LBJ
LBJ

LBJ

2017Movie98 minEnglish

The story of U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson from his young days in West Texas to the White House.

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Insights

IMDb5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes59%
Metacritic55/100
Google Users69%
Director: Rob ReinerGenres: Biography, Drama, History

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the tumultuous journey of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency, from his unexpected rise to power following John F. Kennedy's assassination to his ambitious Great Society initiatives and the escalation of the Vietnam War. It delves into his complex personality, his struggles with insecurity, and his relentless pursuit of political power and legacy. The narrative explores the immense pressure he faced as he navigated critical moments in American history.

Critical Reception

LBJ received mixed reviews from critics, with praise often directed at Woody Harrelson's performance but criticism leveled at the film's uneven pacing and lack of depth in exploring the complexities of Johnson's presidency. Audiences had a similarly divided response, appreciating the historical subject matter but finding the execution lacking.

What Reviewers Say

  • Woody Harrelson delivers a compelling performance as Lyndon B. Johnson.
  • The film struggles to find a consistent tone and narrative focus.
  • While historically significant, the portrayal of LBJ feels somewhat superficial.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be an interesting, though not entirely satisfying, look at LBJ's presidency, with many appreciating the performances but wishing for a more in-depth or compelling narrative.

Fun Fact

Director Rob Reiner, a long-time political activist and filmmaker known for his political commentary, stated that he wanted to make a film about LBJ to understand the man behind the presidency and his impact on American history.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

Every now and again you get an IMDB moderator that strikes down anything political that he doesn't agree with... ... in this case it's saying that LBJ wasn't a great movie and that he wasn't a great president. This is the president th...
wizzardss

wizzardss

Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, his Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, stepped up to take the main job. This biopic stars Woody Harrelson as Johnson, and tells the story of LBJ as Vice President under Kennedy. Other than ...