Election

Election (1999)

  • 92% of critics liked it
    (104 reviews)

  • 73% of users liked it
    (59,301 ratings)

In this satirical comedy, a hotly contested high school election becomes a metaphor for the current state of American politics. Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) is a popular and well-respected instructor at George Washington Carver High School in Omaha, Nebraska, but lately he's been unhappy… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Genres
Comedy
In Theaters
May 3, 1999 Wide
On DVD
Oct 19, 1999
Paramount Pictures.

Critic Reviews

  • Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

    The treatment of this touchy material is impressive, neither gratuitous nor mincing, but this 1999 satirical comedy doesn't really go anywhere.

  • J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

    An instant classic, Alexander Payne's 1999 high school comedy seems even more scathing now that we're losing control of our own election machinery.

  • Ted Anthony, Associated Press

    Election at first has the feel of a simple work. But don't let that fool you; it's a complex, deep tale.

  • Jay Carr, Boston Globe

    You've got to laugh at Witherspoon's tightly wound Little Miss Perfect, rising at dawn to do her hair and encase herself in a preppy look before baking cupcakes to pass out at school as vote-getters in her campaign for student council president.

  • Derek Elley, Variety

    A dark, insidiously funny satire on the self-involved ways otherwise rational people can allow narrow personal agendas to lead them astray to the point of self-destruction.

Read all 20 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Chris W


    *Sigh* If only more high school films could be of the same quality as this. Calling it a "high school" film though, is a litle tricky, as that terms seems to have some unfavorable connotations around it. I use it because it is set at a high school, and involves students and… More

  • Lucas M


    Terrific!

  • Nicki M


    Definitely one of Reese Witherspoon's best roles. She is perfect for the part of overachiever, Tracey Flick. I have to admit to a certain fondness for Tracey. I have seen this movie many times over the years, and though all I have seen it with find her awful, I have always seen… More

  • c0up  


    'Election'. Darkly funny and a witty high school comedy not like the norm. Reese Witherspoon is wonderful, as a ruthless, annoyingly cheerful high school go-getter out to win the top prize of them all. And then there's poor Matthew Broderick, the bumbling, but loved… More

  • Jeff "


    Election is a fairly good comedy with a good cast of actors. Now, let me get this out of the way, I'm not the biggest fan of Matthew Broderick, but when he does something good, I'll give him credit, and he is able to make a good film. Election is good little teen comedy with… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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