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White House biopics are more often made for television than for the big screen—and perhaps for good reason, since none of the movies made in the last 15 years have come close to being blockbusters. Here's a sampling of presidential films, and how they fared.
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Abraham Lincoln (1930)
Starring: Walter Huston
Film pioneer and Birth of a Nation director D.W. Griffith cast the grandfather of Anjelica, Tony, and Danny Huston as the legendary president.
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Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
Starring: Henry Fonda
Fonda wore heeled shoes to make up the difference between his height (6'1") and Lincoln's (6'3").
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Wilson (1944)
Starring: Alexander Knox
Box office gross: $2 million
Wilson cleaned up at the 1945 Oscars—the Woodrow Wilson biopic grabbed five statues.
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Jefferson in Paris (1995)
Starring: Nick Nolte
Box office gross: $2.5 million
The New York Times delivered this backhanded compliment on Nolte's performance: "He may not adapt effortlessly to the role of an intellectual giant, but his performance is thoroughly credible."
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Nixon (1995)
Starring: Anthony Hopkins
Box office gross: $13 million
Oliver Stone's massive Richard Nixon film, which cost $50 million to make and ran more than three hours, was a box office flop but a critical success.
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Thirteen Days (2000)
Starring: Bruce Greenwood (as J.F.K.)
Box office gross: $34 million
The Cold War drama, which also starred Kevin Costner as special White House counsel Kenny O'Donnell, enjoyed a lot more box office success than the average presidential film.
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