Front Runner

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2:18

The Front Runner

R

2018

1h 53m

Biography

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

58%

Tomatometer

229 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Gary Hart, former senator of Colorado, becomes the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1987. Hart's intelligence, charisma and idealism makes him popular with young voters, leaving him with a seemingly clear path to the White House. All that comes crashing down when allegations of an extramarital affair surface in the media, forcing the candidate to address a scandal that threatens to derail his campaign and personal life.

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Critics Consensus

The Front Runner exhumes the wreckage of a political campaign with well-acted wit, even if it neglects to truly analyze the issues it raises.

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Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

Dec 10, 2020

2/5

The Front Runner's timidity extends even to the portrayal of Hart himself... the film instead allows him to recede into the background, leaving Jackman and his trademark charisma with very little to do.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

Feb 22, 2020

Most fascinating is the film's subtext that the blame for our present cultural morass doesn't rest solely with politicians or the media; in a way, they're only gladiators, thrashing to amuse an enervated citizenry that demands entertainment 24/7.

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David Stratton

The Australian

Feb 2, 2019

4/5

The Front Runner is commendably even-handed in its portrayal of both the political system and the fourth estate. And Jackman's commanding performance should be required viewing.

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Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

Jul 14, 2024

2/5

It has all the pieces necessary to make a fascinating biopic on an intriguing individual. But, it’s all narrative over analysis, and the analysis presented isn’t that deep or as well thought out as it should’ve been.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 4, 2023

2.5/4

...the movie boasts terrific work from a thoroughly impressive roster of players...

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

Aug 17, 2022

2.5/5

Why has a film that is so focused on driving home the failings of the media come during the current administration’s effort to silence it? Entertaining, uneven, and questionable.

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keven q

@kevenquinlan Oct 17, 2025

A bit after the fact historical political bio event. It's good and Hugh is always the best. Hart, unfortunately, was kinda boring as a person. Smart but not in tune to the zeitgeist of the people or their motivations. It's worth a watch and I'll keep just for Jackman but it's not exactly enthralling cinema.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Sep 15, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Gareth v

@geewah Jun 22, 2023

Nothing great. Comes across at times as if it's just going through the motions despite Jackman's best efforts.

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meredith w

@Dufflecoats Jan 29, 2023

The acting is fine and the movie well-made, but there isn't a lot to it, meaning that even not knowing anything about its true-story subject matter of the scandal that derailed US presidential hopeful Gary Hart's campaign, it is difficult to feel interested or invested.

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James K

@RT70605918 Dec 22, 2022

Well-acted, decently scripted, and yet the film never deeply probes or is as grippingly biting as it should be.

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John B

@RT17595747 Nov 12, 2022

While I appreciated what they were trying to do with the Gary Hart story, I just felt it dragged on without delivering much of anything. It made me wonder if there really was a story with Gary Hart that needed to be told and why they hounded him over such a minor incident in the grand scheme of things to be a leader.

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Jason Reitman

Director

Hugh Jackman

Gary Hart

Vera Farmiga

Lee Hart

J.K. Simmons

Bill Dixon

Alfred Molina

Ben Bradlee

Mamoudou Athie

AJ Parker

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Synopsis

Gary Hart, former senator of Colorado, becomes the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1987. Hart's intelligence, charisma and idealism makes him popular with young voters, leaving him with a seemingly clear path to the White House. All that comes crashing down when allegations of an extramarital affair surface in the media, forcing the candidate to address a scandal that threatens to derail his campaign and personal life.

Director: Jason Reitman
Producer: Jason Reitman, Helen Estabrook, Aaron L. Gilbert
Screenwriter: Matt Bai, Jay Carson, Jason Reitman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Stage 6, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Right of Way Films, Stage 6 Films, BRON Studios
Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.0M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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