The Front Runner (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
The Front Runner is a 2018 biographical thriller directed by Jason Reitman, starring Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart, Vera Farmiga and Molly Ephraim. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes and earned $3.2 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 53m (113 min)
- Director
- Jason Reitman
- Original language
-
English
- Budget
- $25M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Front Runner About?
The premise of The Front Runner without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1988, Senator Gary Hart appeared poised to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. His promising campaign faltered when allegations of an extramarital affair with Donna Rice became public, igniting a media storm. The ensuing tabloid frenzy and intense political scrutiny led to the campaign's abrupt collapse, significantly impacting the course of American politics and leaving a lasting legacy on how candidates are perceived.
The Front Runner Themes & Keywords
· 17 tags- politics
- 1980s
- scandal
- presidential campaign
- politician
- 20th century
- based on real person
- u.s. politician
- united states of america
- year 1987
- sex scandal
- political drama
+5 more Show fewer
- docudrama drama
- u.s. senator
- australian actor plays an american character
- british actor plays an american character
- based on true story
Where to Watch The Front Runner
Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
The Front Runner Cast & Characters
Hugh Jackman leads the cast as Gary Hart, with Vera Farmiga as Lee Hart and Molly Ephraim as Irene Kelly. Directed by Jason Reitman; 19 actors are credited in all.
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Director Jason Reitman
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Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart -
Vera Farmiga as Lee Hart -
Molly Ephraim as Irene Kelly -
Kaitlyn Dever as Andrea Hart
Also Starring in The Front Runner
· 15 more- J.K. Simmons Bill Dixon
- Alfred Molina Ben Bradlee
- Kevin Pollak
- Mark O'Brien Billy Shore
- Josh Brener Doug Wilson
- Bill Burr
- Toby Huss
- Sara Paxton
- Chris Coy Kevin Sweeney
- Jenna Kanell Ginny Terzano
- Alex Karpovsky Mike Stratton
- Ari Graynor Ann Devroy
- Tommy Dewey John Emerson
- Courtney Ford
- Jennifer Landon
The Front Runner Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Front Runner 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).
The Front Runner Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, The Front Runner demonstrates a blend of accomplished filmmaking and uneven narrative focus. Its dynamic cinematography and impactful lead performance provide moments of engagement, yet the crowded editorial style and ambiguous pacing frequently undermine dramatic energy. The ensemble cast delivers noteworthy work, although emotional resonance suffers from underdeveloped character arcs and fragmented storytelling. While the film raises relevant ethical questions and offers subtle political parallels, the combination of cautious plotting and uneven flow leaves a varied impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
It showcases dynamic camera movements and occasional bravura framing that energize key sequences. Editing often embraces overlapping dialogue and crowded compositions, creating a sense of immediacy but occasionally hindering clarity. Production design supports the political setting with functional period details yet feels restrained. The net effect is a visually active style that sometimes compromises cohesion for momentum.
- Character & Emotion 70
When it comes to character depth and emotion, the film benefits from Hugh Jackman’s committed portrayal and capable work from the supporting cast. Despite these performances, the depiction of Gary Hart and his family remains underexplored, limiting emotional connection. Ensemble members such as Sara Paxton and Vera Farmiga contribute moments of sincerity but receive limited development. Overall, the emotional resonance is uneven and constrained.
- Story & Flow 50
In terms of story and flow, the narrative adopts a cautious, evidence-driven approach that offers historical context but lacks dramatic propulsion. The pacing shifts between methodical setup and abrupt transitions, resulting in uneven momentum. Ethical themes around media privacy emerge but are only briefly examined. The overall plot remains informative yet feels fragmented, leaving the dramatic stakes insufficiently realized.
- Sensory Experience 60
When it comes to sensory experience, the film’s sound design and soundtrack remain serviceable yet unremarkable, with overlapping dialogue that sometimes borders on unintelligible. Visual style relies on a restrained palette punctuated by dynamic camera sweeps, offering intermittent visual interest. Ambient noises of press events contribute authenticity but can feel cluttered. The net effect is an engaging aural and visual texture that occasionally sacrifices clarity.
- Rewatch Factor 50
In evaluating rewatch factor, The Front Runner appeals most to viewers with an interest in political history and nuanced ethical debates. While the central performances and thematic relevance invite a second viewing, the fragmented structure and uneven pacing may diminish overall replay value. The film’s thoughtful moments provide occasional reward, but the lack of sustained narrative drive limits its enduring appeal.
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IMDb 6.1 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 58% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 41%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 61 Metascore
User score 6.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 59% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.0 /5
1 ratings
See on Letterboxd
The Front Runner Plot Summary
What happens in The Front Runner from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As the 1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries kick off, the spotlight shines on former Senator Gary Hart, whose reputation as a leading candidate was bolstered by a strong performance in the 1984 primary. As Hart and his campaign team prepare for the official launch of his presidential bid in April 1987, a growing concern looms: Hart may be prioritizing policy discussions over personal revelations, making it difficult for voters to connect with him on a deeper level.
At the same time, the journalistic circles at The Washington Post are buzzing with inquiries about Hart’s marital standing and rumors of his alleged infidelities. Seeking respite from the campaign chaos, Hart embarks on a yacht cruise from Miami to Bimini aboard the Monkey Business, where he meets the enchanting Donna Rice.
Full summary
The whole story of The Front Runner, scene by scene
The Front Runner Box Office & Budget
The Front Runner grossed $3.2 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 13% of what it cost. $2 million came from the US and Canada and $1.2 million (38%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.2M
13% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $2M
- International
- $1.2M
- Budget
- $25M
The Front Runner Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Front Runner.
How Well Do You Know The Front Runner?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year did Gary Hart's presidential campaign officially launch?
Cars in The Front Runner
30 cars on screen, including the 1986 Honda Accord and the 1979 Jeep CJ-5.
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1986 Honda Accord Important role -
1979 Jeep CJ-5 Important role -
1981 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine Minor role -
1986 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role
The Front Runner Also Known As
28 alternative titles, including “Главный кандидат” and “Кандидатът”.
- Also known as
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- Главный кандидат
- Кандидатът
- Как не стать президентом
- Baş Aday
- Front runner : Le scandale
- El candidato
- Ο Υποψήφιος
- Лідер перегонів
- O Favorito
- The Front Runner - Il vizio del potere
- 프론트 러너
- Der Spitzenkandidat
+16 more Show fewer
- Pewny kandydat
- Candidat favori
- O Candidato Favorito
- Favorit
- Így ne legyél elnök
- 领先者
- Vadošais kandidāts
- המועמד המוביל
- Hlavní kandidát
- 爆料世代
- Candidatul
- El favorito
- Kaip netapti prezidentu
- フロントランナー
- 選戰謊情色
- เดอะ ฟร้อนท์ รันเนอร์
Seen The Front Runner?
Movies Like The Front Runner
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Best Man, The Candidate and Frontrunners.
The Front Runner FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Front Runner, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Front Runner?
The Front Runner runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).
When was The Front Runner released?
The Front Runner was released on November 6, 2018.
Who directed The Front Runner?
The Front Runner was directed by Jason Reitman.
More films by Jason Reitman Who is in the cast of The Front Runner?
The Front Runner stars Hugh Jackman as Gary Hart, Vera Farmiga as Lee Hart and Molly Ephraim as Irene Kelly, among 19 credited actors.
Where can I watch The Front Runner?
In the US, The Front Runner is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did The Front Runner make at the box office?
The Front Runner grossed $3.2 million worldwide ($2 million domestic, $1.2 million international) on a budget of $25 million.
How is The Front Runner rated?
The Front Runner has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.
Does The Front Runner have a post-credit scene?
No. The Front Runner has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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