It’s a cliché at this point, but dammit, we’re going to miss Obama. The man who gave us healthcare, marriage equality, and the most satisfying bromance in the universe will no longer be president in a few days. And though we'll likely be seeing him in the future, you gotta think he'll take a break from the public eye for a little bit, just to catch up on some relaxing. And even though the president loves music, is a big reader, a doting husband and a loving father and, most importantly, a double dog-dad—all time-consuming activities and important in their own way—the one we care the most about is his pop culture sensibility.
Obama's taste in movies is, rather predictably, pretty classic. He seems to show a preference for dramas; the only real comedy he seems to have watched in the past eight years, bar the children’s movies, has been The Martian, and that’s only a “comedy” because the Golden Globes are stupid. When it comes to TV, Obama is edgier. And refined—nearly none of his favorites are on network television, which is where good TV goes to die. In fact, former aides have actually called him “the HBO president,” signaling his love for the dark comedies the premium cable channel specializes in.
Maybe that taste for violence and mystery explains how he made it as leader of America for the past eight years. Whether you love this country or not, being the president of it is definitely not for the faint of heart. In his memoir Audacity of Hope, Obama says he “generally [doesn’t] care what adults watch in the privacy of their home” which definitely does not confirm but vaguely suggests that he, like you, isn't mad at all the nudity on Game of Thrones. And this should be a reminder to all of us as we study this list. Let us never forget that although he may be a national treasure, but he is also a man.
It’s a cliché at this point, but dammit, we’re going to miss Obama. The man who gave us healthcare, marriage equality, and the most satisfying bromance in the universe will no longer be president in a few days. And though we'll likely be seeing him in the future, you gotta think he'll take a break from the public eye for a little bit, just to catch up on some relaxing. And even though the president loves music, is a big reader, a doting husband and a loving father and, most importantly, a double dog-dad—all time-consuming activities and important in their own way—the one we care the most about is his pop culture sensibility.
Obama's taste in movies is, rather predictably, pretty classic. He seems to show a preference for dramas; the only real comedy he seems to have watched in the past eight years, bar the children’s movies, has been The Martian, and that’s only a “comedy” because the Golden Globes are stupid. When it comes to TV, Obama is edgier. And refined—nearly none of his favorites are on network television, which is where good TV goes to die. In fact, former aides have actually called him “the HBO president,” signaling his love for the dark comedies the premium cable channel specializes in.
Maybe that taste for violence and mystery explains how he made it as leader of America for the past eight years. Whether you love this country or not, being the president of it is definitely not for the faint of heart. In his memoir Audacity of Hope, Obama says he “generally [doesn’t] care what adults watch in the privacy of their home” which definitely does not confirm but vaguely suggests that he, like you, isn't mad at all the nudity on Game of Thrones. And this should be a reminder to all of us as we study this list. Let us never forget that although he may be a national treasure, but he is also a man.
The Classics
The Godfather I & II
Lawrence of Arabia
Casablanca
Barack “I’m a movie guy” Obama named these classic films as his faves in a 2008 interview with Katie Couric. Obama’s picks are uncontested classics, unlikely to cause much backlash. Speaking of The Godfather, Obama enjoys the juxtaposition of “old world gentility and ritual” with the “savagery underneath,” which makes sense because it sounds like a pretty good description of Congress. He does NOT care for Godfather III, though. Obama called Lawrence of Arabia a “great film,” and the four-hour movie about a British officer fighting in the Arabian Peninsula is influential and critically acclaimed enough to make it an impressive, safe choice. As for the black and white romance, Obama himself has said “Who doesn’t like Casablanca?” The answer, Mr. President, is that literally no one dislikes Casablanca. No matter what Trump does, Barry, we’ll always have the Paris Agreement.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Like the previous picks, this classic Jack Nicholson flick is also considered one of the best American movies of all time, but it is a slightly more out of left field choice for the President than Casablanca, for example, as it deals primarily with the struggles of the mentally ill in a prison-like facility ill-equipped to treat their "prisoners." With this in mind, it’s probably best to not remind Obama that Guantanamo Bay, which is also not a super happy fun place, is still operating.
Contemporary Movie Picks
The Martian
For whatever reason, there’s been a hell of a lot of look-we’re-in-space-and-oh-no-there’s-a-problem movies in the past 10 years, some better than others (i.e., The Martian > Interstellar > Gravity > every other movie ever made > Passengers). Obama was a fan of The Martian in particular, and named it his favorite film of 2015.
Boyhood
In 2014, Obama named Boyhood as the best movie of the year. It’s a delightful, prudent choice from the President. It’s a slow meditation on growing pains, something I bet Obama has felt at least once or twice in the past eight years.
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Obama reversed the natural order of the universe when he was the one to tell Oprah to watch this movie in an interview. And with good reason, too. Quvenzhané Wallis, whose name you should have already learned to pronounce, was the shining light of this 2012 drama about survival in times of hardship in a small waterside community. She became the youngest actress ever to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Hushpuppy.
Life of Pi
Yeah, that movie with the tiger in the boat! Obama has been vocal in the past about his love for the book the movie was based on, written by Canadian Yann Martel. He’s supposedly read it to this daughters, and even wrote the author a letter praising it, calling the novel "an elegant proof of God, and the power of storytelling." The movie was widely praised as a faithful account of the acclaimed novel, and Obama has named it as one of his favorites.
Argo
It’s always a little funny to imagine actual politicians watching Hollywood-ized versions of shit they actually go through every single day. (As you’ll learn in the next section, Barry likes Homeland, which is an even better example of this phenomenon.) Whether Obama likes Argo because he just GETS IT (#politics, right?) or just because it marked the beginning of Ben Affleck being taken seriously, he did name it one of the best movies of 2012, calling it “terrific.”
The Matrix
Can you imagine Obama dressing up as Neo for Halloween? With the long leather coat and the tiny dark glasses? I would die to see that in real life. Nowadays, The Matrix is remembered more for its bullet-dodging scene than anything else, but it’s a cornerstone of the modern sci-fi genre, and Obama seems to be a real fan of it.
White House Screenings
To Kill a Mockingbird
Obama loves the classic American novel by Harper Lee enough that he used an Atticus Finch quote in his farewell address last week, calling on Americans to consider things from different points of view. Clearly, he is also a fan of the 1962 movie adaptation, as he hosted a screening of the film at the White House in 2012 to mark its 50th anniversary.
Selma
Directed by Ava DuVernay, Selma is the story of 1965 civil rights march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery, and its powerful historical significance was given all the poignancy and weight it deserved in the Oscar-nominated film. Obama hosted a private screening of Selma the day after Martin Luther King Day in 2015, and filled the White House with honorable guests such as Oprah, David Oyelowo, Common, Ava DuVernay, and Rep. John Lewis, who was on the front lines of the Selma march.
Lincoln
Statistically speaking, it’s unlikely that you’ll return to the White House for a visit after serving as president. But that's what happened when Obama hosted a viewing party for Lincoln back in 2012. The Oscar-winning movie got a private screening at The White House with the film’s cast and crew, including director Steven Spielberg.
Mandela: Long Walk of Freedom
In 2013, months before Nelson Mandela passed away, and just after a visit to South Africa, Obama hosted a screening of the icon’s most recent biopic. Mandela’s daughters Zindzi and Zenana attended the screening, along with stars Naomie Harris and Idris Elba, and director Justin Chadwick.
Before the Flood
Part of being a good president is knowing how to attract the right attention. Obama is a master at that. Exhibit A: In order to raise awareness for climate change issues, he aired climate activist Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary, Before The Flood, at the White House, followed by a panel discussion with Leo and the President himself.
Cars 2
Back in 2011, when Obama introduced his Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, he invited military families to a viewing of the popular Pixar film to kickstart his project. Sure, that seems like a perfectly safe choice for a children’s movie, but now all those kids will have a higher chance of watching Cars 3 and being permanently scarred when Lightning McQueen explodes into a million little pieces. But we always knew Disney was savage. And Obama just wants kids to know what life is really like.
Monsters University
Monster Inc. is hands down one of the best Pixar movies, and even though Monsters University didn’t top the original, it was still a treat for those of us who saw the original as kids. Obama, perfect person that he is, knows this, and invited friends and family to a viewing of Monsters University on Father’s Day in 2013.
Nuclear Tipping Point
Obama made his position on WMDs (which assumedly differs greatly from our incoming president's) crystal clear when he aired Nuclear Tipping Point, a documentary advocating against the use of nuclear power, at the White House in 2010. It features Henry Kissinger, Sam Nunn, William Perry, and George Shultz, big shot government heads who were once staunch supporters of nuclear power, calling for the end of nuclear weapons.
Julie & Julia
A classic feel-good family movie, Julie & Julia recounts the life of all-star celebrity chef Julia Child and Julie Powell, a food blogger who rose to fame because she cooked one of Child’s recipes every day for a year. The Obamas hosted a screening of the movie back in 2009, and the cooking theme fit in nicely with Michelle’s healthy eating initiative for children. The film stars Meryl Streep, who, judging from her speech at the Golden Globes, wouldn’t mind another four years of Obama, was surprised when Michelle said that she loved the actress. “I peed a little bit,” Streep said.
Thurgood
Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Supreme Court judge, and in 2011 HBO produced a movie about his early life based on a play starring Laurence Fishburne. Fittingly, Thurgood was screened during Black History Month, and Obama invited guests like Al Sharpton, Don Cheadle, director Michael Stevens, and members of Thurgood Marshall’s family.
TV Shows
The Wire
Obama loves this show so much he actually interviewed the show’s creator, David Simon, in which he admitted that Omar, "the toughest, baddest guy on the show," is his favorite TV character.
M*A*S*H
If The Wire seemed like too gritty a show for Obama to publicly love, we must not forget that he also has a fun side. In other interviews, Obama has declared his love for the less controversial Korean War comedy M*A*S*H. The show is a pretty classic 1970s time capsule, encompassing that era’s fashion and slang as well as post-Vietnam America’s growing obsession with war.
Parks and Recreation
Leslie Knope, one of Amy Poehler’s best characters of all time, was very vocal about her love and admiration of Hillary Clinton. Clinton herself loved the show, as one of her leaked emails showed her asking an aide for time to catch up on episodes. As a proud Hillary supporter, it’s not surprising that Obama also loves the residents of Pawnee, and not just because Michelle once made a cameo.
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a soap opera that is able to market itself as a serious drama because it’s about English lords and ladies dressing up to eat dinner, and the cast all have a range of impressive accents. Michelle loves it because it’s the ultimate Middle Class Mom Show, and Obama loves it because he’s an amazing husband. Case and point: the entire cast got a tour of the White House in 2013.
SportsCenter
Even if you know next to nothing about Obama, you probably know he loves basketball. Aides and anyone who’s worked with him have repeatedly said that when his game is on, he completely turns his presidential mode off. And a few years ago, he said that when he retires, he would want to "host ESPN SportCenter's Top 10 List." ESPN, make this happen.
Homeland
Obama has repeatedly named Homeland one of his favorite TV shows, which is honestly awesome. Even if he’s only saying it for PR reasons, it shows astute self-awareness on his part to declare appreciation for a show that meddles so deeply in issues of top secret intelligence and terrorism, things Obama clearly meddles with on a pretty regular basis.
Breaking Bad
By naming Breaking Bad, easily one of the greatest programs of all time, one of his favorite shows, Obama officially earns his title as the president with the best taste in pop culture. The man clearly has a preference for bold, violent dramas, though Breaking Bad’s darkest moments can’t be worse than what he’s gone through with Congress.
House of Cards
The levels of corruption and greed portrayed by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright’s Frank and Carrie Underwood in Netflix’s political drama should not appear new to anyone who has ever paid one second of attention to D.C., but the means the pair are willing to employ to get to their ends certainly are. Even though Obama admits that "life in Washington is a little more boring” than House of Cards and that his everyday life “wouldn't make very good television," he has admitted that Frank Underwood learned it all from him. Sounds exactly like the kind of mixed messages we’d expect.
The Knick
Obama named The Knick, a relatively quiet drama about a doctor working in New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital in the early 20th century, his favorite show of 2015. A surprising choice from the president, but well-fitting, considering the level of quality he seems to expect out of his television.
Mad Men
Since it is now clear Obama has excellent taste in television, of course he’s also into Mad Men. The show’s far-reaching influence has been well documented, but it reached its pinnacle when Obama referenced the show in his 2014 State of the Union address, arguing that sexist policies against maternity leave and equal wages belonged to the “Mad Men” era.
Entourage
Ultimate Bro™ show Entourage really shouldn’t have been made into that awful movie, but at least it can count Obama as one of its dedicated fans. The show seems slightly out of place among Obama’s list of highly critically acclaimed dramas, but he supposedly rescheduled campaign events in 2008 to not miss an episode. Oh yeah!
The Pacific
An HBO miniseries about World War II produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman seems like it shouldn’t need much help with ratings, but in 2010 Obama did just that by giving the series his stamp of approval when he aired the first episode at the White House. He invited veterans and military officials, along with Spielberg and Hanks.
Game of Thrones
If you live under a rock and still haven’t watched GoT or are one of those boring cynics who thinks it’s “overrated,” I don’t know how to help you. Yes, the show has its faults, but literally everyone likes it, including the president. In fact, he likes it so much that he actually received Season 4 before it aired on HBO. That's power.
Boardwalk Empire
Barry at it again with the HBO dramas! Obama probably loves the show for its old-timey feel, and the way it harkens back to an era when corruption and greed made men hungry for power and fight like mad to keep it. Because that would never happen in grand old 2017!
Star Trek
Obama has been vocal about his appreciation for the classic sci-fi show, even flashing the Vulcan salute every now and then. He also admitted before that he had a crush on Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura, when he watched the show as a teenager. Obama even invited her to White House during Black History Month in 2012, because she wasn’t only bae; she was also the first African-American to land a leading role on television, as well as one half of the first ever on-screen interracial kiss when she smooched Captain Kirk, played by William Shatner.
Big Break
Big Break is a golf reality show, because of course such a thing exists and airs on NBC. The best part is that the show pits 10 golfers against each other, testing their physical and mental endurance, for a chance to win “four exemptions” (I don’t care enough to research what that means) on the Canadian Tour. What a gloriously ironic premise. Seriously… God bless America.
Running With Wild Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls is a monster who has eaten elephant shit. He should be handled with extreme caution. Obama, ever the diplomat, filmed an entire episode with Mr. Grylls (that name has got to be fake) back in December 2015, and the president remembers it as one his “favorite moments” of that year. We really need to crown Obama for all the shit we’ve forced him to do to win elections and good ratings.
NOT The Jersey Shore
Sorry, but Obama does not know who Snooki is.