Form and content in Hollywood political thrillers after September 11, 2001

What is it about?

The political thriller is a commercial genre like others in the Hollywood tradition, but it deviates from certain narrative norms of the more commercial, mainstream films. This article explores how and why this is the case, in connection with the complex topics of political currency these movies usually address.

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Photo by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash

Photo by Joshua Sukoff on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article considers the political thrillers released roughly between 2003 and 2016, a prolific period in which important attitudes and political positions crystallized with regard to 9/11, the War on Terror, and the moral standing of the United States in world geopolitics. The ability of these films to materialize such abstract and complex notions in compelling and entertaining narratives merits a detailed study of their dramatic strategies.