Politics shouldn’t be taken lightly, but movies like The Dictator made it a point to indeed poke fun at the often-ludicrous nature of this serious sector—and it works!
With Sacha Baron Cohen leading the cast, expect satire at its most politically incorrect. Playing a fictitious dictator from an oil-rich country, the comedian toes the line between coded social commentary and overt political critique. While controversial, the style has worked for him before—and even now.
There are more movies like The Dictator that I recommend for you. Go watch with an open mind as they tickle your funny bone!
10 Funny Political Movies Like The Dictator
 1. Head of State (2003)
A small-time politician suddenly becomes a national figure as he is chosen by the Democratic Party to run for president—though he is the most unlikely guy for the job.
Chris Rock made his directorial debut with this film that he also wrote and starred in with Bernie Mac. As the minority pick, his character plays along with the upper officers’ schemes, until he realizes that he could make a bigger difference if he presented his authentic self.
These movies like The Dictator make politics seem funny, but the issues in this 2003 film are still controversial in current events.
2. Dave (1993)
A US president’s lookalike takes center stage playing the president as Secret Service agents hide the true president’s coma from the public.
Kevin Kline plays warm-hearted Dave whose US president impersonation fools everyone in the White House, even the First Lady. As he discovers political anomalies, he tries to make good decisions for real to help ordinary citizens like himself—to the chagrin of the evil agent orchestrating the show.
With great acting and entertaining storytelling, Dave eventually landed on the top spot of the box office at the time of its release. Sigourney Weaver was also a hoot here!
3. Bulworth (1998)
An old-timer senator arranges for an assassin to kill himself as he self-sabotages his own primaries campaign—which results in the people loving him anew.
Warren Beatty directs and stars in this black comedy that openly pokes fun at the various social issues being waved by almost all politicians during their campaign period but conveniently forget once they’re elected. The story courageously highlights the plight of the disenfranchised in a scathing yet sarcastically funny manner.
Similar to other movies like The Dictator, Bulworth rips the Band-Aid to reveal long-neglected social ills, and hopes humor would deliver the message more effectively.
4. The Candidate (1972)
A governor’s son is convinced by a political expert to run for senator just to thwart an unopposed conservative opponent. As the son runs, he discovers facets of politics that he likes and dislikes.
Robert Redford plays the charming and handsome former governor’s son, now running as a Democratic senator. The award-winning script presented life as it unravels during political campaigns, where candidates could either have generic messaging to win more support or to be truthful and lose supporting sectors.
This fictional account renders true-to-life political details since its screenwriter was involved in a real-life presidential nomination campaign in 1968.
5. Election (1999)
An overachieving high school student is desperate to win the presidency of the student government. But her teacher makes moves to block this goal.
Reese Witherspoon plays the politically ambitious high schooler who tries all her best to win the school election. Matthew Broderick plays the teacher who secretly despises this student as she got a teacher kicked out for lewd conduct. The political clashes in the film are meant to parody real-life politics but on a small-town scale.
It may not echo those movies like The Dictator, but Election’s plot presents a parallel “starter playground” for big-league politicking.
6. Canadian Bacon (1995)
When the US president thinks out loud of not having a real political enemy anymore, his National Security Advisor reframes one for him: Canada.
Documentarist Michael Moore tries his hand at creating a fictional parody of political proportions, poking fun at the US-Canada relations in this star-studded satire. Imagine Americans harboring anti-Canadian sentiments, protesting Canadian products, and even desecrating Canadian lands near the US border. It’s just downright ridiculous it’s funny!Â
Movies like The Dictator and Canadian Bacon are regarded as extreme satire, and often become international favorites, like when this one became an official selection for Cannes Film Festival.
7. Man of the Year (2006)
A comedian host of a satirical news show makes an offhand remark about running for president—and his audience takes it seriously and puts him on the candidate ballot.
Robin Williams brings his intelligent comic antics to deliver this scathing commentary on how politics have become divisive instead of people-focused. As his comedian character begins to take the accidental candidacy seriously, the story pokes fun at how political advisors are sometimes more desperate to win than their candidates.
If you’re a fan of Robin Williams’ humor and how he dissects politics with his caustic wit, then this one’s for you!
8. First Kid (1996)
The US president’s troublesome teen son is guarded by an unlikely Secret Service agent whose life becomes a rollercoaster of crazy pranks and kiddie traps.
Sinbad plays the agent detailed to the slightly rebellious but lonely presidential son played by Brock Pierce. While not directly poking fun at politics, the story presents the extent of how a family’s political posing could possibly affect a kid’s psyche—but done in a slapstick way.
It may not have an overtly political figure in its plot, but cameos of former US president Bill Clinton and then-Congressman Sonny Bono could perhaps tide it over.
9. The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
A con man rides with the popularity of a recently diseased congressman whose name sounds a bit like his. This move propels him to be elected, so he heads to Washington DC to make bigger cons.
Eddie Murphy stars in this political comedy that focuses on how the nation’s capital reeks of gold, his character’s metaphor for the money that lobbyists release to the politicians that are bought to support these special interest groups’ “causes.”
If you’re a follower of Eddie Murphy’s witty humor, forget top critic Roger Ebert’s negative review of the film. It’s still a hilarious screwball comedy!
10. The Campaign (2012)
When an unopposed congressman runs unopposed again, detractors find a candidate to challenge him. The two candidates duke it out in public as they try to charm constituents.
Will Ferrell plays the North Carolinian congressman whose popularity is endangered due to his own scandalous actions. Zack Galifianakis plays the candidate chosen by scrupulous people to go against the incumbent. This political comedy milks the humor out of various satirical political scenarios that could indeed happen in actual campaign trails.
Expect Saturday Night Live-type of antics with Will and Zack in the lead, as fellow SNL alum Dan Aykroyd also co-stars.