The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

Year: 1970

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Kevin Billington

DramaComedy

Fresh‑faced Michael Rimmer infiltrates an opinion‑polling firm, soon taking charge and turning the data into a springboard for a political career. In the flamboyant, mini‑skirt‑clad, flared‑trouser world of 1970s Britain, his cunning manipulation of public opinion propels him rapidly up the Conservative Party hierarchy.

The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a Britain painted with the bright colors of flared trousers, mini‑skirts and a restless media buzz, the world of opinion‑polling crackles with the same electric flamboyance that defines the era’s politics. The film opens amid the clatter of a struggling advertising agency, a place where stale hierarchies are about to be upended by a newcomer whose very presence feels like a calculated experiment in influence.

The newcomer is Michael Rimmer, a fresh‑faced, sharply observant figure whose weapon is not brute force but an uncanny knack for reading numbers and people alike. With a blend of charm, wit and a disquieting confidence, he slips into the firm’s routine, quickly asserting a quiet authority that eclipses the well‑meaning but inept manager known as Ferret. The staff’s bewilderment turns to fascination as Rimmer reshapes the operation, turning a dying outfit into a sleek engine for marketable insight.

Rimmer’s talents soon carry him beyond the office walls and onto television screens, where his polished demeanor and persuasive delivery make him a sought‑after polling expert. The burgeoning media persona catches the eye of the Conservative opposition, led by the charismatic Tom Hutchinson, whose own ambitions find a useful companion in Rimmer’s data‑driven savvy. Their uneasy alliance hints at a larger game in which perception can outweigh policy, and where the art of polling becomes a stepping stone toward political power.

The film balances razor‑sharp satire with a glossy, almost theatrical aesthetic, capturing the absurdity of a society that prizes opinion as much as fact. As Rimmer navigates the corridors of influence, the story invites the audience to contemplate how easily public sentiment can be moulded, and how a single, deftly‑played individual can turn the mechanisms of democracy into a personal platform for ascent.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:09

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Movies with Villain Protagonists like in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

Stories that follow the terrifyingly smooth rise of a manipulative anti-hero.If you liked watching Michael Rimmer's ruthless ascent, explore other movies like this that follow chillingly efficient villain protagonists. These films feature charismatic anti-heroes who manipulate their way to the top in darkly satirical political dramas and corporate thrillers, creating a similar feeling of cynical dread.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist—often lacking traditional morals—as they exploit flaws in a system (corporate, political, societal) to achieve immense power. The plot is driven by their clever, calculated moves, with secondary characters serving as pawns or obstacles. The journey is less about internal conflict and more about the terrifying effectiveness of their external strategy.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared focus on a specific type of protagonist whose success is the primary driver of the plot. They create a unique vibe of intellectual horror, where the viewer is compelled by the protagonist's cunning while being repulsed by their amorality, all wrapped in a fast-paced, darkly satirical tone.

Political Satire Thrillers like The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

Witty and bleak stories where media and political systems are dismantled from within.Fans of The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer will enjoy this selection of similar political satire thrillers. Discover movies like this one that explore the darkly comic and chilling collapse of democratic systems through media manipulation and ambition, all with a fast pace and bleak ending.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an outsider or insider who identifies a weakness in a major institution (politics, media, corporations) and weaponizes it, often using data or propaganda. The story unfolds as a rapid, cause-and-effect chain of manipulation, showing the institution crumbling under the weight of its own flaws, culminating in a pyrrhic or outright bleak victory for the manipulator.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific blend of tone and theme: the use of satire and thriller mechanics to explore serious themes of power and corruption. The cohesion comes from the consistent feeling of watching a horrifyingly logical process play out, where wit and dread are intertwined.

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The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer

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