Primary Colors (1998)
81%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
10 wins & 31 nominations total
Well acted and suprisingly funny
Primary Colors is like a political version of The Big Chill, but with more laughs and less existential crisis. John Travolta is surprisingly convincing as a Clinton-esque presidential candidate, and the rest of the cast is equally impressive. The film is a smart and savvy piece of work that perfectly captures the spirit of its time and topic. It’s a well-acted drama full of Clinton-era jabs that will leave you both entertained and thought-provoked. Plus, it’s always fun to see a movie that eerily resembles real life politics.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language and sexual references
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital SDDS DTSDTS-Stereo
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 23m
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Language(s):English, Hebrew, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 1998 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 18, 2005
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Adrian Lester, Maura Tierney, directed by Mike Nichols, written by Joe Klein, Elaine May, Comedy, Drama, R rating, box office gross $39.0M, reviewed by Hillel Italie, Duane Byrge, Mike Clark, Derek Adams, Kenneth Turan, Todd McCarthy, Danielle Solzman, Charles Cassady, Michael Dequina, Jon Popick, Dennis Schwartz, Rob Gonsalves, Bill Clinton, 1992 presidential campaign, political satire, scandal, ambition, infidelity, campaign manager, advisor, governor, first lady, conscience, Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital, Universal Pictures
Worldwide gross: $52,090,187
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $95,592,838
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,039
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,424,519
US/Canada gross: $39,001,187
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $71,572,678
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 910
US/Canada opening weekend: $12,045,395
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $22,104,998
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 602
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $65,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $119,284,165
Production budget ranking: 311
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $64,234,523
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$87,925,850
ROI to date (est.): -48%
ROI ranking: 1,676
Emma Thompson – Susan Stanton
Billy Bob Thornton – Richard Jemmons
Kathy Bates – Libby Holden
Adrian Lester – Henry Burton
Maura Tierney – Daisy
Mike Nichols – Director/Producer
Joe Klein – Writer
Elaine May – Writer
Director(s)
Mike Nichols
Writer(s)
Joe Klein, Elaine May
Producer(s)
Mike Nichols
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
10 wins & 31 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (15)
Primary Colors, Nichols’ second feature with screenwriter and former stand-up comedy partner Elaine May, is mainstream filmmaking at its most accomplished.
August 8, 2019
Hillel Italie
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
The performances are splendid, beginning with Travolta’s magnificent turn as the big-hearted but hardballing man with 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on his horizon.
March 21, 2019
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Primary Colors perfectly captures the spirit of its topic and time to become The Big Chill of politics.
January 9, 2018 | Rating: 4/4
Mike Clark
USA Today
TOP CRITIC
As satire, it’s toothless and indulgent; as drama of conscience, it’s not a patch on real life…
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A smart and savvy piece of work.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Travolta’s warmth and expansiveness effectively amplify and embellish the likable and personable side of Stanton.
February 14, 2001
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
If you take away the eerie similarities to the Clinton campaign,Primary Colors serves as a fine satire in its own right.
February 19, 2019 | Rating: 5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
Well-acted drama full of Clinton-era jabs.
December 15, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Charles Cassady
Common Sense Media
A savvy and thought-provoking look at the nature of contemporary American politics.
March 30, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Travolta is amazingly Clintonesque as Stanton, a role that I never believed he could pull off.
January 7, 2009
Jon Popick
rec.arts.movies.reviews
The film owes a few doggie bones to “Wag the Dog,” which came first in pointing out what Primary Colors only seconds.
November 3, 2008 | Rating: C+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Primary Colors successfully straddles the line between comedy and tragedy.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
Jack Stanton is running for president. The election is seen through the eyes of young Henry Burton. Along the way Stanton must deal with a sex scandal.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
John Travolta delivers a “magnificent turn” as Governor Jack Stanton.
Mike-Nichols.jpg
