Journalism Movies to Binge Watch this Winter

What is better after a long day on deadline than curling up with popcorn and a good movie? We’ve collected the best advertising, marketing and journalism movies to watch on these cold nights.

Rom and Com

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

In this 2003 movie, Andie Anderson (played by Kate Hudson), a magazine “how to” columnist, bets her editor she can make any guy break up with her in 10 days. The man to fall? Benjamin Barry (Matthew McConaughey), an ad man, betting he can make any girl love him in…you guessed it, 10 days.

27 Dresses

Nuptials writer Kevin Doyle (James Marsden) wants to be a serious journalist with an A1 feature. When he stumbles across the day planner of a woman who has been a bridesmaid in 27 weddings and worn 27 dresses, he knows he has the scoop. Enter Jane Nichols (Katherine Heigl), always a bridesmaid, never a bride, and a little bit in love with her boss.

Down with Love

This 2003 comedy stacks author Barbara Novak (Renee Zellweger) against a successful men’s columnist and man’s man, Catcher Block. Hijinks, an excellent marketing campaign and a double-cross ensue in this adorable 1960s reminiscent film.   

Letters to Juliet

The New Yorker fact checker Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) dreams of being a writer. While on a pre-honeymoon trip, she discovers an unanswered “letter to Juliet” and responds. Beautiful Italian countryside, a long-lost love, a new one, and a blossoming writing career.

The Devil Wears Prada

Fashion magazine editor and powerhouse Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) puts aspiring journalist Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) through the paces. Sachs leans in to her job, sacrificing her relationship and standards, to get ahead. It’s a job any girl would kill for, but is it what she really wanted?

What Women Want

Ad exec and chauvinist Nick Marshall (Mel Gibson) is threatened when his manager hires Darcy McGuire (Helen Hunt) for a woman’s perspective. Determined to prove himself, Nick attempts copy for feminine products. In a Freaky Friday twist, he ends up being able to read women’s minds. Find out how he uses his new powers in this flick.

Newsies

Belt along with this 1992 Disney musical about New York City’s struggling newspaper hawkers. This story has everything—a city-halting strike, love, dreams of escaping to a better life and a young Christian Bale. This feel-good film will warm your heart as you watch a group of rag-tag children change the way newspapers are sold.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

In the male-dominated world of 1970s broadcast news, anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) is king. That is, until upstart reporter Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) begins to outshine him. Laugh along at the hijinks as the two battle it out on television and in the newsroom.

Almost Famous

When a 15 year old’s love for music lands him an assignment for Rolling Stone, not even his overprotective mother can stop him from trying to land his first cover story. Enjoy the look back on the rock world of the early 70s and cheer along as he goes on tour, meets Penny the groupie (Kate Hudson) and mitigates band tensions.

Action and Suspense

Tomorrow Never Dies

In this action movie, media mogul Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) wants a global audience, but the Chinese government will not allow him to broadcast there. He plans to use his news to fuel flames of war between the Western world and China (sound familiar?) Thankfully, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is on to the news tycoon and travels to China to stop him.

Nightcrawler

How far would you go for the money shot? For photographer and thief Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), the line becomes blurry as he becomes entrenched in crime journalism. He spends his nights listening to police scanners, anxious to photograph grisly crimes and profit. But soon, the allure of becoming the story is too strong.

The Circle

This movie will get you thinking about social media and transparency. It follows Mae Holland (Emma Watson) as she enters a new job at The Circle, a giant technology company. There is a high value on constant engagement and transparency that goes too far when personal freedoms and ethical boundaries become endangered. Will Mae do the right thing or has she drunk the company Kool-Aid?

The Pelican Brief

Sit on the edge of your seat for this American legal political thriller. Young law student (Julia Roberts) pens a legal brief studying the assassination of two Supreme Court justices. This in turn leads to the murder of her mentor and lover. She goes on the run with the aid of a journalist (Denzel Washington) in New Orleans where together they have to unravel a conspiracy.

Based on True Stories

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Follow lovable cable news producer Kim Barker (Tina Fey) as she eschews routine and takes a new assignment in Afghanistan. She teams up with fellow journalist Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie) and learns the ropes of a warzone and how to become a successful correspondent.

Spotlight

This Oscar-award winning film follows the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigative team (then under the leadership of now Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron) as they uncover sexual abuse of minors by the Catholic Church. Remember why the world needs journalism and the importance of investigative pieces with this drama.

All the President’s Men

No journalism movie list would be complete without this film. This movie follows the investigation into the botched burglary at the Watergate apartment complex in Washington. Two young Washington Post reporters, Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) ignore warnings and follow the money all the way to the top.  

Kill the Messenger

Another story of a journalist that won’t be called off a story. This time, the star is Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) who is following cocaine drug smugglers and a CIA connection. As he gets closer to the truth, threats begin toward him and his family.

The Social Network

Remember when Facebook was The Facebook, just for Harvard students? This movie takes you back to the origin following the Zuck (Jesse Eisenberg) and his former friend. It’s an interesting look back on how the largest social media platform got started.

Shattered Glass

Ever read a story that was too good to be true? This is the case for many of Stephen Glass’s (Hayden Christensen) articles that brought him fame. The unfortunate part? He made up many sources. Watch his fall from grace in this bio-pic.

Zodiac

This thriller tells the story of the Zodiac killer and his San Francisco killing spree and the newspaper s/he sent ciphers to. Political cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) and crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey, Jr.) become obsessed with cracking the case.

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