Primary Colors

"What went down on the way to the top."

1998 2h 23m EN

😐

6.2

MID

🍅

80%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

6.7

IMDB

★6.2TMDB · 360🍅80%Rotten Tomatoes●70Metacritic★6.7IMDB · 31,019

DramaComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

“What went down on the way to the top.”

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Cast

John Travolta
Jack Stanton
Emma Thompson
Susan Stanton
Billy Bob Thornton
Richard Jemmons
Adrian Lester
Henry Burton
Maura Tierney
Daisy Green
Paul Guilfoyle
Howard Ferguson
Larry Hagman
Gov. Fred Picker
Kathy Bates
Libby Holden

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Mike Nichols
Writers: Elaine May
Languages: English
Countries: France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Mid-budget at $65M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 80% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

28 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 5 countries: France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Mike Nichols, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ry Cooder. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Arthur Schmidt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

John Travolta and Emma Thompson and Billy Bob Thornton carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Mike Nichols directs. Michael Ballhaus behind the camera. Ry Cooder scores. Arthur Schmidt cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Mid-budget at $65M — the now-extinct middle tier of Hollywood.
2Earned back only 80% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
328 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4International production across 5 countries: France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America.
5Directed by Mike Nichols, shot by Michael Ballhaus. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Ry Cooder. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Arthur Schmidt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8John Travolta and Emma Thompson and Billy Bob Thornton carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "What went down on the way to the top.".
10IMDB entry: tt0119942 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus
Original score: Ry Cooder
Editing: Arthur Schmidt
Production design: Bo Welch
Costume design: Gary Jones
Makeup / hair: J. Roy Helland
Sound: Ron Bochar
Stunt coordinator: Mark Riccardi
Runtime: 143 min · 2h 23m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $65,000,000
Box office: $52,090,187
Return: 80% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Primary Colors (1998)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% 🍅 Fresh
Metacritic: 70/100
IMDB rating: 6.7/10 · 31,019 votes
MPAA: R

Awards

Nominated for 2 Oscars. 10 wins & 31 nominations total

Also by

Mike Nichols

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2023-08-28
★ 6/10
There is something quite worrying about this depiction of an American Presidential nomination campaign - it is plausible... John Travolta ("Jack Stanton") positively oozes charisma - in all it's guises - as he schmoozes, charms, cheats and lies his way through a campaign that simultaneously sees him pat babies on their heads whilst stealing their lollipops... Adrian Lester is the enthusiastic, but naive, campaign manager who together with a feisty Kathy Bates is charged with getting their man into the final race with Emma Thompson as the supportive wife who has to tolerate all that the campaign - and her husband's obvious peccadillos - throw at them. The delivery is fast-paced, witty and authentic; the performances - especially the loyal but principled Bates - really reinforce the ultimate message that Joe Klein's story is trying to convey; and Mike Nicholls manages to keep the whole thing from becoming too overtly Clinton-esque! Adrian Lester is a little out of his depth, though, Emma Thompson isn't on her best form either and though it is nice to see old "J.R" on the screen again, Larry Hagman as a senator in the right place at the right time but with more skeletons in his closet than Roger Corman, doesn't really cut it either. It's also far too long, and struggles when Travolta is away from the action... Certainly entertaining, though...

Production companies