Best movies & TV Shows like The Circus

Inside the Craziest Political Campaign on Earth

A unique, carefully handpicked, selection of the best movies like The Circus Starring John Heilemann, Mark McKinnon, Jennifer Palmieri, and more. If you liked The Circus then you may also like: The War Room, Weiner, Knock Down the House, The Glass Key, Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru and many more popular movies featured on this list. You can further filter the list even more or get a random selection from the list of similar movies, to make your selection even easier.

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Come one, come all to The Circus. This real-time documentary series pulls back the curtain on the current political stories, revealing the intense, inspiring and infuriating stories behind the headlines. Key characters and events are presented in real time, as they are happening.

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The War Room

A behind-the-scenes documentary about the Clinton for President campaign, focusing on the adventures of spin doctors James Carville and George Stephanopoulos.

Weiner

Documentary featuring a jaw-dropping, behind-the-scenes look at the attempted comeback of Anthony Weiner in 2013 as he mounts a campaign for New York City mayor in the wake of his sexting scandal. Featuring unfettered access to the candidate and his campaign.

Knock Down the House

In 2018, a young bartender in the Bronx, a coal miner’s daughter in West Virginia, a grieving mother in Nevada and a registered nurse in Missouri join a movement of insurgent candidates challenging powerful incumbents in Congress. Without political experience or corporate money, these four women are attempting to do what many consider impossible.

The Glass Key

When Paul Madvig, a successful politician who fights his rivals to seize the city, becomes implicated in a murder, Ed Beaumont, his friend and right-hand man, must decide which side he is on.

Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru

Granted unprecedented access, Berlinger captures renowned life and business strategist Tony Robbins behind the scenes of his mega seminar Date with Destiny, pulling back the curtain on this life-altering and controversial event, the zealous participants and the man himself.

Trump Card

Trump Card is an expose of the socialism, corruption and gangsterization that now define the Democratic Party. Whether it is the creeping socialism of Joe Biden or the overt socialism of Bernie Sanders, the film reveals what is unique about modern socialism, who is behind it, why it’s evil, and how we can work together with President Trump to stop it.

Sideshow: Alive on the Inside

These real, amazing and very human stories reawakened interest in the bizarre and eccentric world of the circus and carnival sideshow, turning the spotlight on the legendary headliners of yesteryear and their modern-day counterparts who have chosen to be sideshow performers and found real happiness in their strange careers. This revealing look takes viewers backstage for an unforgettable glimpse at the world's most fascinating personalities. Narrated by Jason Alexander ("Seinfeld"). An entertaining cult hit co-produced with TLC, one of cable network's all-time, top-rated programs. Features Percilla the Monkey Girl, Jeanie Tomaini (the World's Only Living Half Woman), Melvin Burkhardt (the Human Blockhead), Siamese Twins Ronnie and Donnie Gaylon, the Wolf Boys of Mexico, Sandy Allen (the World's Tallest Woman) and others.

Recount

In 2000, the election of the U.S. Presidential boiled down to a few precious votes in the state of Florida — and a recount that would add "hanging chad" to every American's vocabulary.

The Eighties

The third installment from executive producers Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Mark Herzog, following in the footsteps of critically-acclaimed series THE SIXTIES and THE SEVENTIES, tackles 10 years shaped by exceptionalism and excess. Like its predecessors, THE EIGHTIES intersperses rare archival newsreel footage, interviews, and comments by historians, journalists, politicians, celebrities and others, painting a perspective-rich picture of a vibrant decade. Episodes examine the age of Reagan, the AIDS crisis, the end of the Cold War, Wall Street corruption, the evolving TV and music scene, and everything in between.

Madam Secretary

After years away from the CIA, Elizabeth McCord is pulled back into the political arena. The newly appointed Secretary of State is tough, fair, and smart, driving international diplomacy, wrangling office politics, and circumventing protocol as she negotiates global and domestic issues, both at the White House and at home.

The Seventies

A documentary series focusing on the ongoing Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, evolving music industry, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the sexual revolution, and the rise of foreign and domestic terrorism.

Spin City

Workaholic Mike Flaherty is the Deputy Mayor of New York City, serving as Mayor Randall Winston's key strategist and much-needed handler. Mike runs the city with the help of his oddball staff: an anxious and insecure press secretary; a sexist, boorish chief of staff; an impeccably groomed gay activist running minority affairs; a sharp and efficient, man-crazy accountant; and an idealistic young speechwriter. Like Mike, they are all professionally capable but personally challenged.

PBS NewsHour

America's first and longest running hour-long nightly news broadcast known for its in-depth coverage of issues and current events.

Panorama

Current affairs programme, featuring interviews and investigative reports on a wide variety of subjects.

America: The Story of Us

America: The Story of Us is a six-part, 12-hour documentary-drama television miniseries that premiered on April 25, 2010, on History channel. Produced by Nutopia, the program portrays more than 400 years of American history. It spans time from the successful English settlement of Jamestown beginning in 1607, through to the present day. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the series recreates many historical events by using actors dressed in the style of the period and computer-generated special effects. The miniseries received mixed reviews by critics; but it attracted the largest audiences of any special aired by the channel to date.

The World Wars

The story of three decades of war told through the eyes of various men who were its key players: Roosevelt, Hitler, Patton, Mussolini, Churchill, Tojo, DeGaulle and MacArthur. The series examines the two wars as one contiguous timeline starting in 1914 and concluding in 1945 with these unique individuals coming of age in World War I before ultimately calling the shots in World War II.

Blair: The Inside Story

Michael Cockerell tells the inside story of Tony Blair's controversial ten years at the top. Candid interviews with Downing Street insiders, Cabinet colleagues and rivals cast new light on key events and on the Prime Minister's complex character.

Putin, Russia and the West

Putin, Russia and the West is a four-part British documentary television series first shown in January and February 2012 on BBC Two about the relationship between Vladimir Putin's Russia and the West. The series is produced by Norma Percy, whose previous series include The Death of Yugoslavia, Israel and the Arabs: Elusive Peace, and Iran and the West. The documentary was criticized by some dissidents for being an apology for Putin's regime.

The Roosevelts: An Intimate History

Chronicles the lives of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of the most prominent and influential family in American politics. It is the first time in a major documentary television series that their individual stories have been interwoven into a single narrative. This seven-part, fourteen hour film follows the Roosevelts for more than a century, from Theodore’s birth in 1858 to Eleanor’s death in 1962.

Race for the White House

From executive producers Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti, CNN Original Series "Race for the White House" captures the drama of how a high-stakes presidential election can turn on a single issue and so much more.

Wormwood

In this genre-bending tale, Errol Morris explores the mysterious death of a U.S. scientist entangled in a secret Cold War program known as MK-Ultra.

8 Days That Made Rome

Bettany Hughes relives eight pivotal days that defined the Roman Empire and made it the world's first superpower.

Bobby Kennedy for President

Historic footage and leading voices of the era examine the "Bobby Phenomenon" of the 1960s and the legacy of the man who helped redefine the country.

Axios

Leading Axios journalists highlight the week ahead in politics, business and technology – and the big topics shaping the future. Each edition features coverage of a timely big issue, followed by documentary shorts, illuminating interviews with major newsmakers and trustworthy insights delivered with Axios’ signature “Smart Brevity” in a succinct, shareable format.

The Bush Years: Family, Duty, Power

Explore the Bush family’s internal dynamics: the influential matriarchs, sibling ambitions and unceasing competitive spirit which drove them to power. Through archival footage and interviews with historians, journalists, political figures and Bush family members, the series reveals a story of triumph, tragedy, heroism, faith, and an evolving conservatism.

Tricky Dick

Explore Richard Nixon’s life and times; tracking his rise, fall, incredible comeback and political destruction during some of America’s most tumultuous decades. From his early political maneuvers in California, to the game-changing Kennedy-Nixon debates through his disgraceful Watergate exit, featuring never-before-seen footage this fully archive based series offers fresh insight into a riveting story of politics, power and scandal.

Chasing the Moon

An unprecedented look at the decade-long odyssey to land a man on the moon. This documentary pulls back the curtain on the familiar narrative of the moonshot, revealing a fascinating stew of scientific innovation, political calculation, media spectacle, visionary impulses and personal drama.

Slow Burn

In this adaptation of the award-winning podcast, Slow Burn’s Leon Neyfakh excavates the strange subplots and forgotten characters of recent political history—and finds surprising parallels to the present.

Asian Americans

This five-part series traces the story of Asian Americans, spanning 150 years of immigration, racial politics, international relations, and cultural innovation. It is a timely, clear-eyed look at the vital role that Asian Americans have played in defining who we are as a nation. Their stories are a celebration of the grit and resilience of a people that reflects the experience of all Americans.

The Reagans

A four-part documentary series that explores the many surprisingly unexamined aspects of the Reagan White House, and how Nancy Reagan's paper-doll image was at odds with the power she ultimately wielded throughout her husband's presidency.

Agents of Chaos

This two-part documentary pulls back the curtain on Russian collusion in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

First Ladies

Blending in-depth interviews, rare archival footage, and cinematic recreations, this docuseries on the lives of America's most iconic First Ladies is a bold revision of each woman's traditional portrayal, revealing how they were impacted during their time in the White House, and how their achievements fundamentally shaped American and global history.

The Trump Show

Protests, political turmoil, pandemic - the inside story of the extraordinary Trump presidency. Friends and foes tell of his rise from TV star to leader of the free world.

QAnon: The Search for Q

Explore the origins, rise and social impact of QAnon, whose story has been told to the public one outrageous headline at a time. A comprehensive investigation into the who, what, and why of the viral movement.

Amend: The Fight for America

When the United States of America was founded, the ideals of freedom and equality did not apply to all people. These are the stories of the brave Americans who fought to right the nation’s wrongs and enshrine the values we hold most dear into the Constitution — with liberty and justice for all.

Trump Takes On the World

After one of the most shocking presidencies in history, Donald Trump’s top advisers and the leaders who clashed with him lift the lid on the critical moments of his foreign policy.

The Inside Story

Inside the NBA – the Sports Emmy Award-winning studio show known for its entertaining style and unfiltered commentary – pulls back the curtain on its more than 30-year history in this four-part documentary series. Interviews with celebrities, crew members, sports reporters and more illuminate the show’s evolution into a cultural phenomenon with untold stories that highlight the chemistry between Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.

VICE

The Emmy®-winning documentary series is now on SHOWTIME, delivering immersive reporting from the frontlines of global conflicts, civil uprisings and beyond, and tackling untold and complex geopolitical stories from all corners of the globe.

Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union

Six-hour documentary series focused on the President’s personal story and his vision for America, set against the backdrop of the country’s racial history. It traces his own search for identity and his role shaping a more inclusive American identity that has been under attack since he left office. Through the words of some of the people who knew him best, and through some of his sharpest critics, the film ultimately reveals the fallacy of America as a post-racial society, and confronts the work still needed to achieve a more perfect union as the work of a country, not just one man.

Small Town News: KPVM Pahrump

Pulling back the curtain on life at a privately owned TV station in the small desert town of Pahrump, Nevada, revealing a colorful cast of characters in front of and behind the cameras.

Porn Stars: Our Secret World

Documentary series delving into the real lives of a group of UK adult entertainers working in the porn industry today. Revealing what life's really like for a porn star in a modern world.

Lincoln's Dilemma

Discover a side of Abraham Lincoln you've never seen before. In this four-part docuseries, a diverse panel of historians and rare archival materials offer a more nuanced look into the man dubbed the Great Emancipator.

Let the World See

A chronicle of Ms. Mamie Till-Mobley's fierce quest for justice that sparked the civil rights movement after her son Emmett Till's brutal murder, inspiring heroes like Ms. Rosa Parks and others to stand up boldly for their rights.

Abraham Lincoln

The true story of America's iconic 16th president as told by weaving together both scripted dramatizations of important moments in his life and commentary by authoritative historians and public figures.

LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy

Weaving together dramatic first-hand accounts from the last surviving members of LBJ’s inner circle, never-before-broadcast archival material and LBJ’s own voice from secretly recorded audio tapes, this docuseries offers captivating look at one of the most consequential and enigmatic presidents in American history: Lyndon Baines Johnson.

L'ordre du Temple solaire

The documentary series take viewers back to the mid-1990s and tragic events involving the Order of the Solar Temple that shocked the public and caused a stir beyond Québec’s borders. The episodes retrace the compelling and disturbing story, going behind the scenes and revealing details that didn’t make the headlines at the time.

Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA

Ths true crime docuseries pulls back the curtain on America’s most infamous jewel thief, Jack Roland Murphy, who played a key role in the 1964 burglary of the jewel collection of New York’s American Museum of Natural History.

Big Little Crimes

Minor incidents - huge impact. The gob-smacking stories of ordinary coppers who stumbled upon key pieces of evidence and helped take down major criminals.

SD-Bögar

Sweden is seen as one of the world's most gay-friendly nations. But the victories of the LGBTQ movement have run alongside another success story; The Sweden Democrats, a nationalist party with Nazi roots and a history of anti-gay politics, are now the second biggest party in the country. And they've started recruiting within the gay community. Being gay and a Sweden Democrat has long been taboo, but now, a new generation of conservative, openly gay men have started taking place on every political level-from the Swedish government to the European Parliament. These so-called homonationalists are anti-immigration, critical of Drag Story Hour, and want nothing to do with Pride. In "SD-bögar" ("Gay Sweden Democrats"), Erik Galli follows the Sweden Democrat's voters, columnists, and politicians-and members of Gays for Trump in the US-to understand a rising phenomenon: homonationalism.

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