By now, many of you have watched the new Showtime miniseries (limited series if we're acting all fancy) The Comey Rule and probably want to seek out other great politically-minded dramas (and comedies) now that you've done so. But with more streaming services than political ads on television leading up to a general election, trying to decide what to watch, and where to watch it, isn't always the easiest task.
And while we could follow through with the principles of our democracy and take votes on the best political movies and TV shows out there, it might be a whole easier to just name around 11 or so titles that one person thinks is best for the general audience. Call this an executive decision (or at least, a writer's decision) on the best streaming options for some of the most riveting political dramas (and comedies) out there.
The West Wing (Netflix)
Aaron Sorkin's long-running political drama The West Wing followed the lives of the politicians and staffers who worked (and sometimes slept) in the White House. Through good time and bad, the members of the Bartlet Administration proved time and time again that they were up to to task and could weather any storm.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: Like in The Comey Rule, the NBC drama series provided great detail about the inner-workings of government offices, including the White House. Despite similarities in the setting and types of characters featured, however, The West Wing does have a lighter and oftentimes calmer tone than the Showtime series.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Recount (HBO Max)
Anyone who remembers the 2000 presidential election between Al Gore and eventual winner George W. Bush knows that it was nothing short of chaos. The 2008 HBO original film Recount serves as a dramatization of one of the most contentious, and confusing, periods in the early 21st Century.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: If you like the chaos of The Comey Rule or just the insanity of presidential elections in general, then Jay Roach's Emmy Award-winning TV movie is the way to go. From the time the polls close on Election Night 2000 to the Supreme Court decision that gave George W. Bush the election, this tense 116-minute drama has it all.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
All The President's Men (HBO Max)
The Watergate scandal was one of the biggest political controversies in the 20th Century, and perhaps even in the history of the United States, and the 1976 drama All The President's Men follows Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) as they risk their careers and safety to uncover the truth behind the Nixon Administration's actions.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: If you liked the conspiratorial nature of The Comey Rule or the investigations that took up much of the two-part miniseries, then Alan J. Pakula's political thriller is right up your alley. With shady government officials, truth seekers, and one of the worst examples of a coverup the nation has ever seen, this Academy Award-winning picture has it all.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
House Of Cards (Netflix)
The Netflix fourth-wall-breaking political drama House of Cards follows Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he rises from Democratic Majority Whip to the President of the United States before his eventual fall from grace at which point it picks up with his wife Claire (Robin Wright). But even with the change in command, the drama and political games continue.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: It is hard to say which show has the more intentionally unlikable leader of the free world, but that's what makes House of Cards and The Comey Rule so much fun to watch. Fans of the latter's drama, backstabbing, and unsavory characters will surely feel at home with this Netflix series. And plus, both feature Michael Kelly in major roles, and there's no such thing as too much Michael Kelly.
Stream it on Netflix here.
Game Change (HBO Max)
The 2008 Presidential Campaign was unlike anything anyone had seen. There was the first African American on the top of a major party's ticket but also the first female Vice Presidential nominee on the other side in Sarah Palin. The decision by Republican candidate John McCain's campaign to pick the one-time governor of Alaska is retold if spectacular fashion with Julianne Moore leading the charge.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: Fans of the political circus surrounding the events of The Comey Rule will enjoy the over-the-top and sensationalistic nature of the HBO original movie Game Change. On top of that, it has some of the best living actors given spectacular portrayals of some of the biggest names in American politics.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
Veep (HBO Max)
Before we get into the second half and more dramatic section of this piece, let's take a look at HBO's smash comedy Veep, which followed the life and career of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she goes from the Vice President to the Commander in Chief over the course of the show's seven seasons.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: At first you might think that a comedy lampooning politicians and staffers of the White House would have nothing in common with a prestige television version of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but both contain quite a bit of humor. In the case of Veep, however, the comedy is intentional.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
Frost/Nixon (Netflix)
A few years after Richard Nixon resigned from the office of the President of the United States, he granted an in-depth interview with British TV personality David Frost, and those conversations, as well as all the planning that went into them, is given the full treatment in the 2008 drama Frost/Nixon.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: If you were a fan of the contentious relationship between Donald Trump (Brendan Gleeson) and James Comey (Jeff Daniels) in The Comey Rule then you'll love the back-and-forth conversations between Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) and David Frost (Michael Sheen) in Ron Howard's superb political and media drama.
Stream it on Netflix here.
The Newsroom (HBO Max)
Aaron Sorkin's HBO cable news drama The Newsroom follows the embattled news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) as he undergoes a midlife crisis and changes his worldview overnight. With stories based on real events that are then tied into the fictional drama of the show's large ensemble cast, the show dives into the lives of those who cover the news and how their jobs affect their professional and personal lives.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: Just like The Comey Rule, The Newsroom finds convincing ways of retelling some of the most important moments of the 21st Century. And while it can be a little too Aaron Sorkiny at times, the HBO drama doesn't hold back in its depictions of the real-world people who appear in the nightly news broadcasts.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
The American President (Starz)
Aaron Sorkin's political work isn't found solely on TV as his 1995 political drama, which happened to be directed by Rob Reiner, The American President shows. Centering on President Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) when he falls for lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade (Annette Bening) just as he's running for reelection, the movie explores how someone's love life can become political capital for their opponent.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: If you enjoyed the battle between personal and professional lives seen in Jeff Daniels' portrayal of James Comey in The Comey Rule, then this slick political drama about love and politics might be a nice palate cleanser.
Stream it on Starz here.
JFK (HBO Max)
Oliver Stone's three-hour political thriller JFK has less to do with President John F. Kennedy than it does with his assassination and the investigation carried out by Jim Garrision (Kevin Costner) as he tries to get to the bottom of a supposed conspiracy. With great performances by Costner, Kevin Bacon, Joe Pesci, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Oldman as Lee Harvey Oswald, there's a lot to enjoy here.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: Make no mistake about it, JFK is a full-on conspiracy theory in the form of a movie, and that's what makes it a good option for someone who loved the more conspiratorial side of The Comey Rule. Just don't hold your breath on any answers to the major questions it poses.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
Dave (HBO Max)
And then there's Dave, the 1993 political comedy about a presidential impersonator who becomes the actual president for a short period of time. Starring Kevin Kline as the titular character (as well as the real, less than nice president), there's just so much about this movie to love.
Why It's A Good Option If You Like The Comey Rule: If The Comey Rule has you wanting to sit back and relax while still taking in some pretty major political scandals, then this 1993 classic is the movie for you. Seriously, it's probably the greatest movie about the President of the United States.
Stream it on HBO Max here.
Those are just 11 great political movies and TV shows to watch after finishing The Comey Rule. Did your favorite make the list? Make sure to sound off in the comments below and let us know.
