10 Movies & Shows Similar to Soundtrack to a Coup d’État (2024)

Description: This classic political thriller shares with 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' a focus on investigative journalism uncovering government corruption. Both films highlight the power of media in exposing truth and holding power to account, set against the backdrop of high-stakes political intrigue.

Fact: Based on the book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward about their Watergate investigation. Robert Redford (who played Woodward) purchased the film rights before the book was even written. The film won 4 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor for Jason Robards.

Description: Like 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État', Errol Morris's documentary examines the mechanisms of power and decision-making at the highest levels of government. Both films use archival material and insider perspectives to reveal how historical events are shaped by individuals and systems.

Fact: Features 11 lessons from the life of former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Uses Philip Glass's minimalist score to powerful effect.

Description: Similar to 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' in its examination of state-sponsored violence and cover-ups, 'The Dissident' investigates the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Both films expose how governments silence critics and manipulate narratives.

Fact: Features never-before-seen evidence about Khashoggi's murder. Includes interviews with his fiancée Hatice Cengiz. The film faced significant obstacles in finding distribution due to its sensitive subject matter.

Description: Both films explore the intersection of political movements and government surveillance. 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' examines historical interventions, while 'MLK/FBI' reveals how the U.S. government targeted Martin Luther King Jr., showing how power structures attempt to undermine change.

Fact: Based on newly declassified files about FBI surveillance of King. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Sam Pollard. Explores J. Edgar Hoover's personal obsession with discrediting King.

Description: This Chilean film parallels 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' in its examination of political upheaval and media manipulation. Both explore how cultural production (advertising in 'No', music in 'Soundtrack') can influence political outcomes during times of crisis.

Fact: Starring Gael García Bernal, it depicts the 1988 Chilean plebiscite that removed Pinochet. Shot on vintage U-matic cameras to match archival footage. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards.

Description: Similar to 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' in its exploration of political violence and historical memory, 'The Act of Killing' delves into the Indonesian mass killings of 1965-66 through the perspectives of the perpetrators. Both films use innovative storytelling techniques to uncover uncomfortable truths about power and complicity.

Fact: Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, the film features former death squad leaders reenacting their crimes in various cinematic genres. The documentary was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Many crew members are credited as 'Anonymous' due to safety concerns in Indonesia.

Description: Similar to 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' in its real-time documentation of a historic revelation about government overreach, 'Citizenfour' provides unprecedented access to Edward Snowden as he leaks NSA surveillance secrets. Both films capture pivotal moments in the relationship between state power and individual rights.

Fact: Directed by Laura Poitras, who was herself under government surveillance. Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The title comes from Snowden's initial anonymous email to Poitras.

Description: Both films offer unflinching looks at political scandals and their consequences. While 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' examines historical events, 'Weiner' provides a contemporary case study of how personal failings can derail political careers and movements.

Fact: Captures Anthony Weiner's disastrous 2013 mayoral campaign after his sexting scandal. Won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Documentary. The filmmakers had unprecedented access during the campaign's collapse.

Description: Like 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État', this documentary exposes hidden networks of power and corruption through investigative journalism. Both films reveal how elites manipulate systems for personal gain, with global consequences.

Fact: Based on the largest data leak in history from Mossack Fonseca. Involved over 370 journalists from 76 countries. Led to the resignation of Iceland's Prime Minister among other political fallout.

Description: Both films provide intimate portraits of controversial political figures during pivotal moments. 'The Brink' follows Steve Bannon's post-Trump activities, while 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' examines historical power players, each revealing the personalities behind political movements.

Fact: Director Alison Klayman filmed Bannon over a year across 18 countries. Shows Bannon attempting to spread his nationalist movement globally. The film premiered at Sundance just as Bannon's influence was waning.