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Biographical drama

Vice (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Vice (2018) movie poster

Vice is a 2018 biographical drama directed by Adam McKay, starring Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, Christian Bale and Jesse Plemons. It runs 2 hours 12 minutes and earned $76.1 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. It won 1 Oscar, including Makeup and Hairstyling, and 7 awards in all. Critics gave it 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
64%
worldwide gross
$76.1M
Oscar won
1
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Watch the trailer Read the plot summary
Vice (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 12m (132 min)
Director
Adam McKay
Genres
Biography , Drama , History , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Annapurna Pictures
Budget
$60M
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is Vice About?

The premise of Vice without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During the 2000 presidential election, Texas Governor George W. Bush chooses Halliburton CEO Dick Cheney as his running mate, an unexpected decision that sets in motion a chain of events with profound consequences. Cheney, a man with a distinguished political history, sees a chance to gain significant power and influence. The film explores how his ambition shapes the Bush presidency and significantly alters the course of American policy and its impact on the world stage.

Vice Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • u.s. vice president
  • iraq war
  • september 11 2001
  • heart attack
  • u.s. government
  • hit by a car
  • politics
  • american politics
  • republican party
  • hospital
  • fake documentary footage
  • based on real person
+38 more
  • reference to world war three
  • scene during end credits
  • breaking the fourth wall
  • reference to the fairness doctrine
  • reference to guantanamo bay cuba
  • machiavellism
  • dick cheney character
  • fake end credits within film
  • torture
  • halliburton
  • heart surgery
  • heart transplant
  • casper wyoming
  • father daughter relationship
  • washington d.c.
  • slow motion scene
  • split screen
  • sister sister relationship
  • overhead camera shot
  • singing in a car
  • surveillance
  • reference to abu musab al zarqawi
  • isis
  • islamic state
  • foreign policy
  • al qaeda
  • u.s. house of representatives
  • u.s. secretary of defense
  • george w. bush administration
  • 2000 u.s. presidential election
  • presidency
  • political power
  • power grab
  • secrecy
  • reference to the bush white house email controversy
  • military policy
  • war in afghanistan
  • executive power
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Cast & crew

Vice Cast & Characters

Sam Rockwell leads the cast as George W. Bush, with Christian Bale as Dick Cheney and Jesse Plemons as Kurt. Directed by Adam McKay; 14 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Vice

· 10 more
From the director

More from Adam McKay

More films directed by Adam McKay, best-rated first: The Big Short, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and Step Brothers.

Full filmography
Ratings

Vice Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Vice 64% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 65/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).

65 /100

Vice Echo Score Breakdown

Vice offers a mixed biographical satire that combines energetic filmmaking with uneven execution. Critics and viewers note that the film’s ambitious narrative and satirical tone often clash, leading to moments of both insight and confusion. Praises highlight Christian Bale’s transformative performance and inventive stylistic flourishes, while criticisms focus on the film’s tonal shifts and sporadic engagement with Cheney’s motivations. Ultimately, Vice presents a provocative yet unbalanced exploration of power that resonates unevenly across viewers.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of direction and editing, Vice exhibits a dynamic yet inconsistent style. Several reviews commend its bold jump cuts and satirical pacing, while others find those same elements frantic or exhibitionist. The visual rhythm supports moments of incisive commentary but sometimes undermines narrative cohesion. Overall, the film’s craft strikes as ambitious but erratic.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    When it comes to acting and character portrayal, Vice benefits from strong lead performances amid uneven supporting work. Christian Bale’s meticulous embodiment of Cheney earns consistent acclaim, and Sam Rockwell’s nuanced caricature receives praise. However, certain roles, such as Steve Carell’s Rumsfeld, are viewed as miscast or lacking depth. Overall, the film showcases powerful performances against sporadic emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, Vice delivers an original but occasionally confusing narrative. The ambitious biographical structure and rapid tonal shifts attract interest, yet many critics note muddled transitions and underdeveloped motivations. Scenes oscillate between serious portrayal and comedic satire, hindering consistent engagement. Overall, the storyline engages intermittently but lacks sustained clarity.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    When considering the sensory experience, Vice offers distinctive visual and auditory textures paired with a sardonic tone. The film’s sound design and soundtrack underscore its satirical edge, while its visual style—marked by rapid cuts and varied production design—evokes a documentary feel. At times, this approach enhances thematic impact; at others, it feels disjointed. Overall, sensory elements are striking yet uneven.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Regarding rewatch value, Vice presents moments of clever satire and strong performances that may reward subsequent viewings. The film’s inventive structure and standout scenes, notably Bale’s transformations, offer points of renewed appreciation. However, the uneven tone and occasional narrative confusion could lessen its lasting appeal. Overall, Vice maintains curious moments but may not sustain multiple viewings.

Plot

Vice Plot Summary

What happens in Vice 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

Vice unfolds through the narration of Kurt (Jesse Plemons), a fictional veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. The narrative kicks off with Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) and several White House figures grappling with the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks. It then glides back to Wyoming in 1963, where a young Cheney struggles as a lineman and battles alcoholism that leads him to drop out of Yale, a scholarship provided by his girlfriend Lynne Cheney (Amy Adams). Following a reckless episode with a traffic cop due to intoxication, his determined wife Lynne encourages him to turn his life around, highlighting her own intellect and aspirations during an era when women faced significant barriers to success.

Full summary

The whole story of Vice, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Vice Box Office & Budget

Vice grossed $76.1 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $47.8 million came from the US and Canada and $28.2 million (37%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$76.1M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$47.8M
International
$28.2M
Budget
$60M
US & Canada 63% Rest of the world 37%
Awards

Vice Awards & Nominations

Vice won 1 Oscar, including Makeup and Hairstyling, and 7 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Critics' Choice 2019, with 3 wins from 9 nominations.

7 wins33 nominations7 ceremonies

Show all 7 ceremonies
Videos

Vice Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 teaser.

VICE | Official Trailer
  • Teaser Vice - TV Spot - Be My VP (2018)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Vice?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who narrates the story of 'Vice'?
Cars

Cars in Vice

50 cars on screen, including the AM General HMMWV M1025 and the 1966 Buick Wildcat.

All 50 cars
  • AM General HMMWV M1025 in Vice AM General HMMWV M1025 Minor role
  • 1966 Buick Wildcat in Vice 1966 Buick Wildcat Minor role
  • 2005 Cadillac Presidential State Car in Vice 2005 Cadillac Presidential State Car Minor role
  • Cadillac Stretched Limousine in Vice Cadillac Stretched Limousine Minor role
Details

Vice Also Known As

29 alternative titles, including “Cheney” and “Вице-президент”.

Also known as
  • Cheney
  • Вице-президент
  • Valdžia
  • Vice - Der zweite Mann
  • Vice: Gölge Adam
  • O Vice
  • Власть
  • Вице
  • El vicio del poder
  • Vice - L'uomo nell'ombra
  • Vice: Ο Δεύτερος στην Ιεραρχία
  • 바이스
+17 more
  • Влада
  • סגן הנשיא
  • 為副不仁
  • Alelnök
  • El Vicepresidente: Más allá del poder
  • Vicele
  • Muž v pozadí
  • 副总统
  • Čovjek iz sjene
  • Viceprezident
  • バイス, ვიცე პრეზიდენტი
  • Vice - vallan oikeat kasvot
  • El vici del poder
  • Vara
  • Mož iz ozadja
  • Quyền Lực Trong Bóng Tối
  • รองประธานาธิดีเขย่าโลก

Seen Vice?
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Movies Like Vice

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FAQ

Vice FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Vice, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Vice?

Vice runs 2 hours 12 minutes (132 minutes).

When was Vice released?

Vice was released on December 25, 2018.

Who directed Vice?

Vice was directed by Adam McKay.

More films by Adam McKay

Who is in the cast of Vice?

Vice stars Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, Christian Bale as Dick Cheney and Jesse Plemons as Kurt, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Vice make at the box office?

Vice grossed $76.1 million worldwide ($47.8 million domestic, $28.2 million international) on a budget of $60 million.

How is Vice rated?

Vice has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 64% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

What awards did Vice win?

Vice won 7 awards from 33 nominations, including Best Actor at the Critics' Choice 2019.

Does Vice have a post-credit scene?

Yes. Vice has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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