Election (1999 film)

Election
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlexander Payne
Screenplay by
Based onElection
by Tom Perrotta
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJames Glennon
Edited byKevin Tent
Music byRolfe Kent
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • April 23, 1999 (1999-04-23) (United States)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$8.5–25 million[1][2]
Box office$17.2 million[1]

Election is a 1999 American black comedy film directed by Alexander Payne from a screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor, based on Tom Perrotta's 1998 novel.

The plot revolves around a student body election and satirizes politics and high school life. The film stars Matthew Broderick as Jim McAllister, a popular high school social studies teacher, and Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick, an overachieving student whom he dislikes. When Tracy runs for student government president, McAllister sabotages her candidacy by backing a rival candidate and tampering with the ballot count.

Although not a commercial success, Election received widespread critical acclaim, along with an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, a Golden Globe nomination for Witherspoon for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, and three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature Film in 1999.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference numbers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Election at Box Office Mojo