20 Great On-Screen Presidents That Make Us Wish They Were Real

Things would be much better ...

Damjan

• Published in Film & TV
• June 17, 2022

Stories about the Commander in Chief have long piqued Hollywood's interest. And it is understandable.

After all, it's the most powerful man in the world we are talking about here. So many good stories can be made.

Some of them are fictional, while others... Well, maybe not so fictional.

As they say, every story has to draw inspiration from somewhere. And even the most incredible stories can have some roots in truth.

Movies and television productions love to take viewers behind the scenes of government administration through fictional leaders, some of whom are far superior to others.

Fiction has also allowed authors to invent scenarios that have yet to occur in real-world politics. In the realm of television and film, for example, there have been multiple female and Black presidents, but actual politics has remained predominantly white and male-dominated.

These fictitious presidents may not have been real, but they felt real to us as they dealt with a variety of political challenges while keeping the best interests of the American people in mind. Check out the notable faces who have taken on the responsibility of playing the President of the United States, from serious tales of history-makers to ludicrous satires.

Best on-screen presidents:

Douglass Dilman From 'The Man'

In this film, James Earl Jones portrays the president, who steps in when the president, vice president, and speaker of the house are unable to govern. The movie was released in 1972, three decades before Barack Obama became the country's first African-American president. 

James was later invited to perform in the White House by President Barack Obama.

Mackenzie Allen From 'Commander in Chief'

The TV show only lasted one season, but viewers saw a powerful woman govern the country as the first female president of the United States in those short episodes. We still haven't landed one of those in real life, but we can revisit this series and fantasize about a day when that role isn't just a dream.

Merkin Muffley From 'Dr. Strangelove'

No president wants to be confronted with nuclear war, but that is exactly what President Muffley faced in this 1964 film. He didn't succeed in preserving America in the end, but he did his best to emphasize peace and rational thought, which is really all we can ask of a president these days.

Thomas J. Whitmore From 'Independence Day'

One of the most awesome fictional presidents in history is Thomas J. Whitmore. In a poll conducted in 2020, 61% of American people said they would vote for Whitmore if he ran for president.

He was a standout leader because, rather than cowering in a bunker, he was willing to face the alien invasion from the cockpit of a fighter plane.

Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet From 'The West Wing'

The West Wing is one of the most successful dramas about being president. President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet, played by Martin Sheen, was the show's leader.

In his capacity, he worked relentlessly for Americans, and he's already been likened to Joe Biden.

Dave Kovic From 'Dave'

When President Bill Mitchell is unable to do his duties, he is replaced by Dave, a skilled impersonator and exact replica of the genuine president. Will the general population in the United States be able to distinguish between the two?

Will the president's wife be taken in by his doppelganger? All of this is addressed in the humorous film.

Julia Mansfield From 'Hail to the Chief'

Patty Duke played Julia Mansfield, the country's leader, in another short-lived TV series about the first female president. As acting president, she dealt with a variety of challenges, including the prospect of nuclear war, government spies, and personal threats.

She, on the other hand, rose to each new obstacle with tenacity.

Tom Kirkman From 'Designated Survivor'

"What happens when practically everyone in the government is killed in a terrorist attack?" is the idea of this television drama. 

Of course, one low-ranking Cabinet member will take over. Following the terrible attack, Kiefer Sutherland plays the "chosen survivor" who assumes control of the country.

He also performs an excellent job for someone with little prior expertise.

Tom Beck From 'Deep Impact'

Morgan Freeman's President Tom Beck is considered one of "the greatest fake presidents of all time." His calm approach to dealing with an impending doom made Americans feel safe.

It's this kind of attitude that real presidents must also embody.

John MacKenzie From 'First Daughter'

This comedy depicted President John MacKenzie's (Michael Keaton) difficult balancing act of trying to govern the country while still being a decent parent to his daughter, played by Katie Holmes. 

Many of us can identify with President MacKenzie's work-life balance, and while we believe it is difficult to achieve both, we believe he did.

Mellie Grant From 'Scandal'

Fitzgerald Grant, Mellie Grant's husband, did not make the finest president on Scandal. Mellie, on the other hand, did it.

She was a natural when she finally got the part. America would have benefited enormously if her husband had stepped aside for her from the start and allowed a true leader to take charge.

James Sawyer From 'White House Down'

What's not to like about a president portrayed by Jamie Foxx? The renowned presidential home is under attack in White House Down, putting democracy at risk.

President James Sawyer and Channing Tatum go and fight off the intruders.

James Marshall From 'Air Force One'

James Marshall, played by Harrison Ford in this 1990 action picture, is another president who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty in the interest of preserving democracy. President Marshall is not only a visionary leader, but he is also willing to go to war for the people of the United States.

Jackson Evans From 'The Contender'

The president in this film is played by Jeff Bridges. He's a trustworthy leader who isn't afraid to put the country first.

And he has no intention of appointing someone to his government for personal gain. In other words, he is a people's leader, not a party leader.

David Palmer From '24'

 Dennis Haysbert plays the president in "24"

Allison Taylor From '24'

Allison Taylor succeeded David Palmer as president on December 24, and she was a good leader. She worked hard for her country, being logical and level-headed. Cherry Jones, who was nominated for an Emmy in 2009 for her portrayal of the character, put in a lot of effort.

Andrew Shepherd From 'The American President'

Andrew Shepherd, played by Michael Douglas, is an ideal leader in a number of respects. He's intelligent and engaging, and he's certain of his abilities to lead a country.

All of these characteristics are crucial for a president. Aaron Sorkin, who went on to write The West Wing, wrote the screenplay for the film.

He has an uncanny ability to create strong leaders in his characters.

Leslie Knope From 'Parks and Recreation'

Leslie Knope becomes president in 2048, according to the final episode of Parks and Recreation (spoiler alert!) 

We all know she'd be not only the best first female president but also the best president of all time, based on her love of people and her enthusiasm for the government. 

If only she wasn't a made-up politician. She'd be very useful to the United States of America.

James Dale From 'Mars Attacks!'

President James Dale, played by Jack Nicholson, didn't stand a chance against the Martian invasion, but he gave it his best. He was adamant about saving America until the very last moment when his attempts at peaceful negotiation with the invading Martians backfired spectacularly.

Mays Gilliam From 'Head of State'

Mays Gilliam wasn't supposed to be a serious Democratic Party candidate in this film, but his sincerity and ability to empathise to people's problems wind up captivating an entire nation. 

Chris Rock portrayed an ordinary American who finds himself propelled into the national spotlight and vows to serve the people rather than the political system.

These actors did such a good job that we wish they were real. We somehow believe they would do a much better job than real people.

Although, we wouldn’t wish the kind of problems they were dealing with. Falling asteroids, Martian invasions, and attacks on the White House may be interesting to watch on screen, but wouldn’t be so interesting in real life.

Damjan