In its way, arguing is a skill. Whether you’re standing behind a podium or sitting around your kitchen table, debate is a natural part of life, so you might as well be good at it. We most often associate debates with presidential elections or other aspects of politics, often depicted on film. But in films like Thumbsucker, Candy Jar, and Rocket Science, we also see young students fall under the powerful spell that is high school debate club. Debates can also come between friends or romantic couples, sparking major cinematic drama.
Throughout all these ideological conflicts in films, one thing becomes clear - winning isn't easy. Being a masterful debater takes quick-thinking, intelligence, and confidence, but as some of the greatest debate films show, the road to victory isn’t always straightforward.
We see how far a cutthroat student government candidate is willing to go in Election, and we see the flip-side of this in Old School. Whether you're mentally preparing for an election season or just looking to see strong reasoning spoken very rapidly, take a look at these films that showed the best, worst, and most impressive aspects of debates.
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The Issue: The government’s role in supporting innovation in the field of biotechnology
The Debaters: Frank the Tank (Will Ferrell) vs. James Carville
The Outcome: A man with the name “Frank the Tank” doesn’t sound like he’d dominate political strategist and professional debater James Carville in a debate, but that’s exactly what happens in the silly comedy flick Old School.
Best Line: “As a world leader, it’s important for America to provide systematic research grants for our scientists. I believe strongly there will always be a need for us to have a well-articulated innovation policy with an emphasis on human resource development. Thank you.” - Frank the Tank
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The Issue: Civil disobedience
The Debaters: Wiley College (affirmative) vs. Harvard University (negative)
The Outcome: The all-Black debate team is victorious against their all-white opponents in this film, which takes place in the 1930s. After an impassioned argument by James L. Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker) in support of civil disobedience, it’s clear that the underdogs - Wiley College - have won the debate.
Best Line: “In Texas, they lynch Negros. My teammates and I saw a man strung up by his neck and set on fire… No matter what he did, the mob was the criminal. But the law did nothing. Just left us wondering why. My opponent says, ‘Nothing that erodes the rule of law can be moral.’ But there is no rule of law in the Jim Crow South, not when Negros are denied housing, turned away from schools, hospitals… and not when we are lynched. St. Augustine said, ‘An unjust law is no law at all.’ which means that I have a right, even a duty, to resist with violence or civil disobedience. You should pray I choose the latter.” - James L. Farmer Jr.
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The Issue: Senatorial election debate
The Debaters: Senator Crocker Jarmon (Don Porter) vs. Bill McKay (Robert Redford)
The Outcome: Bill McKay doesn't become the titular Democratic candidate for senator because he wants to win, but because he wants to share his own viewpoints. But when the final debate rolls around and victory is unexpectedly in sight, he can’t help but speak from the heart - and wins the election as a result.
Best Line: “I think it’s important to note which subjects we haven’t discussed. We’ve completely ignored the fact that this is a society divided by fear, hatred, and violence. And until we talk about just what this society really is, then I don’t know how we’re gonna change it… We haven’t discussed race in this country, we haven’t discussed poverty; in short, we haven’t discussed any of the sicknesses that may yet send this country up in flames. And we’d better do it. We’d better get it out in the open and confront it - before it’s too late.” - Bill McKay
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The Issue: Final Presidential debate
The Debaters: Vice President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy) vs. Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock)
The Outcome: Mays Gilliam wasn’t supposed to be an actual presidential candidate in this film, but when he can’t contain his colorful and down-to-earth personality during his final debate, he ends up winning the presidency.
Best Line: “How can you help the poor if you’ve never been poor? How can you stop crime if you don’t know any criminals?… I’m a real American. I’ve been high, I’ve been robbed, I’ve been broke, my credit is horrible, they won’t even take my cash. Now, you’re always talking about ‘God bless America and no place else,’ but isn’t it obvious that God has blessed America? America is the richest, most powerful nation on Earth… So tonight, I want to say God bless America and everybody else. The whole world.” - Mays Gilliam
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The Issue: Should all oppressed people be allowed refuge in America?
The Debaters: Cher (Alicia Silverstone) (affirmative) vs. Amber (Elisa Donovan) (negative)
The Outcome: Cher wins by default when her opponent claims that Cher didn’t do the assignment correctly, and subsequently drops out.
Best Line: “And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty!” - Cher
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The Issue: Do the costs of a college education outweigh the benefits?
The Debaters: Lona Skinner (Sami Gayle) and Bennett Russell (Jacob Latimore) both argue in the affirmative.
The Outcome: These debate pros speak at such an accelerated pace that they leave their competitors in the dust. Unfortunately, it’s also impossible for average viewers at home to understand what they’re actually arguing from their absurdly quick speech.
Best Line: “Is anyone not ready?” - Lona Skinner
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The Issue: Student class president debate
The Debaters: Tammy Metzler (Jessica Campbell) vs. Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon)
The Outcome: The student body can’t get enough of Tammy’s anti-establishment attitude in Election, much to fellow candidate (and cutthroat overachiever) Tracy Flick’s frustration. But Tammy’s inflammatory debate speech results in her suspension, which gets Tracy one step closer to victory.
Best Line: “The same pathetic charade happens every year, and everyone makes the same pathetic promises just so they could put it on their transcripts to get into college. So vote for me, because I don’t even want to go to college. And I don’t care. And as president, I won’t do anything. The only promise I will make is that, if elected, I will immediately dismantle the student government so that none of us will ever have to sit through one of these stupid assemblies again. Or don’t vote for me. Who cares? Don’t vote at all!” - Tammy Metzler
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The Issue: Senatorial debate
The Debaters: Bob Roberts (Tim Robbins) vs. Brickley Paiste (Gore Vidal)
The Outcome: The folksy, uber-conservative country star-turned-politician Bob Roberts wins the election in this satirical ‘90s film. Real life events eventually made this SNL skit-turned-movie hit a little too close to home.
Best Line: “Ladies and gentlemen, why can’t you get ahead? Why can’t you have the home of your dreams? The fast car, a nice vacation?… Why has your American dream been relegated to the trash heap of history? I’ll tell you why. Because of the wasteful social programs of Brickley Paiste.” - Bob Roberts
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The Issue: Disarmament
The Debaters: Kevin Asher (affirmative) vs. Justin Cobb (negative)
The Outcome: Justin Cobb (Lou Taylor Pucci) wins debate after debate, and the Ritalin he was prescribed seems to be the cause of his newfound confidence and focus. The medication helps him win debates, but it doesn’t exactly help him mend his relationships with family and friends.
Best Line: “I don’t think you know what your point really is. Now, if we were to take disarmament seriously, I propose that we look at the real weapons: our minds.” - Justin Cobb
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The Issue: Farming subsidies
The Debaters: Plainsboro High School (affirmative) vs. Townsend Prep (negative)
The Outcome: Ben Wekselbaum (Nicholas D’Agosto) starts out strong in this debate, but unexpectedly chokes, which results in the victory of his opponents, Townsend Prep.
Best Line: “There’s a reason why I’m up here, and you’re down there, and if you please, right now we’re going to go at my pace. Hang on if you can.” - Ben Wekselbaum
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The Debaters In 'Listen To Me' End Up At The Supreme Court
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The Issue: Should abortion access be regulated at a national level?
The Debaters: Kenmont College (affirmative) vs. Harvard University (negative)
The Outcome: Not every plot point stands the test of time in this ‘80s drama, but underdog debater Monica Tomanski’s (Jami Gertz) speech about her own experiences with abortion still tugs on the heartstrings, and may be what leads to her team’s victory.
Best Line: “Don’t you see the bind we women are in? With Roe v. Wade, you gave us the freedom we needed, the freedom we deserved, to be the final voice of what happens to our own bodies. But on the other hand you gave us a cross too heavy for any woman or man to carry alone. Because you gave us the god-like power to terminate life… And the day that we stop running and fighting and we start talking to each other about it is the day that we can finally call ourselves a civilized nation.” - Monica Tomanski of Kenmont College
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