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The Ten Greatest Fictional Presidents (Movies and TV)

A Seriously Random List XIV / Dustin Rowles

Seriously Random Lists | November 4, 2008 | Comments (38)

Honorable Mention: President FXJKHR — “Futurama”


10. Thomas “Tug” Benson (Lloyd Bridges) — Hot Shots Part Deux


9. Tom Beck (Morgan Freeman) — Deep Impact

8. President Gerald Fitzhugh (Louis Gossett, Jr. ) — The Left Behind Series

7. President Andrew Shepard (Michael Douglas) — American President

6. President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) — “24”

5. William Harrison “Bill” Mitchell (Kevin Kline) — Dave

4. President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Camacho (Terry Crews) — Idiocracy

3. President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) — Air Force One

2. President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) — Dr. Strangelove

1. Josiah Bartlett (Martin Sheen) — “West Wing”


← Pajiba Love 11/04/08 | Presidential Trivia Quiz →



Comments

Oh, heeeeeeeeeeell no! Where the fuck is Jack Nicholson?

Mars Attacks! is the most underrated movie in the US, but it was a huge hit in every other country.

C'mon, people! It's fucking Jack Nicholson!

Ack - ack!

Posted by: Sofía at November 4, 2008 1:04 PM

I call b******t... Independence Day has the best president ever, Bill Pullman! He flew a jet...

Posted by: Ted at November 4, 2008 1:05 PM

Second the Pullman. And the Nicholson, really.

And what about President Deebo from 5th Element? So it wasn't the U.S., it was still awesome.

Posted by: Eep at November 4, 2008 1:10 PM

Sung in the shower:
"Hail to the Chief, He's the one we all say 'Hail' to, We all say 'Hail' 'cause he keeps himself so clean!"

I love love love the movie Dave.

Posted by: Tammy at November 4, 2008 1:11 PM

I totally agree with number 1. Bartlett would be my dream president.

Posted by: Tarn at November 4, 2008 1:11 PM

Y'all are going to have to stop with the Roman numerals for these Random Lists and start using regular old numbers. I only know up to XIIIIV. I blame the American public education system, though my exfiance blames my excessive drug use. Whatever; he's just pissed because I sold his stereo and his dad's Vietnam medals.

Posted by: Amelia Bedelia at November 4, 2008 1:15 PM

No President Kang?

/voted for Kodos

Posted by: Oh Henry at November 4, 2008 1:15 PM

Okay, so she's not an American president... But really?! No President Laura Roslyn? Or even President Gaius Baltar? Mr. Rowles, you disappoint.

Posted by: Bistro at November 4, 2008 1:16 PM

Once again, this list, is as limp as Michael Douglas without his erectile disfunction medication refill. (Douglas has no business being on it BTW, but that's another rant).

Where is Donald Pleasance as unnamed "the President" in Escape From NY?

AH?

Where's Bill Pullman flying an F-18 all up and down an invading mothership's ass?

You are useless Rowles.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at November 4, 2008 1:24 PM

Oh Come On! Leslie Neilson. The Scary Movies were shite but it's Leslie. Fucking. Neilson.

Posted by: Admin11 at November 4, 2008 1:31 PM

Jeff Bridges in The Contender, with the added bonus of Joan Allen as the anti-Palin. Though really it's probably my fondness for the movie rather than the character.

Posted by: PallasJay at November 4, 2008 1:32 PM

That is by far one of the most badass speeches Jed Bartlett ever made. And that dude made an awful lot of badass speeches. It seriously gives me chills.

I cannot express how much I've missed The West Wing lately. *puts it on Christmas list*

Posted by: lizzieborden at November 4, 2008 1:40 PM

Hahahahaha Oh Henry! that's got to be one of my favorite episodes ever.

"We must move forward, not backwards! We must move upwards, not forwards! And always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom!"

I agree that we need President Pullman up there. That speech? THERE WERE TEARS.

Posted by: figgy at November 4, 2008 1:48 PM

Damnit, Eep! I was thinking Deebo the entire time I was scrolling down.

Posted by: Fuel at November 4, 2008 1:50 PM

Oh man, I just remembered this bit from one of the Scary Movies (my little brother was watching it! and I just walked by! I swear!) where they're telling the President (Leslie Nielsen) that there's an emergency and asking him what they should do. So he stops and asks himself "What would President Ford do?"

And the camera pans and we see he's looking at a photo of Harrison Ford stuck up on the wall.

I cracked up.

Posted by: figgy at November 4, 2008 1:51 PM

Let Bartlet be Bartlet....

My favorite show of all time. I remember when the show was about to start and they said Martin Sheen would only be in an episode from time to time and it would be really about everyone else in the WW. Having just watched every episode again, I realize how ridiculous that would have been. Yes, the show went waaaaaaaaayyyyy downhill when Sorkin left and Wells tried to make it an Event of the Week show, but Whitford, Schiff, Janney, Hill and especially John Spencer made this a must watch every week, sometimes twice in a row.

Speaking of Presidents, I would have given WW another season to see where the Smits would have gone as Matthew Santos....he may have been up here too.

Posted by: Rubble44 at November 4, 2008 2:03 PM

Add me to the list that thinks you forgot Bill Pullman. But hooray for the inclusion of Dave!

Posted by: docsmartypants at November 4, 2008 2:15 PM

What, no Robot Nixon?

Posted by: armando at November 4, 2008 2:22 PM

Sofia, I second Jack Nicholson in Mars Attacks! He and Rod Steiger were the best parts of that movie.

I want the people to know that they still have 2 out of 3 branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad.

We have to strike now, sir! Annihilate! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Bless Idiocracy's little heart. The movie's imperfect, but I loved what it had to say. Sadly though, I think we are a lot closer to that state of affairs than the 500 years the movie gives us.

Posted by: Alabamapink at November 4, 2008 2:25 PM

I'll have no criticism of Douglas.

"The American President" is like the cutest movie ever! With the cutest Annette Bening ever!!! Cuddly fuzzy euphoria overtaking me!

Mars Attacks! is the most underrated movie in the US, but it was a huge hit in every other country.

It was?!? Wow! Dammit, my friend and I walked out just loving it, and all the Friday night kids around us seemed quite thoroughly unimpressed. It didn't even get the "Lebowski" second life (which I had the same theatergoing experience with).

I also support Muffley and Marshall.

Posted by: Jay at November 4, 2008 2:36 PM

What, no Robot Nixon?

Posted by: armando at November 4, 2008 2:22 PM

------------------------------------------------

hey THAT'S RIGHT!

Where is Nixon's disembodied head?


"This is the brass ring, fellas......planet
Spheron 1!"

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at November 4, 2008 2:47 PM

Woe! This is The Day Pajiba Died!

Harrison Ford at Number THREE??

Two, maaaaybe. But not three.

Posted by: AmbroseKalifornia at November 4, 2008 2:47 PM

Oh, NOW I can post. Not like when I tried to go all link-crazy in the redheads post.

Pfff.

Posted by: AmbroseKalifornia at November 4, 2008 2:50 PM

I like to think that Peter Sellers would have revisited his Chauncey Gardener character in Being There 2 and been the best movie president ever.

Posted by: imk at November 4, 2008 2:58 PM

Get off my plane!

Posted by: Lucas at November 4, 2008 3:07 PM

Why why why why why do people continue to make these lists and place Harrison Ford's Marshall on them? (In a very public similar poll he won the #1 spot in a landslide.) That was the performance that convinced me that Harrison Ford had turned to stone before our very eyes. Horrible movie, boring performance, and no glimmer of an appealing or thoughtful President beyond the very easy policy statement that - ready for it? - "terrorists are bad!"

I suppose it depends how we define "greatest," but in terms of the best fleshed out character and the best policy maker, Josiah should be number one. I'd move David Palmer up to number two. Flawed President in the end, but a great character.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 4, 2008 3:31 PM

From the Pilot:
"Now I love my family and I've read my bible from cover to cover so I want you to tell me, from what part of the Holy Scripture do you suppose the Lambs of God drew their Divine inspiration when they sent my 12 year-old granddaughter a Raggedy Ann doll with a knife stuck through its throat? [pause] You'll denounce these people, Al. You'll do it publicly. And until you do, you can all get your fat asses out of my White House."

Bartlet is my guy. Hook, line, and sinker

Posted by: Manna at November 4, 2008 3:45 PM

Does MArtin Shreen's portryal of Greg Stillson from The Dead Zone cancel out Josiah Bartlett

Posted by: Jay #2 at November 4, 2008 4:25 PM

Pajibans, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room.

Posted by: wingnut at November 4, 2008 5:01 PM

Henry Fonda in Fail Safe.
Travolta's Clinton in Primary Colors.
Or the president you never quite see in Wag the Dog.
+1 on Nicholson in Mars Attacks

Spans from icon to Deus ex machina, so covers the whole range of opinions, does it not?

Muffley / Benson '08 "At lest you'll know what you are getting."

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at November 4, 2008 5:29 PM

Some good picks - I'm particularly fond of Kevin Kline's Dave, and Michael Douglas. I do need to add a vote for Frederic March as the President in Seven Days In May starring Michael's papa, Kirk, and Burt Lancaster.

Posted by: funtime42 at November 4, 2008 6:55 PM

Best NAME for a president has to be "Merkin Muffley" by, oh, an infinite amount. Do you KNOW what "merkin" means? It's too delicious.

http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/M0230750.html

And no, Mars Attacks wasn't overrated...the ending was a poor man's Attack of the Killer Tomatoes...

Posted by: sara_tonin at November 4, 2008 9:28 PM

No Bill Pullman? I saw him almost naked. hehe

Posted by: Wenders at November 5, 2008 12:32 AM

Missed Jeff Bridges as President Jackson Evans in, The Contender.

Also, Sam Waterston as President William Foster in, The Enemy Within.

Roger Durling in the Tom Clancy novel, Debt of Honor.

Posted by: richmac at November 5, 2008 2:31 AM

i agree with the Bill Pullman sentiments. There WERE tears, figgy.

Posted by: synonymous at November 5, 2008 8:52 AM

I think it speaks to my obsession with the first three seasons of The West Wing that I knew EXACTLY what clip you selected by the still.

I miss President Bartlett.

Posted by: vikky at November 5, 2008 11:12 AM

Why tv and movies only for greatest fictional president? It soundly disqualifies THE greatest fictional president, ever - Michael Wilson.

Posted by: struckingfuggle at November 5, 2008 3:20 PM

Pullman. Best speech ever.

Posted by: Mick J at November 5, 2008 6:48 PM