Nixon

Nixon

Year: 1995

Runtime: 192 min

Language: English

Director: Oliver Stone

Budget: $44M

BiographyDrama

A complex and revealing portrait of Richard Nixon is presented, with Anthony Hopkins delivering a nuanced performance as the 37th President. The film explores his early life, personal relationships, and significant political achievements alongside devastating setbacks. It offers a non-linear look at his career, ultimately leading to the profound impact of the Watergate scandal and its aftermath, portraying a complicated figure with both strengths and flaws.

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Timeline & Setting – Nixon (1995)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Nixon (1995). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1972–1974

Set during the Nixon presidency in the early 1970s, the narrative centers on the Watergate break-in, the tape recordings, and the resignation. It also uses flashbacks triggered by Nixon's tape system to reveal his past and ascent to power.

Location

White House, Washington, D.C.; Yorba Linda, California

The White House in Washington, D.C. serves as the political nerve center where pivotal decisions and confrontations unfold during the Watergate era. The film also depicts moments tied to Nixon's departure on Army One from the White House lawn and the later state funeral in Yorba Linda, California. These settings underscore how the presidency extends from the Oval Office to national ritual.

🏛️ Political hub 🗺️ Washington D.C. 🏡 California

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:11

Main Characters – Nixon (1995)

Meet the key characters of Nixon (1995), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Richard Nixon (Anthony Hopkins)

Former U.S. President Nixon navigates a crisis of legitimacy as the Watergate scandal unfolds. The portrayal emphasizes his mix of determination, paranoia, and private struggles, including health issues and heavy medication. The film hints at Nixon's perceived responsibility regarding events around the JFK assassination, alluded to through references to the Bay of Pigs invasion. The tapes become a tool to confront both public duty and private despair.

🏛️ Power 🧠 Paranoia 💊 Health 🗺️ Legacy

H. R. Haldeman

Nixon's longtime Chief of Staff, part of the inner circle that argues over strategy and secrecy. The film depicts the tension between loyalty to the President and the consequences of actions revealed by the tapes. He participates in critical discussions around the 'smoking gun' tape and the escalating Watergate crisis.

🏛️ Administration 🗣️ Loyalty 🧩 Power

John Ehrlichman

Nixon's top aide who grapples with leaks and the administration's handling of the Watergate crisis. The film traces his involvement in shaping responses and his struggle with loyalty versus accountability.

🗳️ Politics 🧭 Strategy 🧑‍💼 Advisers

John Dean

White House Counsel during the crisis, central to the unfolding revelations and the discussions surrounding the 'smoking gun' tape. His role highlights the tension between legal counsel and political expediency as the scandal deepens.

🧭 Law 🗝️ Secrets 🗣️ Testimony

Henry Kissinger

Prominent diplomat who features heavily in the film as National Security Adviser and Secretary of State. The narrative explores whether he is a loyal adviser or a leak-prone strategist, creating a rift between policy, reputation, and private information.

🌐 Diplomacy 🧠 Realpolitik 🗝️ Leaks

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:11

Major Themes – Nixon (1995)

Explore the central themes of Nixon (1995), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏛️ Power

Power and its consequences drive the narrative: Nixon's authority is challenged by advisors, leaks, and the cover-up. The film shows how leadership can become entangled with paranoia and public image. The 'smoking gun' tape crystallizes the tension between private intent and public record, leading to Nixon's resignation.

🧭 Legacy

Legacy and image dominate Nixon's choices as he weighs how history will judge him. The drama probes loyalty—whether to the president, to the truth, or to a crafted narrative. Kissinger's role adds to the strain between policy, reputation, and information.

🕰️ Memory

The plot hinges on memory and documented fact, using tapes and flashbacks to blur lines between recollection and reality. The film invites questions about what history records and what individuals remember. It emphasizes how personal memory intersects with public history during a national crisis.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 08:11

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Political downfall tragedies like Nixon

Intense stories of powerful figures collapsing under the weight of their own flaws.If you liked the intense, tragic arc of Nixon, explore more movies like it that delve into the downfall of powerful figures. These films share a heavy emotional weight, complex character studies, and a tense, melancholic atmosphere centered on political or personal collapse.

tensesomberoppressivefatalisticanxiousreflectiveclaustrophobic

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist at the peak of their power who is undermined by a critical personal flaw—such as paranoia, ambition, or addiction—and a cascading public scandal. The narrative often builds with a sense of fatalistic dread towards a sad or bleak conclusion that examines the ruins of a legacy.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core focus on the dramatic arc of a downfall. They create a similar viewing experience defined by high tension, psychological depth, a non-heroic protagonist, and a heavy, often melancholic mood that leaves a lasting impact.

Complex character portraits under pressure like Nixon

Non-linear explorations of flawed individuals grappling with past trauma and present crises.For viewers who appreciated the nuanced character study in Nixon, this section highlights similar movies with complex psychological portraits. These films use variable pacing and non-linear storytelling to explore the deep-seated flaws and traumas of their protagonists under immense pressure.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves intertwining timelines to reveal how a character's past—their personal trauma, regrets, and key relationships—directly fuels their actions and ultimate fate in a high-pressure present-day situation. The structure itself reflects the character's fractured psychology and the inescapable nature of their flaws.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their primary focus on a multi-layered, flawed protagonist. They share a complex narrative structure, a heavy, introspective mood, and a central theme of a person being crushed by the combined weight of their history and their current circumstances.

Unlock the Full Story of Nixon

Don't stop at just watching — explore Nixon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Nixon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Nixon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Nixon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Nixon Summary

Nixon Timeline

Track the full timeline of Nixon with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Nixon Timeline

Nixon Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Nixon that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Nixon Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Nixon

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Nixon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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