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Once a Cash Cow, Cable TV Is Now Roadkill. Is a Fire Sale Next?

As Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery take massive hits to their businesses, executives will need to make difficult choices on managing the decline.

Justin Baldoni Hires Crisis PR Veteran Amid Alleged ‘It Ends With Us’ Rift

The director and star has retained the services of Melissa Nathan, who represented Johnny Depp during the Amber Heard trial.

Bowen Yang Recalls an ‘SNL’ Host Who “Made Multiple Castmembers Cry” During a Table Read

The 'SNL' star called the ordeal "terrible."

Nathan Lane-Matt Bomer Comedy ‘Mid-Century Modern’ Lands Hulu Series Pickup

Nathan Lee Graham and Linda Lavin also star in the show from 'Will & Grace' creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan with Ryan Murphy.

Latest News

Justin baldoni hires crisis pr veteran amid alleged ‘it ends with us’ rift, joaquin phoenix’s last-minute exit sparks “huge amount of outrage” among hollywood producers, ‘love island games’ renewed for season 2 at peacock, former disney star skai jackson arrested at universal studios for domestic incident.

General News

Hoda Kotb “Blacked Out” While Taking Picture With Tom Cruise at Paris Olympics

How to watch the second half of the 2024 wnba season online without cable.

Lifestyle News

Candace Cameron Bure Recalls “Awkward” Experience of Filming ‘Full House’ Episode Focused on Her Weight

Business News

Broadway Box Office: ‘The Wiz,’ ‘Illinoise’ See Final Weeks Surge

Artists score major win in copyright case against ai art generators, late summer southern california getaways: what’s new from santa ynez and montecito to oc, maya rudolph to guest on thr’s ‘awards chatter’ podcast live from san vicente bungalows, ‘only murders in the building’ creator reveals how meryl streep came to be martin short’s leading lady: “i was like, oh f***”.

TV Features

Jeff Shell’s Past Lingers Over Paramount’s Future

Talaria media ramps up slate with female-led wrestling feature, navy seal comedy, kim kahana, stuntman who starred in ‘danger island’ and doubled for charles bronson, dies at 94, ‘hacks’ writers say season 3 of the comedy was hardest to get right, vince vaughn jokes he “didn’t get along” with primate co-star in ‘bad monkey’: “i’ll never work with that one again”.

THR's voice in the geek sphere

‘Alien: Romulus’: First Reactions After the Premiere

The eighth installment in the long-running franchise is set between the events of Ridley Scott's 1979 'Alien' and James Cameron's 1986 sequel, 'Aliens.'

Theo James Gets Bloody in Neon's 'The Monkey' Teaser From 'Longlegs' Director Osgood Perkins

Heather graham joins zazie beetz in horror thriller ‘they will kill you’ (exclusive).

Inside the show and biz of TV

'RHONY' Season 15 Trailer Announces Premiere Date, Teases Bombshell Revelations

With an unexpected pregnancy, marital woes, heated feuds and some new faces, the upcoming installment drums up anticipation for the new season of the rebooted Bravo series.

Nathan Lane-Matt Bomer Comedy 'Mid-Century Modern' Lands Hulu Series Pickup

Walton goggins was shocked by expensive bill during hotel stay for 'the white lotus' season 3, election 2024.

The latest updates from Hollywood on the race.

Harris Campaign Fires Back at Tech-Troubled Trump-Musk X Interview: “Self-Obsessed Rich Guys”

Julia louis-dreyfus to host panel with democratic women governors during dnc (exclusive), “never, never use that song again”: isaac hayes iii explains why he’s threatening trump over copyright, in trump vs. harris, it’s reality-tv ringleading vs. the tiktok ticket.

Best to worst, from dragons to Ryan Reynolds' hits.

‘House of the Dragon’: Every Episode (So Far), Ranked

‘deadpool & wolverine’ has 116 f-bombs: here are movies with even more, ryan reynolds’ best movies, ranked, the greatest disaster movies of all time, featured videos, jesse mccartney reflects on 20th anniversary of “beautiful soul,” talks new music & upcoming tour.

Jesse McCartney joined The Hollywood Reporter in studio to chat all about the 20th anniversary of his debut single “Beautiful Soul,” which was released in August 2004. He spoke to THR’s Tiffany Taylor about how the song has stood the test of time, as well as reflected on the early days of his career, including […]

50 Cent On His Hollywood Firsts: From ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ To ‘Power’ & Why He Doesn’t Trust LA

2024 paris olympics opening ceremony: lady gaga & céline dion perform, athletes sail down the river seine, xolo maridueña & jacob bertrand talk final season of ‘cobra kai’ at comic-con, ‘hellboy: the crooked man’ director talks working with ‘hellboy’ creator mike mignola at comic-con, director fede álvarez compares ‘alien: romulus’ to the original ‘alien’ by ridley scott, most popular, wesley snipes’ blade breaks two guinness world records, hbo releases statement about ‘house of the dragon’ season 2 finale leak, ‘alien: romulus’: first reactions after the premiere, ‘the chosen’ creator responds to olympics uproar with first look at season 5’s last supper, taylor swift instagram post sparks kamala harris endorsement speculation, 50 cent on conquering tv, his beef with diddy and why he brought $3.5m to our photo shoot, 9 times snoop dogg proved himself a national treasure at the 2024 olympics, michelle pfeiffer to lead ‘yellowstone’ sequel series, ‘the bachelor’ alum hailey merkt dies at 31, ‘mexico 86’ review: bérénice béjo toplines a compelling political drama that never drums up enough emotion, ‘electric lady studios: a jimi hendrix vision’ review: straightforward doc illuminates a momentous offstage chapter of rock history, ‘borderlands’ review: cate blanchett is a gunslinging bounty hunter in eli roth’s joylessly gonzo adaptation of the popular video game, ‘the supremes at earl’s all-you-can-eat’ review: aunjanue ellis-taylor, uzo aduba and sanaa lathan buoy routine female-friendship drama, ‘the flood’ review: an intriguing palace drama chronicling the last days of france’s ultimate royal couple, ‘bad monkey’ review: great vibes and a cheeky simian help vince vaughn’s apple tv+ comedy breeze past its flaws, ‘tales of the teenage mutant ninja turtles’ review: paramount+’s winning ‘mutant mayhem’ sequel, ‘hollywood black’ review: justin simien’s mgm+ docuseries digs deep — but not deep enough — into african american film history, ‘mr. throwback’ review: steph curry and adam pally’s peacock comedy struggles to make a splash, ‘a good girl’s guide to murder’ review: emma myers solves a mystery in netflix’s solid six-parter, shopping with thr, eva longoria calls l’oreal’s colorsonic hair color brush “game-changing” — here’s where to buy it online, h&m home teams with hotel connoisseurs coqui coqui on a luxury decor collection that’s already selling out, ‘it ends with us’ hits theaters this friday — here’s how to read all of colleen hoover’s books in order, partner content: how to save on tickets to broadway shows with todaytix.

How Hollywood Lives

Selling Celebrity: The Top 30 Stars Minting Cash From Beauty, Booze and Snack Brands

From christina aguilera’s sexual wellness line to beyoncé’s hair care, 6 celebrity startups to watch, “none of the apps are great”: top podcasters reveal biggest challenges, “it’s for sociopaths”: top podcasters deeply divided over 1.5x listening speed, highlights from the magazine, “f*** these trump-loving techies”: hollywood takes on silicon valley in an epic presidential brawl, how nikki glaser became the new queen of comedy, how the summer box office went from tragic to magic.

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Myha’la joins zazie beetz in horror pic ‘they will kill you’ from new line, nocturna & skydance, breaking news.

‘Skincare’s Elizabeth Banks Talks Noir Film’s “Ripped From The Headlines” Inspiration & ‘Bling Ring’ Connection

By Glenn Garner

Glenn Garner

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Watch on deadline.

For director Austin Peters , who makes his feature debut with the “sunshine noir,” casting Banks in the leading role of Hope Goldman was “when it became a real movie.” As a self-proclaimed “Elizabeth Banks fan,” he explains that she was the final puzzle piece in bringing the story to life on the big screen.

“She said to me early on, ‘It is fun for an audience to watch someone lose their mind,'” recalled Peters. “And those are the kind of movies that I like and have influenced this film, where there’s a central character and you’re watching them spiral out and go totally crazy. And she was game to do that. She really brought it, and it wouldn’t have been possible with anyone else.”

On the brink of a major career movie, celebrity aesthetician Hope Goldman (Banks) finds that competing skincare pro Angel Vergara ( Luis Gerardo Méndez ) has moved into the storefront next to hers in 2013 Los Angeles. Meanwhile, someone begins stalking and harassing Hope, putting her life and business in jeopardy. As the tension builds, she’s pushed to take action.

Skincare also has real-life roots, loosely inspired by celebrity facialist Dawn DaLuise, who went to jail but was acquitted in a murder-for-hire plot against competitor Gabriel Suarez. She believed Suarez was anonymously harassing her, but it turned out to her friends Edward Feinstein and Nicholas Prugo.

For fans of L.A.-based true crime, Skincare could effectively serve as a sequel to The Bling Ring , as Prugo also inspired the character played by Israel Broussard in Sofia Coppola ‘s 2013 movie (as well as Austin Butler ‘s character in the 2011 Lifetime version). Lewis Pullman serves a masterfully unhinged performance as the Prugo surrogate in Skincare .

But Peters’ intention was to use the headlines as a jumping-off point. “Our film is definitely a work of fiction,” he says. “We took this idea that had maybe been burned in our consciousness from these headlines and tried to kind of run with it and create a new story with new characters. But that still felt real and felt true to Los Angeles and life in 2013.”

Banks tells Deadline about Skincare ‘s true-crime inspiration, as well as what she related to in her role.

DEADLINE: What was it like getting to make a fun stylized noir thriller like this while infusing your style of dark comedy but also playing a very scared woman ?

ELIZABETH BANKS: I really related to Hope Goldman’s vulnerability in this, as you say. And I find, honestly, that narcissism and vulnerability can be really funny. She takes everything so seriously. She’s sort of a ridiculous human being, but she’s also very lonely. When you think about who she’s surrounded by — she has an assistant in MJ Rodriguez , who she pays — and other than that, she doesn’t even have a cat. She’s got no husband, no family, no children. The business is her life. So I have always found that characters who are singularly focused like that just become sort of ridiculous by their very nature because they’re so devoted to what they’ve achieved. And then of course, there’s all this outside pressure on this woman. And I thought the pressure-cooker noir elements that were infused even in the script stage, it was very clear: The stress on her was gonna build and build and build and have these sort of violent consequences. I love that about it. I also love the way she’s presented as someone who surprises you with what moves she makes, and I think you do believe when you meet all of these characters that they might be capable of things you’re not expecting. So I felt that way too, like, “Let’s make her into somebody who will really do anything to get what she needs and what she wants and hold on to her little sense of power that she has in the world.”

DEADLINE: Tell me about your personal relationship with social media and image as a public figure and how that helped you get into this mindset and character.

DEADLINE: Also, I love that this movie is technically a sequel to The Bling Ring.

BANKS: I learned that after the fact. … I knew it was sort of ripped from the headlines. I didn’t know about the Bling Ring connection, but I do now. But yeah, that guy apparently was one of the guys involved. But that time period, to me, just being taken advantage of by a young person is really interesting to me. And he kind of says it right to her, “You’re pathetic and old basically; you needed my help and you asked for this.” It was so wild to me, and so hurtful and vulnerable and true.

DEADLINE: You’ve also done quite a few stranger-than-fiction true stories. Is there something about those that are more interesting?

BANKS: As an artist, I’ve really always looked for the true-life basis of something. I don’t do a lot of fantasy work. You know what I mean? If you look at my résumé, I’m not, like, floating in outer space very often on a land that we can only imagine. I really like being grounded by something. Pitch Perfect , when you think about it, we always looked for, what was the true story? In real life, the basis of that was a book based on articles that were written by Mickey Rapkin, who did a cappella at Cornell and knew that there had never been an all-female group that won the ICCA. That was true. So I was like, “What are the touchpoints in reality?” And let me just say this, real life is always stranger than fiction. You can’t write this stuff. It’s like, every story is being told already. Right now, we’re living in a political reality, for instance, that sounds like a plot from Scandal or House of Cards . And if you wrote this, people will be like, “Come on, Hollywood. You crazy, girl!” And this is happening, so I love the ripped-from-the-headlines stuff because as an actor, it gives me touch points in reality that I feel like the audience also has to relate to because we do go like, “Yeah, that can happen.” I prefer it. I wouldn’t say I prefer — I think you know, the fantasy and imaginative stuff is really interesting. I love a good House of the Dragon . So I’m not knocking it. Just, for me, I’ve definitely realized over time, I’m drawn to things — like Cocaine Bear being another great example — things that just have this real basis and a real-life story. So I just think it’s fun for the audience to see how we change it.

DEADLINE: What was it like working with Luis Gerardo Méndez and Ella Balinska again after Charlie’s Angels ?

BANKS: Well, one of the really fun things about this and being attached so early on in the process was I was given the opportunity to bring in friends to play with. And so Ella, of course, is perfectly cast. Luis is a real angel. And then Nathan Fillion , who I made Slither with nearly 20 years ago, probably, we’ve been friends for so long. When you get to work with people who are gonna bring it, that you have instant chemistry with, who you just can trust on the set every day, I love that part of the process. So I love being able to work with some of my fellow friends and actors who are phenomenal in the movie. And then Lewis Pullman blew my mind. He was incredible. And by the way, MJ Rodriguez is amazing. Wendie Malick is amazing. I’m a huge fan of Wendie Malick’s. It was so fun to get to work with her.

BANKS: Well, helming is a huge commitment, meaning I have to be so in love with the story, the whole idea, that I’m gonna commit at least two years of my life to it. And by the way, all my family has to commit to it. I mean, it’s such a huge time commitment, emotional commitment, psychological commitment. It takes a big part of my life. So telling those stories, directing, I need a lot of reasons to do it. When I’m choosing roles to play, I gotta just love the character. I gotta love the opportunity to sort of explore something. I felt very connected to Hope Goldman. I went to a facialist named Maddie on 3rd Street in L.A. who had a little studio that’s very much similar to Hope’s studio. And I remember when the Kate Somerville spa experience went in on Melrose Place and everyone was going there instead. … I remember those moments, and I remember when it was like — “What’s this new thing, Botox?” Like, you gotta have a laser facial. I related to this sense of the beauty industry is always looking for the next new thing and as you just naturally age, is there a way to do it gracefully without feeling like you just can stay relevant? I mean, I’m going through that right now. So for me, it’s finding a connection point with characters. That’s how I choose the roles that I play, and with directing, the list is a lot longer.

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The 21 best journalism movies

EW takes a look at some of the best journalism-centric films of all time, spanning classics like "Network" to modern movies such as "The French Dispatch."

Sometimes the story behind a story can be just as compelling as the actual narrative itself. Cinema's rich history of films chronicling the real and fictionalized accounts of journalists chasing the stories they believe deserve to be told have continued to entertain us for years — investigating imbalances in power, newsrooms generating fraught relationships, and cynical writers learning to look at the world in a new way from the idealization of their subject. Through it all, tales of journalism are ripe for dramatic tension and complex characters.

When She Said hit theaters in November 2022, detailing the shocking story of the New York Times report by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor that exposed the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and kick-started the #MeToo movement, we took a look at some of the best movies with the newsroom and reporting at the forefront. The films range from dramatic retellings of history's biggest breaking news stories, like Spotlight and All the President's Men , to 20th-century classics such as Citizen Kane and modern-day marvels like The Post . These are EW's picks, in no particular order, for the most memorable journalism movies.

Spotlight (2015)

Winner of the Oscar for Best Picture, Spotlight is an outstanding dramatization of the tenacious Boston Globe writers who investigated the shocking revelations of child molestation and cover-up in the Catholic Church. Rachel McAdams , Mark Ruffalo , Michael Keaton , Liev Schreiber , Stanley Tucci , and John Slattery are some of the high-profile actors who embody the true-to-life, painstaking journalistic efforts that shocked the world. Spotlight does an incredible job of showing the lengths investigative reporters go to when they feel passionate about a story.

Where to watch Spotlight : Max

Almost Famous (2000)

William Miller is a teenage boy who gets the chance of a lifetime to go on tour and write a Rolling Stone article about up-and-coming rock band Stillwater, but he soon learns that the real life of a rock star isn't as glamorous as it appears in this funny, heartfelt, 1970s-set coming-of-age story. Patrick Fugit stars as William accompanied by a perfect ensemble cast featuring Kate Hudson , Billy Crudup , Jason Lee , Frances McDormand , and Zooey Deschanel .

Almost Famous captures the complexity of writing so well in its excitement and disappointment that can come along with a story that isn't what it first seemed. Still, watching a frustrated band come together to sing Elton John 's "Tiny Dancer" on their tour bus is a timeless moment of movie magic from writer-director Cameron Crowe .

Where to watch Almost Famous: Paramount+

Network (1976)

Network follows a fictional television network, UBS, and the producers who exploit a deranged former anchor, Howard Beale, to continue his ravings and rantings about the media for their own profit. Peter Finch (who won the first, and still only, posthumous Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Beale), Faye Dunaway , William Holden, Robert Duvall , Beatrice Straight, and Ned Beatty are some of the stars that each give a tour de force performance in this Sidney Lumet-directed classic satirical dramedy that helped shape American film as a medium and remains one of the quintessential movies from the 1970s.

Where to watch Network : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

"WANTED: Someone to go back in time with me. This is not a joke. You'll get paid when we get back. Must bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed." Three magazine employees ( Aubrey Plaza , Jake Johnson , Karan Soni) go on an assignment to interview a man ( Mark Duplass ) who placed an advertisement seeking a companion for time travel in this indie flick from Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly, the team behind Jurassic World . Safety Not Guaranteed puts characters first, allowing them to discover joy in pursuing the unimaginable, both physically and emotionally.

Where to watch Safety Not Guaranteed : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles ' magnum opus is well remembered for its pioneering cinematography and ambitious plot structure. The use of flashbacks effectively allows the audience to follow reporters trying to uncover the meaning of Kane's final word: "Rosebud."

With interviews and countless hours of research in the high-vaulted library room, Citizen Kane employs journalistic investigation to help propel the mystery forward in its discovery. It's easy to feel like an investigative journalist while trying to find out for ourselves what made the publishing tycoon tick.

Where to watch Citizen Kane : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Insider (1999)

Russell Crowe and Al Pacino shine in this earnest and entertaining thriller about ex-tobacco industry chemist Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe), who comes under attack after breaking an NDA and appearing in a 60 Minutes piece on Big Tobacco produced by the show's Lowell Bergman (Pacino).

Director Michael Mann is a master of the crime drama, and The Insider is no exception in his catalog of intriguing films that peel back the layers of those in power trying to stifle stories before they are told.

Where to watch The Insider : Apple TV (to rent)

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

A year after his war film Gallipoli , director Peter Weir reteamed with his Australian star, Mel Gibson , in this historical drama about a reporter covering the political turmoil in Indonesia in the 1960s.

Gibson plays a foreign reporter who falls in love with a British photographer, played by Sigourney Weaver . Juggling professional romance with political intrigue, The Year of Living Dangerously is a complex film about the lengths reporters will go to get the story they're after.

Where to watch The Year of Living Dangerously : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and starred in this biopic about CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow (in a career-best performance from David Strathairn ) who challenges the fear-mongering of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clocking in at just above 90 minutes, Good Night, and Good Luck tidily and expertly showcases the integrity of Murrow during a restless 1950s. Using archival footage of McCarthy helps place the film in a time and place and accurately displays broadcast news in the middle of the 20th century.

Where to watch Good Night, and Good Luck : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

The Post (2017)

When modern day events mirrored a similar threat to journalism and truth, director Steven Spielberg fast-tracked his dramatic retelling of The Washington Post 's involvement in the publishing of the Pentagon Papers that declassified over 20 years of government documents relating to the Vietnam War.

Starring Meryl Streep , Tom Hanks , Bob Odenkirk , Sarah Paulson , Tracy Letts , and Matthew Rhys , The Post is a powerful film of the first female newspaper publisher and her editors to ensure democracy took precedence over power and corruption.

Where to watch The Post : Freevee

Nightcrawler (2014)

Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a sociopathic con man who, armed with a video camera and a police scanner, dives into the LA crime world to make money and a name for himself. He deals with a TV executive ( Rene Russo ) to sell exclusive crime videos straight to the news, no matter the cost. Nightcrawler provides a thrilling look into the shady secrets of modern-age news with a pulse-pounding third act that shows all that can go wrong.

Where to watch Nightcrawler : Max

The Parallax View (1974)

While investigating the assassination of a presidential candidate, reporter Joseph Frady ( Warren Beatty ) uncovers a secret organization that lurks in the shadows and deals in political assassinations. The Parallax View is a taut political thriller that puts a resolute reporter at the center of a story that shows the crucial role journalism plays in thwarting corruption.

Where to watch The Parallax View: Kanopy

Shattered Glass (2003)

Stephen Glass was a hotshot young reporter at The New Republic until it was discovered that he had fabricated over half of his articles. Hayden Christensen traded in his lightsaber for reading glasses as the infamous reporter who fell from grace in this impressively acted and intense drama — also starring Chloë Sevigny and Peter Sarsgaard — that sheds light on the importance of integrity and consequences of lacking any.

Where to watch Shattered Glass : Freevee

The French Dispatch (2021)

Distinctly Wes Anderson , The French Dispatch follows an American newspaper in a French town and the eclectic lives of the citizens that unfold in three uniquely charming tales. Hailed as a "love letter to journalists," Anderson's film is one of his best, weaving the prose and stories that makes journalists breathe.

The story unfolds in multiple acts that features an impressive cast including Timothée Chalamet , Benicio Del Toro , Tilda Swinton , Frances McDormand , Jeffrey Wright , Owen Wilson , and too many others to name.

Where to stream The French Dispatch : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

His Girl Friday (1940)

Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell star in this workplace comedy about a newspaper editor who does everything in his power to stop his ex-wife, who is also one of his reporters, from remarrying. Aside from its famous and utterly memorable star leads, His Girl Friday was innovative for its sound design and the use of the now-commonplace overlapping dialogue. Eighty-plus years later and the film's comedy and depiction of the newsroom holds up well.

Where to watch His Girl Friday : Amazon Prime Video

Zodiac (2007)

When a serial killer in the Bay Area taunts police by sending letters and cryptic messages, an amateur cartoonist joins the investigative reporters in the spine-tingling case to find the murderer, starting an obsession that leads him to the brink of becoming a victim.

Jake Gyllenhaal joins Robert Downey Jr. , Mark Ruffalo, and Brian Cox in this expertly crafted thriller from David Fincher , which centers on the journalists in the newsroom in their terrifying quest for the unknown identity of the namesake killer that plays out with such tension that it haunts us long after the credits roll.

Where to watch Zodiac : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

All the President's Men (1976)

Telling the infamous story of the breaking of the Watergate scandal, All the President's Men is a richly detailed and exhaustive fictionalization of the two famed reporters from The Washington Post , Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford step into the shoes of the inspirational journalists in a classic film that deftly walks us through the determination of Woodward and Bernstein as they unravel their story.

Where to watch All the President's Men : Amazon Prime Video

Frost/Nixon (2008)

On the other side of the Watergate scandal is Frost/Nixon , Ron Howard 's exhilarating drama about the post-Watergate interviews between former President Richard Nixon ( Frank Langella ) and British talk show host David Frost ( Michael Sheen ).

The two actors who originated the roles in London and on Broadway came to the big screen in a film that is superbly acted and earnestly detailed. Frost/Nixon smartly interweaves archival footage within these complex characters and their game of cat-and-mouse for the truth amidst political scandal.

Where to watch Frost/Nixon : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Philomena (2013)

A septuagenarian joins a world-weary journalist to find her long-lost son who she was forced to give away by the Catholic Church more than 50 years ago in this powerful true story. Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in Philomena , an Oscar-nominated tale about two vastly different protagonists that sheds light on important societal differences in a lighthearted way. No matter how spent and over it the journalist Martin Sixsmith becomes, his profile subject has the power to inadvertently change his heart.

Where to watch Philomena : Max

Broadcast News (1987)

Broadcast News interweaves complex narratives about the behind-the-screens dealings that make broadcast TV happen and the dimensional characters at the heart of the story. William Hurt , Albert Brooks , and Holly Hunter play three journalists in a love triangle, delivering memorable characters and an insightful look into the industry.

Where to watch Broadcast News : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Great Odin's raven! Is there a fictional anchor more of a big deal than the classy, mustachioed, number one local news anchor in San Diego? Will Ferrell 's Ron Burgundy immediately became a pop culture phenomenon in this quirky comedy from Adam McKay about an old-school news anchor who falls in love with his ambitious coanchor, Veronica Corningstone ( Christina Applegate ) in a male-dominated field. Steve Carell , Paul Rudd , David Koechner , Kathryn Hahn , and Fred Willard round out the stellar cast in this oft-quoted comedy that is a surprisingly astute observation of the chauvinistic '70s workplace (and beyond).

Where to watch Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy : Netflix

She Said (2022)

Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

She Said is unique in that it's a movie about journalism released almost immediately after the incidents it depicts. Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan play New York Times investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey — both of whom are credited as co-writers — as they turn an eye toward Hollywood in their "Me Too"-era coverage. What starts as hushed rumors becomes a bombshell report about the sexual abuse women endured at the hands of famed producer Harvey Weinstein. It's a difficult story, especially when it was produced so close to the time survivors chose to speak out. —Dustin Nelson

Where to watch She Said : Amazon Prime Video

20 Best Investigative Journalism Movies, Ranked

20 Best Investigative Journalism Movies: Investigative reporting or watchdog journalism is the most pivotal pillar of a functioning democracy. It can nurture and empower a vigilant public. It is essential for investigative journalism to play an adversarial role to provide a check on power and hold powerful individuals accountable to the public. As print media flourished in 18th-century England, the notion of informed citizenry came into existence. The journalists started to expose the malfeasance and corruption in big businesses and governments. The early fearless watchdog reporters like Nellie Bly (who exposed the abuses in a woman’s mental asylum ) and Ida B. Wells (anti-lynching crusader and suffragist) tirelessly fought for social changes.

In cinema, the concept of media as the powerful adversary to the establishment and journalists as truthseekers was strengthened from silent cinema days. The classic 1928 Broadway comedy, The Front Page, by former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, influenced the portrayal of media in films. The play was adapted for movies quite a few times – the most notable was Howard Hawks’ classic screwball comedy, His Girl Friday (1940). In 1941, Orson Welles made the revolutionary Citizen Kane , which perceived the legacy of a business tycoon through a journalistic lens. With the advent of film-noir, newsroom, and journalistic pursuit became a vital backdrop for gritty narratives such as The Big Clock (1948), Ace in the Hole (1951), Park Row (1952), Deadline USA (1952), Sweet Smell of Success (1957), and so on.

Notable Omissions:

The pelican brief (1993).

Investigative Journalism Movies_The Pelican Brief

Based on the 1992 John Grisham novel of the same name, Alan Pakula’s political thriller doesn’t quite pack the punch of his 70s iconic thrillers The Parallax View & All the President’s Men . Yet this far-fetched yet gripping unraveling of political malfeasance in the power corridors of Washington DC is blessed with the star cast of Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington . The Pelican Brief revolves around law student Darby Shaw (Roberts). After the assassination of two Supreme Court Justices, Darby writes a brief detailing her theory on the suspects in the assassination case, which she shares with her law professor and lover, Thomas Callahan (Sam Shepard).

When Callahan shares the brief with his FBI friend, it sets off a chain of events that puts Darby’s life in danger. It also inadvertently proves that Darby is correct, as the President and his Chief of Staff are desperate to keep things under control. Darby contacts Washington Herald’s respected investigative reporter Gray Grantham (Washington) to gather more incriminating information and prove the truth behind the assassinations.

The narrative is too Hollywoodized, as the investigating duo takes up the menacing power centers with considerable ease and emerges unscathed. Yet Pakula pays a rousing tribute to the print media and old-school journalism – especially there’s ample catharsis when Washington Post’s Grantham calls the culprits caught in the wrongdoings for comment before the story’s publication.

Related to Investigative Journalism Movies: 25 Great Trial Films of All Time, Ranked

Quick (2019).

Mikael Hafstrom’s Quick is based on Sweden’s infamous judicial scandal involving the alleged serial killer Sture Bergwall, aka Thomas Quick. The narrative revolves around investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Hannes Rastam (Jonas Karlsson), who, in 2008, got intrigued by Quick’s case. Quick is known as the most notorious serial killer in Sweden. He was convicted of eight murders (between 1994 and 2001) and admitted to killing more than 30 people. The alleged killer was confined to a high-security psychiatric facility, and the media projected the self-confessed cannibal as Hannibal Lecter .

However, Hannes and his fellow investigative journalist Jenny Kuttim (Alba August) find huge discrepancies in the investigation and trial of Quick’s case. After going through thousands of pages of trial documents and police interrogations, it becomes apparent that there was no real evidence that linked Quick to the eight murders. Bergwall, aka Quick, had a history of criminal behavior, often attributed to the alleged sexual abuse in his childhood. But Hannes’ investigation and his interviews with Quick revealed the appalling truths about the failures of judiciary, law enforcement, and psychiatric care. Hastrom’s direction is unnecessarily flashy in the earlier half of the narrative. Thankfully, it gradually moves towards a restrained approach and allows the bizarre nature of the case to speak for itself.

20. Truth (2015)

James Vanderbilt – the screenwriter of David Fincher’s Zodiac (2007) – has directed this tale of never-say-die journalism with enough investigative thrills and newsroom drama. Based on television producer and reporter Mary Mapes’s 2005 book, “Truth and Duty,” the film chronicles the grave repercussions faced by CBS journalists after scrutinizing George W. Bush’s questionable military service during the Vietnam War. It was initially seen as a crucial piece of information that could flip the results of the 2004 US elections. But as Vanderbilit’s Truth shows, the unholy nexus between the political establishment and corporate America did everything to kill the story and malign those who reported it.

Cate Blanchett plays the fearless CBS producer of “60 Minutes,” whose crusading journalism brings out the inhumane treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Gharib. For her next report with legendary anchorman Dan Rather (Robert Redford), she pursues the stormy topic of incumbent President Bush’s military record. The film comments on how the internet nitpickers with partisan agendas disrupt the process of getting to the truth. Nevertheless, the writing is too heavy-handed and keeps delivering polemics on the downfall of televised news and how corporate America is ruining journalism. Still, the top-notch performances and riveting first half make Vanderbilt’s Truth a decent political drama.

19. Boston Strangler (2023)

Investigative Journalism Movies_Boston Strangler

Matt Ruskin’s Boston Strangler is based on the investigative reporting of Boston Record American reporters Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) and Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) on the serial-killing case in the early 1960s. Loretta’s investigation reveals that the rape and murder (by strangulation) of three women in the Boston area is connected to a serial killer. However, Boston law enforcement repeatedly botched the investigation, and more women became serial killer’s victims. Eventually, in 1964, Albert DeSalvo confessed to all the 13 ‘Boston Strangler’ murders. But Loretta and Jean find many discrepancies in the confession. Moreover, they learned in 1965 that six more murders, identical to Boston Strangler’s MO, were committed in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The question of whether those are copycat murders or if there is more than one Boston Strangler haunts the intrepid reporters. Apart from embarking on a path to expose the truth, Loretta also faces rampant sexism. While Fincher’s Zodiac inspires Ruskin’s Boston Strangler, the underwhelming writing doesn’t allow it to go deep into the minutiae of investigative journalism narrative. Despite a terrific performance from Keira Knightley as a steely-eyed journalist, the film lacks the chill of an investigative thriller and remains emotionally resonant only in parts.

18. The Journalist (2019)

Investigative Journalism Movies_The Journalist

Michihito Fujii’s imperfect yet well-intentioned investigative thriller unfolds very much in the tradition of 1970s American thrillers. Based on the 2017 book by newspaper journalist Isoko Mochizuki, The Journalist shows the alarming extent modern elected governments can go to preserve their influence and power. It’s also a cautionary tale on how the lack of press freedom can allow authoritarianism to thrive. The narrative revolves around young and idealistic reporter Erika Yoshioka (Shim Eun-kyung) and the bureaucrat Takumi Sugihara (Tori Matsuzaka). Sugihara was a former international diplomat who now works at Japan’s intelligence agency, CIRO – Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.

Sugihara is conflicted by the misinformation campaign he oversees on the agency’s behalf. When Sugihara realizes why his mentor and former boss, Kanazaki, died by suicide, his guilt and suspicions bring him into contact with Yoshioka. The Journalist takes its time in setting up the tale but skilfully escalates the tension and paranoia once the key players’ conflicts are established. The oppressively shadowy environment of government offices spreading fake news deeply unsettles us. The film also doesn’t offer any easy resolution since the fight for press freedom is never-ending.

16. Kill the Messenger (2014)

Michael Cuesta’s Kill the Messenger tells the tragic true story of San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner). Based on Nicholas Shou’s 2006 book of the same name, the narrative shows how Gary Webb stumbles upon a shocking story that soon damaged his professional and personal life. It’s a common knowledge now how the CIA paid no heed to Nicaraguan contras’ cocaine trafficking to fund a war against communism in their country. The result was the crack epidemic that particularly wreaked havoc in the African American communities belonging to major US cities. But in 1996, as the Clinton government also joined the war on drugs (like Nixon, Reagan, Carter, and Bush administrations), the CIA’s alleged collusion with contras was a story that’s “too true to tell.”

In August 1996, Gary Webb wrote a three-part investigative series titled ‘Dark Alliance’ after learning about Danilo Blandon, a Nicaraguan drug trafficker who also worked as a government informant testifying against drug dealers. Webb’s investigative reporting scrutinized the possible link between the contras and the CIA’s off-the-books attempts to dismantle the leftist Nicaraguan government. However, Webb’s articles were vehemently discredited by government officials and, surprisingly, by major news organizations like the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times. Eventually, the witch hunt killed Webb’s career (who allegedly died by suicide in 2004). Although Kill the Messenger includes certain dramatic cliches belonging to the investigative journalism sub-genre, it is skillfully spear-headed by Renner’s intense performance.

15. State of Play (2009)

Kevin MacDonald’s State of Play is the feature-film adaptation of the riveting 2003 BBC mini-series of the same name. The narrative revolves around Washington Globe’s star investigative reporter, Cal McAffrey ( Russell Crowe ). The dispatches from the police radio take him to a crime scene, where a young, homeless black man is shot and killed, and a white pizza delivery guy is in a coma. The motive isn’t apparent, and the killer seems to have a military background. However, the big news that grips Washington in the day is the alleged suicide of Sonia Baker, a young woman working as a researcher for Stephen Collins ( Ben Affleck ), a rising congressman. Mr. Collins is currently heading a committee investigating the possibly shady activities of a private military security company.

Soon after Sonia’s death, it becomes public knowledge that Collins had an affair with Sonia. The committee hearings take the back seat as Collins’ personal life is scrutinized. Collins believes Sonia’s death isn’t suicide and seeks the help of McAffrey to investigate the incident. Collins, his wife, Anne (Robin Wright), and McAffrey are friends from their college days. The newspaper’s editor Lynne (Helen Mirren) and McAffrey’s new protege Della Frye (Rachel McAdams) repeatedly question the reporter’s intentions in relation to Collins. Is he compromised by his mission to protect his friend? Nevertheless, Cal McAffrey and Della’s unwavering investigation leads them to uncover a disreputable connection between powerful politicians and corporate figures.

State of Play is a compelling and well-acted old-school investigative journalism thriller. There are plot holes and character dynamics that aren’t wholly convincing, yet we are invested in the narrative till the final twist. Some of the movie’s narrative threads seem to have inspired the K.V. Anand Tamil mystery/thriller Ko (2011).

Related to Investigative Journalism Movies: The 25 Best Movies About Writers

14. the china syndrome (1979).

James Bridges’ The China Syndrome is a top-notch, politically aware thriller that scrutinizes the corporate greed within the nuclear power industry. The well-researched film doesn’t try to indulge in far-fetched narrative elements to denounce the harnessing of atomic energy. The threat is believable, and the fault lies with a system designed to reap maximum profit. The story revolves around Jane Fonda’s soft news presenter, Kimberly Wells, who tries to break out of the sexist perception of that era’s media industry. Though condemned to do fluffy entertainment pieces, she takes up an assignment for the network to establish herself as a journalist.

Wells brings in her friend and freelance cameraman, Richard (Michael Douglas), and sound recordist, Hector (Daniel Valdez), to shoot a special episode at the Ventana Nuclear Power Plant. While touring the plant, the trio witnesses a dreadful incident unfolding inside the control room. Richard secretly records the entire events. Though they need the help of industry experts to understand what happened at the power plant, supervisor Jack Godell’s (Jack Lemmon) distressed countenance indicates that a huge disaster was averted. Wells and Jack’s respective investigations reveal the company’s wrongdoings that could compromise the plant’s safety.

The China Syndrome received strong criticisms from the nuclear power industry. Interestingly, twelve days after the movie’s domestic release, the Three Mile Nuclear Accident occurred in Pennsylvania. The film’s final scene still remains shocking and will make you blaze with righteous indignation.

13. Shattered Glass (2003)

Based on the 1998 Vanity Fair article , Billy Ray’s Shattered Glass chronicles one of the infamous journalism scandals. It focuses on Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen), the young and most sought-after reporter of the New Republic. Known as the influential magazine read by politicians and policy-makers in Washington D.C., the organization’s journalistic integrity was at stake due to Stephen Glass’ “stories.” The 25-year-old Stephen Glass was the magazine’s star reporter and Associate Editor, whose inherent charm and thoughtful gestures towards his co-workers strengthened their belief in him. The only person resistant to Glass’ charms is Chuck Lane (Peter Sarsgaard), who soon becomes the editor-in-chief.

In 1998, one of Glass’ articles titled ‘Hack Heaven’ came under the radar of Forbes Magazine. Their attempt to do a follow-up on the story revealed that it was a complete fabrication. Christensen’s Glass is shown to be a compulsive liar and a manipulative person who has literally ‘cooked up’ 27 out of the 41 stories he wrote for the New Republic between 1995 and 1998 (the count now stands at 36). Moreover, the scandal showcased the major flaws in the conventional fact-checking process conducted by the magazine.

Bolstered by a taut script and phenomenal performances from Christensen and Sarsgaard, the film is a brilliant character study of an insecure and ingratiating individual. Shattered Glass is shockingly relevant in this era of fake news. Eventually, it shows journalism is not about ‘good entertaining stories’ but truth and integrity.

12. Holy Spider (2022)

Ali Abbasi’s Holy Spider is based on the true story of Iranian serial killer Saeed Hanaei, who targeted sex workers, killing sixteen women between 2000 and 2001. Nevertheless, this isn’t a typical serial killer thriller. It rather showcases how an inhumane society that treats women as secondary citizens comes together to create a murderer. To emphasize the rampant misogyny prevalent in Iranian society, Abbasi and his co-writer Afshin Kamran Bahrami introduce a fictional female investigative journalist, Arezoo Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi). In Holy Spider , she arrives from Tehran to the city of Mashhad and confronts a shockingly apathetic law enforcement system.

In a nation where being a woman and an individual reporting the truth means risking it all, Rahimi embarks on a dangerous path to get the killer arrested. The narrative juggles between the perspectives of Saeed (Mehdi Bajestani), aka “Spider Killer,” and Rahimi. The final act focuses on the complexity of the social issues as the faith-driven community exalts a deluded killer. Though the movie’s visceral bluntness is deeply disturbing, it exposes the societal decay as violence against women is blatantly normalized. Ebrahimi is incredible as the intrepid journalist and the narrative’s moral compass.

10. She Said (2022)

Investigative Journalism Movies_She Said

Maria Schrader’s She Said is based on New York Times’ investigative journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s book of the same name. It is one of the most definitive films of the #MeToo Movement, alongside movies like The Tale (2018), The Assistant (2019) , Bombshell (2019), and A Promising Young Woman (2020). Shining the spotlight on one of the biggest stories in recent times – the Harvey Weinstein Scandal – She Said follows Jodi and Megan as they investigate the hushed talks of a major film producer being a serial sexual offender. The restrained performances of Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan spearhead the sensitive narrative. While most of us might be familiar with the Weinstein story, director Maria Schrader and writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz delicately portray the perspectives and experiences of the traumatized survivors.

The film, naturally, has a stronger emotional impact on us, though the journalistic investigation lacks a bit of complexity and energy. The other critique on the work would be how the vital subject matter clearly overshadows the non-sensationalist yet above-average filmmaking approach. Nevertheless, the narrative’s realistic look at investigative journalism and riveting performances keeps us engrossed. Among the supporting cast, the cameo by Samantha Morton (who plays Zelda Perkins, a former personal assistant to Weinstein) is absolutely unforgettable. The astute reporting in She Said eventually reminds us that the serial predator, Weinstein, is just one individual in a system that often protects its abusers.

Related to Investigative Journalism Movies: 10 Best Films Dealing with Toxic Work Culture

9. willful murder (1981).

Kei Kumai is one of the distinct and lesser-known Japanese filmmakers whose movies were often based on true stories and were infused with profound social commentary. Sandakan No.8 (1974) is one of Kumai’s renowned films. It tells the tale of the poverty-stricken Japanese women forced into sexual slavery in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region during the early 20th century. Wilful Murder is a black-and-white investigative thriller bolstered by a paranoia-tinged atmosphere of Alan Pakula and Oliver Stone movies. It is based on the 1949 death of Japanese National Railways Head, Sadanori Shimoyama.

The post-war Japan under American Occupation (till 1952) was rapidly moving towards capitalism, intending to be an ally in America’s crusade against Communism in that region. However, the labor movement, spearheaded by the Japanese Railways Union, was gaining traction. The authorities of US-occupied Japan pushed Shimoyama to dismiss 30,000 railway workers. Soon, Shimoyama’s dismembered corpse was found in the tracks, which was initially ruled as a suicide.

A determined, middle-aged reporter, Yoshiro ( Tatsuya Nakadai ), believes Shimoyama’s death is a political assassination. He sees it as one of the ploys to shift the blame on union workers and discredit the labor movement. Most importantly, Yoshiro sees the possible connection between Shimoyama’s demise and two mysterious railway incidents – Mitaka and Matuskawa Derailment . Wilful Murder features a painstakingly detailed narrative with numerous characters and unfolds over a decade. Though the film lacks the dramatic force of an Oliver Stone or a Costa-Gavras film, Yoshiro and his colleague’s relentless, methodical pursuit of truth is gripping throughout.

8. Nightcrawler (2014)

Jake Gyllenhaal’s Louis Bloom in Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler is the cinematic descendant of Kirk Douglas’ Chuck Tatum – from Billy Wilder’s scathing satire on media sensationalism, Ace in the Hole (1951). Moreover, Bloom’s aggression and solitude remind us of two other iconic characters: Travis Bickle ( Taxi Driver ) and Rupert Pupkin ( The King of Comedy ). Nightcrawler doesn’t exactly belong to the investigative journalism sub-genre (and there’s a debate over whether it’s a psychological thriller or media satire). It rather offers a glimpse into the cutthroat capitalistic world of freelance journalism. Still, the film finds its place here for showcasing what happens when the due process of investigation and reporting and journalistic ethics is overruled to feed the public’s voyeuristic craze for ghoulish entertainment.

Under the guise of crime journalism, petty criminal Louis Bloom embarks on ‘night crawling’ – prowling the city after dark, listening to first responders’ radio chatter to shoot footage of crime scenes or accidents and sell it to major news outlets. This individual, without any proper journalistic credentials, voraciously hunts for ‘content.’ Moreover, Louis Bloom exploits the set-up to a great extent, leading him to commit crimes rather than report them. Sprinkled with fine doses of dark comedy, Nightcrawler is a cautionary tale about the commodification of news, where journalism’s unwaveringly observant, truth-seeking nature is fiercely discouraged.

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7. the parallax view (1974).

The Parallax View, the second film in Alan J. Pakula’s ‘paranoia trilogy,’ follows an enterprising reporter’s investigation of a senator’s assassination. The film is based on Loren Singer’s 1970 novel, which is loosely inspired by the conspiracy theories surrounding the Kennedy brothers’ assassinations. Warren Beatty plays the West Coast reporter Joe Brady, who questions the government’s ‘lone assassin’ theory in the murder of Senator and Presidential candidate Charles Caroll (Bill Joyce). Brady’s investigation is fueled by the shocking claims made by an emotionally distraught TV reporter, Lee Carter (Paula Prentiss).

Soon, Brady discovers the alleged nefarious activities of a secretive organization called Parallax Corporation. He infiltrates the organization, a detail known only to his editor, Bill (Hume Cronyn). Eventually, Joe Brady pays a heavy price to uncover the truth. Though the film reflected the zeitgeist of that era, its theme of public distrust in government and institutions, unfortunately, has an enduring appeal.

Cinematographer Gordon Willis and director Pakula’s shadowy aesthetics chillingly guide us into the political heart of darkness. The menacing opening and closing courtroom sequences showcase how truth is trapped in the darkness, often far out of reach from the journalistic spotlight.

6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

David Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the American adaptation of Swedish journalist and author Stieg Larsson’s first novel in the Millennium Trilogy series. Larsson’s three novels in the series were previously adapted in Sweden in 2009, with Noomi Rapace playing the protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, a tempestuous and genius computer hacker/private investigator. One of the other primary characters in the series is the incorruptible and disgraced investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist. Daniel Craig plays Blomkvist in Fincher’s ‘Dragon Tattoo,’ who reluctantly accepts a missing persons case and functions as a sleuth.

Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), the super-rich Vanger family’s patriarch, offers Blomkvist the assignment. The old Vanger is haunted by the four-decades-old disappearance case of his then-16-year-old niece, Harriet Vanger. Blomkvist’s investigation crosses paths with Lisbeth Salander (a brilliant Rooney Mara ), and they both look into the dark history of the Vanger family to comprehend the truth behind Harriet’s presumed murder.

Written by Steven Zaillian, Dragon Tattoo shares some of the themes – misogyny, apathy, violence – with Fincher’s previous acclaimed thrillers, Se7en (1995) and Zodiac (2007). The film also profoundly deals with the themes of memory and the historical past.

5. Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

Like Steven Spielberg’s The Post , George Clooney’s second directorial effort, Good Night, and Good Luck deals with the rousing theme of crusading journalism. Not much investigation is necessary to comprehend the apparent persecution of many Americans during the McCarthy era. Yet, speaking truth to power – even if the truth is obvious – is a challenging task. Clooney’s movie offers an admiring portrait of one such individual. Shot in gorgeous black-and-white and set in 1953-54 America, the film pays tribute to the broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow. Also, it reflects upon the culture of fear perpetuated by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s ‘Red Scare’ hysteria.

David Strathairn provides a performance of great subtlety in the central role of Murrow. Though at the end of the gripping conflict between Mr. Murrow and McCarthy, the former is fittingly elevated to the status of an icon, Strahairm’s performance keeps the character fallible and human. The film is also blessed with a fantastic ensemble cast, including Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Frank Langella, and Ray Wise. Of course, Clooney’s take on the See It Now episode isn’t devoid of the usual Hollywood airbrushing. Yet Good Night, and Good Luck is much more than a small chapter from the Cold War period, as the fear-mongering tactics of politicians to retain power still prevail.

4. The Insider (1999)

Investigative Journalism Movies_The Insider

Michael Mann’s The Insider is a top-notch whistleblower movie like Sidney Lumet’s Serpico (1973) and Prince of the City (1981). Based on investigative journalist Marie Brenner’s Vanity Fair article , the film offers a dramatized take on the true story of Jeffrey Wigand (a phenomenal Russell Crowe), a former head of research and development at a giant tobacco company. The man exposed damning truths about the tobacco industry with the help of a radical journalist and producer of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Lowell Bergman ( Al Pacino ). Pacino’s Bergman sets the benchmark for investigative reporting, for whom truth, trust, and integrity matter more than churning out sensational stories.

Wigand’s life gradually unravels due to Big Tobacco’s slander campaign against him, which also nearly pulls the plug on Wigand’s “60 Minutes” interview. But Bergman even puts his job on the line and never bows down to corporate pressure or lets down Wigand. Mann’s portrayal of this unlikely friendship between two different individuals becomes the crux of the narrative. Moreover, The Insider (co-written by Eric Roth) realistically showcases the laborious process of investigative journalism and how the politics and big business nexus creates multiple obstructions to the investigation. Pacino is splendid as the overworked and determined crusader. Eventually, Mann’s Insider offers essential lessons on morality and ethics in media.

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3. spotlight (2015).

Investigative Journalism Movies_Spotlight

Tom McCarthy’s Best Picture Oscar-winning drama, Spotlight, focuses on one of the most important works of journalism in the 21st century so far. Written by McCarthy and Josh Singer, the film is based on a series of Boston Globe reports that unveiled the shocking child sexual abuse by the clergy and the subsequent cover-up activities within the local Catholic Archdiocese. The story also revealed the rampant sexual abuse within the Catholic Church across the globe. The narrative sets off with the new Boston Globe editor-in-chief, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber), inquiring about a column written in their newspaper about a pedophile priest.

The priest is a serial offender and seems to be protected by the Catholic institution. Marty feels the story requires deep investigation that’s suitable for the next ‘spotlight’ story. Spotlight is a team of four investigative reporters who devote their time to the long-form piece, which requires weeks or months of research and investigation. The division, headed by Robby ( Michael Keaton ), delves into the case of one abusive clergy and gradually uncovers the darker truths about their predominantly Catholic community.

Spotlight brilliantly utilizes dogged reporting as the singular source of its riveting drama. The film perfectly summarizes what it means to work on such a heart-wrenching story and what it means to uphold one’s journalistic integrity while trying to fight for justice. Moreover, it features an understated tone reminiscent of classic newsroom dramas. To his credit, McCarthy doesn’t rely on expository flashbacks and fully trusts his fantastic crew of actors. From Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams to Keaton and Stanley Tucci, each and every performance elevates this story. And like all great works of investigative journalism, Spotlight doesn’t end with chest-thumping victory; it simply reminds us that a reporter’s work must go on in this unjust society.

2. Zodiac (2007)

David Fincher’s riveting character-driven investigative thriller focuses on the unsolved serial murders of ‘Zodiac Killer,’ who is said to have operated in Northern California between the late 1960s and early 1970s. Zodiac is based on former cartoonist and author Robert Graysmith’s non-fiction investigations of the case. Zodiac’s killings became national news and launched mass hysteria, mainly because the killer sent taunting letters and coded ciphers to the newspapers. The painstakingly detailed script, written by James Vanderbilt, revolves around three characters obsessed with finding answers, even long after the killer has vanished from the media spotlight.

The chief character among the three is Robert Graysmith himself, played by Jake Gyllenhaal . Jake’s Robert is a shy cartoonist pushed to the newsroom’s fringes. But his obsession with the Zodiac’s riddles gradually draws him into the investigation to unveil the killer’s identity. Robert teams up with ace reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) and seeks the help of Inspector Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo). Zodiac is a film filled with a great deal of clues, breakthroughs, and setbacks. Fincher ensures our emotional investment by making us witness these fascinating characters getting overwhelmed by the case. We are so consumed by the details that the incompleteness (though there are concrete theories on the killer’s identity) immensely affects us.

It’s intriguing how Fincher and Vanderbilt construct the narrative through the media perception of the case. Overall, it’s a look at the fallibility of law enforcement and media, where the latter – as the movie shows – favors sensationalism over accurate reporting.

Related to Investigative Journalism Movies – All David Fincher Movies Ranked

1. all the president’s men (1976).

Investigative Journalism Movies_All The President's Men

All the President’s Men is the third of Alan J. Pakula’s unofficial paranoia trilogy. While Klute and The Parallax View captures the era’s pervasive sense of dread and cynicism, the characters and their stories are fictional. Whereas All the President’s Men is based on the Watergate Scandal, involving the administration of President Nixon, which eventually led to his resignation. It follows Washington Post’s intrepid young journalists, Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman), as they gradually uncover the connection between burglars who broke into the Democratic Party’s National Headquarters (on June 1972) at the Watergate building, to the higher-ups in the White House. This story of surveillance, intimidation, and cover-up was a disgrace to the American democracy. At the same time, the scandal sparked worldwide interest in investigative reporting.

Based on Woodward and Bernstein, the script was written by William Goldman. The narrative perfectly understands the craft of journalism. It’s considered to be an accurate portrayal of the dogged pursuit of investigative journalists as they tirelessly try to piece together a factual account despite numerous rejections and threats. While in the decades following the Watergate Scandal, Woodward and Bernstein became the epitome of ‘heroic-journalist,’ Goldman and director Pakula don’t employ such conventional tropes to mythologize them. The narrative neither glosses over the intricacies of reporting a story nor simplifies the exceptionally complex nature of Watergate Scandal. Rarely do we see in journalism-themed movies such de-dramatized details about workplace dynamics.

Also Read: The Conversation (1974) – The Weaponization of Paranoia through Film Imagery

All the President’s Men is also a masterclass in filmmaking. Legendary cinematographer Gordon Willis – a frequent collaborator of Alan Pakula – brilliantly employs deep dark shadows and creates expressive silhouette shots. In fact, his distinct lighting technique had earned him the name “Prince of Darkness.” David Fincher has frequently cited All the President’s Men as one of his favorite films. Willis and Pakula bring a sense of urgency to the narrative, which still engrosses us almost five decades later. Though the film deals with a timely political story, this chronicle of undaunted journalists challenging unchecked power resonates with us even today.

All the President’s Men ends with the overwhelming sound of the manual typewriters, emphasizing how investigative journalism contributes to democracy and encourages informed citizenry.

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Arun Kumar is an ardent cinebuff, who likes to analyze movie to its minute detail. He believes in the transformative power and shared-dream experience of cinema.

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Journalists—sometimes you love them, sometimes you hate them. It's a profession that inspires trust when its power is wielded with responsibility, but that same power can be so easily abused.

Whether they're digging in to expose scandalous government secrets, manipulating the public with fake news, or appropriating someone's grief for clicks and views, journalists span the spectrum of controversy.

Here are the best movies about journalism, the news, and the media, from newsreader comedies to dark murder mysteries.

16. Bruce Almighty (2003)

Directed by Tom Shadyac

Starring Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman

Comedy, Fantasy (1h 41m)

6.8 on IMDb — 48% on RT

Hollywood loved throwing Jim Carrey in bizarre fantasy scenarios to see what he'd get up to—from being unable to tell lies in Liar Liar (1997) to being unable to say the word "No" in Yes Man (2008).

In Bruce Almighty , he has access to his full vocabulary. In fact, he has access to everything! Including the powers of God.

Bruce is a failing television reporter who complains that God (Morgan Freeman) is ignoring him. To answer his prayers, God appoints Bruce as the new God for a week to see if he can do any better. (He can't.)

Tom Shadyac's comedy went on to spawn a spin-off movie about one of its side characters—Steven Carell as news reporter Evan Baxter—but it didn't do nearly as well as the original.

15. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Directed by Ben Stiller

Starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly

Adventure, Comedy, Drama (1h 54m)

7.3 on IMDb — 52% on RT

Life magazine is probably the most famous magazine ever produced, first published in 1883 and up through to 2000. Nowadays, Life lives mostly online, which is terrible news for negative assets manager Walter Mitty, who's about to be made redundant.

For the final print issue, Life decides to use an image shot by their top photojournalist Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn), which captures the "quintessence of life." Unfortunately, the photo negative is missing.

Despite working for a magazine based on adventure and achievement, Walter has never "lived" a day in his life—so, following clues to track down Sean in the wild is the perfect opportunity for Walter to finally experience first-hand what his work is all about.

Ben Stiller directs and stars in this inspirational comedy-drama, based on James Thurber's 1939 short story.

14. The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)

Directed by Michael Showalter

Starring Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones

Biography, Drama, Romance (2h 6m)

6.6 on IMDb — 68% on RT

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is an extreme example of how damaging media can be to people's self-image and security. Michael Showalter's biopic tells the true story of Tammy Faye and her husband Jim Bakker, who put a twist on Christianity with their televangelism.

The couple defied social and religious expectations to spread God's teachings through song, and even welcomed members of the LGBTQ+ community on their show, The PTL Club .

Successful as Tammy was, the money certainly went to her head. Overwhelming fame, coupled with her husband's accounting fraud that led to imprisonment and divorce, had Tammy layering on the makeup and chugging Diet Coke.

Jessica Chastain portrays the larger-than-life presenter in all her insecurity, who was often the punchline in media.

13. Bombshell (2019)

Directed by Jay Roach

Starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie

Biography, Drama (1h 49m)

6.8 on IMDb — 68% on RT

Before the #MeToo movement took social media by storm in 2017, women were already coming forward with allegations against Fox News workers—in particular, Fox founder and CEO Roger Ailes, played in Bombshell by John Lithgow.

The whole thing was triggered by Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), who decides to sue the person of Ailes for sexual harassment because her contract forbids her from suing the network itself.

Conservative journalist Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) is eventually persuaded to join Carlson, alongside Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie), a fictionalized character used as a stand-in for the numerous victims who wish to remain anonymous.

One of the most disturbing scenes in Jay Roach's legal drama is when Pospisil, who's new at Fox, has a private meeting with Ailes. Margot Robbie later admitted in an interview that the discomfort seen on her face is very, very real.

12. Natural Born Killers (1994)

Directed by Oliver Stone

Starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Tom Sizemore

Action, Crime, Romance (1h 59m)

7.2 on IMDb — 49% on RT

Natural Born Killers isn't a story that's directly about journalism, but the story is an allegory that's certainly about the media.

Mickey (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory Knox (Juliette Lewis) are a mass-murdering couple akin to Bonnie and Clyde, whose traumatic childhoods left them bloodthirsty and uncontrollable. The duo take a deadly road trip across the desert and land in a prison for the criminally insane.

Director Oliver Stone makes a point about media sensationalism when the news glorifies the couple's rampage and even gives Mickey a live interview during the Super Bowl.

His words go on to inspire a prison riot, during which tabloid journalist Wayne Gale (Robert Downey, Jr.) is taken hostage.

The chaotic crime flick was arguably counter productive, though, as it inspired real-life copycat crimes.

11. Kill the Messenger (2014)

Directed by Michael Cuesta

Starring Jeremy Renner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ray Liotta

Biography, Crime, Drama (1h 52m)

6.9 on IMDb — 76% on RT

Nick Schou's investigative book Kill the Messenger: How the CIA's Crack-Cocaine Controversy Destroyed Journalist Gary Webb and Gary Webb's Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion were the foundation of Michael Cuesta's crime thriller Kill the Messenger .

Webb was a journalist who exposed the CIA for funding Nicaraguan rebels in a corrupt drug racket, only to find that they'd do anything to cover it up—like threatening Webb's family.

Get your thinking caps on for this one! Michael Cuesta's drama runs deep and leaves no time to over-explain details. As usual, the conspiracies lead all the way to the top and it's hard to look away.

10. Christine (2016)

Directed by Antonio Campos

Starring Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts

Biography, Drama (1h 59m)

6.9 on IMDb — 89% on RT

Christine Chubbuck did something that shocked the nation back in 1974: she committed suicide live on TV.

Suffering with depression and failing to progress in her career as a reporter, Chubbuck pulled out a revolver from behind her desk and shot herself in the head while cameras were rolling.

She was the first person to ever attempt such a horrifying and tragic act on live television, but she wouldn't be the last. Years later in 1987, politician Budd Dwyer did the same.

Rebecca Hall stars as the disillusioned newsreader who's largely ignored by the world around her, frequently denied promotions, and severely lacking in any social or romantic life.

Antonio Campos paints a melancholy picture of desperation and loneliness in the lead up to her on-screen death. Christine is a powerful reminder to check up on our loved ones more than anything else.

9. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Directed by Adam McKay

Starring Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Steve Carell

Comedy (1h 34m)

7.1 on IMDb — 66% on RT

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is one of Will Ferrell's most popular comedies. The ensemble cast includes Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and David Koechner as a 1970s news team without a brain cell shared between them.

Least of all is Ron, whose arrogance blinds him to his competition, the beautiful anchorwoman Veronica Corningstone. (You might be surprised to learn that Ron Burgundy was inspired by a real-life Channel 4 presenter named Mort Crim!)

Adam McKay's news comedy was so successful that he made a sequel, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues , which is just as hilarious.

8. She Said (2022)

Directed by Maria Schrader

Starring Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Patricia Clarkson

Drama, History (2h 9m)

7.3 on IMDb — 87% on RT

She Said is the true story about women speaking up about their sexual harassment experiences in the workplace, and the subject of this one might be quite familiar with viewers.

In 2017, the Harvey Weinstein scandals spread like wildfire, generating a domino fallout now known as the "Weinstein effect." Over 80 people accused the former film producer of misconduct, and the man is now serving time in prison for it.

Maria Schrader directs the forceful feminist biopic, based on the 2019 book She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement . Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey wrote the critically acclaimed study from their findings as New York Times investigative reporters.

7. The Insider (1999)

Directed by Michael Mann

Starring Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer

Biography, Drama, Thriller (2h 37m)

7.8 on IMDb — 96% on RT

In 1996, Vanity Fair published an article titled "The Man Who Knew Too Much." Who was that man? Jeffrey Wigand, former head of the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation.

Played by Russell Crowe, Wigand takes it upon himself to expose the industry secrets that keep the nation hooked and spending. Despite death threats, bullet presents, and a deteriorating marriage, Wigand stands firm as a whistleblower against B&W.

Investigative journalist Marie Brenner wrote the original Vanity Fair article, which Michael Mann adapted into a Oscar-nominated movie starring Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer.

A compelling corporate thriller packed with truths we wish we could ignore, The Insider infuriates and enlightens in equal measure.

6. All the President's Men (1976)

Directed by Alan J. Pakula

Starring Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford, Jack Warden

Drama, History, Thriller (2h 18m)

7.9 on IMDb — 94% on RT

Everyone has heard of the Watergate scandal that pushed President Nixon out of the White House after he attempted to cover up a break-in at the DNC headquarters.

Inspecting the story for The Washington Post , Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were the two main journalists covering the story—but it didn't come without a struggle.

Bernstein and Woodward connected the burglars to the CIA and the White House administration, which, of course, they didn't take well.

Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford headline as the daring, myth-busting detective duo, who wrote the original 1974 book of the same name that detailed their findings. Alan J. Pakula directs this paranoid political drama, which reached universal acclaim upon release.

5. The French Dispatch (2021)

Directed by Wes Anderson

Starring Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton

Comedy, Drama, Romance (1h 47m)

7.1 on IMDb — 75% on RT

Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch stars his usual crowd: Bill Murray, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, and Edward Norton. Also, a few others in Timothée Chalamet, Léa Seydoux, Benicio del Toro, and Frances McDormand.

Yeah, that's a lot of people. But what's a Wes Anderson movie without an ensemble cast, symmetrical cinematography, and pastel colors?

So many actors were needed for Anderson's comedy-drama because it's split into three separate short films: The Concrete Masterpiece , Revisions to a Manifesto , and The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner .

These shorts are introduced by a French newspaper team in 1975, whose editor dies of a heart attack and orders one final goodbye print featuring these three stories.

4. The Killing Fields (1984)

Directed by Roland Joffé

Starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich

Biography, Drama, History (2h 21m)

7.8 on IMDb — 93% on RT

The New York Times journalists in this movie are tasked with documenting the civil war in Cambodia during the 1970s. The thing is, writing about it isn't the hard part—leaving the country afterwards is.

Local representative Dith Pran is stuck in the warzone while American reporter Sydney Schanberg is free to fly away. And from the movie's title alone, you can guess Roland Joffé's biopic is as depressing as it is bloody.

Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor star as the brave real-life journalists, with Ngor acting of his own experiences as a refugee survivor of the Cambodian genocide.

Indeed, not long before he starred in The Killing Fields , Ngor was serving three terms in harrowing prisoner-of-war camps, which makes the film all that more affecting.

3. Zodiac (2007)

Directed by David Fincher

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo

Crime, Drama, Mystery (2h 37m)

7.7 on IMDb — 90% on RT

The Zodiac Killer is one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. He's basically the US version of Jack the Ripper, due to the fact his identity was never discovered—although professionals now think it was most likely Air Force veteran Gary Francis Poste.

Back in 2007, his identity was still a mystery, and Zodiac ends on the cliffhanger that nobody knows who it was. The film, however, mainly focuses on suspect Arthur Leigh Allen (John Carroll Lynch).

Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. investigate the killer on behalf of the San Francisco Chronicle , who received the first encrypted letters from the murderer himself.

Zodiac is based on the 1986 book by Robert Graysmith, and David Fincher's dingy aesthetic and moody film style made him the perfect director for such a bleak, curious story.

2. Spotlight (2015)

Directed by Tom McCarthy

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams

Biography, Crime, Drama (2h 9m)

8.1 on IMDb — 97% on RT

Tom McCarthy's poignant biopic Spotlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2016, and for good reason!

Set in Boston, Spotlight follows a team of journalists determined to expose the widespread abuse of priests who have been preying on local children for decades. They discover at least 90 priests in Boston alone, and urge the victims to come forward despite the risks.

Spotlight tackles its sensitive themes with humility, but also never shies away from the truth, putting a "spotlight" on the corruption of the Catholic Church.

It's heartbreaking and maddening all at once, boasting exceptional performances from big names, including Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, and John Slattery.

1. Nightcrawler (2014)

Directed by Dan Gilroy

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton

Crime, Drama, Thriller (1h 57m)

7.8 on IMDb — 95% on RT

At one point in Nightcrawler , it feels like Jake Gyllenhaal's eyes are going to pop out of his head as he screams at a mirror and shakes it into pieces. That's how intense his performance was as Louis Bloom, a sociopathic stringer who films violent crimes that happen at night.

The thing is, Louis isn't doing this to help his subjects; he's really just exploiting them for his own gain. It gets to the point where he'd rather film a grisly murder for first-dibs footage than call 911.

Louis Bloom is a perfect example of the cinematic anti-hero, who—despite being the protagonist—we don't feel inclined to root for.

Dan Gilroy wrote and directed this neo-noir masterpiece, making viewers question the morality of news programs that profit from people's pain.

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www.rating-hollywoodreporter.com scam site. Anyone seen?

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The 21 best journalism movies

Spotlight (2015)

Almost Famous (2000)

Network (1976)

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Citizen Kane (1941)

The Insider (1999)

The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)

Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)

The Post (2017)

Nightcrawler (2014)

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Shattered Glass (2003)

The French Dispatch (2021)

His Girl Friday (1940)

Zodiac (2007)

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