--- title: "Frost/Nixon" year: 2008 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/frost-nixon" fi1m_id: "frost-nixon" imdb_id: "tt0870111" tmdb_id: 11499 wikidata_id: "Q691672" fi1m_score: 81 critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 14 published: "2026-09-15" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:31.690152+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Frost/Nixon (2008) Directed by Ron Howard · 2h 02m · MPA R · Drama, History ## Identity Frost/Nixon - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/frost-nixon - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** frost-nixon - **IMDb ID:** tt0870111 - **TMDB ID:** 11499 - **Wikidata ID:** Q691672 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870111/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/11499, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q691672 **Fi1m score: 81** · Critics 74 from 14 reviews *In a sentence:* A television interview for anyone who finds a car chase insufficiently stressful > Ron Howard makes a tense, absorbing contest out of the Frost–Nixon interviews, with Frank Langella making Nixon uncomfortably sympathetic. The sporting structure makes the politics too tidy, but the two leads make it worth the compromise. ## Synopsis David Frost (Michael Sheen) prepares for a series of television interviews with Richard Nixon (Frank Langella). Both men see the encounter as a chance to change how they are regarded, but their ambitions do not make them natural allies. Before they can face each other, preparations and competing expectations turn the proposed conversation into a contest. Frost must work out how to question a man who has his own ideas about what the audience should hear. Ron Howard directs this drama about the lead-up to the interviews and the struggle between two public figures to control what television reveals. ## Review Ron Howard’s *Frost/Nixon* is an absorbing drama with a simplifying habit: it wants us to watch a television interview as we would watch a sporting contest. There is preparation, an apparent underdog and the expectation that somebody will prevail. Peter Morgan’s screenplay makes that an effective way into two men’s ambitions, even when it narrows our interest in what they are discussing. We recommend it for the actors and for the tension Howard gets from conversation. It sustains that tension through most of its 122 minutes. Michael Sheen’s David Frost has the charm the part needs, and Sheen makes it feel like a professional skill that might fail him. His likeability matters because the underdog treatment could otherwise make Frost an irritatingly convenient person to support. We can enjoy his confidence while remaining interested in how well it will withstand another man’s scrutiny. The performance gives the contest some uncertainty, even though Howard works rather hard to tell us which man faces the greater challenge. Frank Langella’s Richard Nixon is the stronger reason to watch, partly because the performance keeps obstructing an easy response. The intelligence and charm are there, along with a vulnerability that does not make him harmless. We felt an uncomfortable sympathy for him in the interviews, because Langella lets the need to be understood show through the effort to stay in control. He makes Nixon’s wish for a sympathetic hearing seem plausible without asking us to forget his capacity for manipulation. His Nixon can be likeable, and the performance leaves us wondering how much of that has been rehearsed. Salvatore Totino’s cinematography is most effective when a close view of a face becomes sufficient action. Langella gives the camera enough to look at without requiring Howard to keep finding diversions from the conversation. Michael Corenblith’s production design keeps the television setting unobtrusive enough for the men to dominate it. That helps us notice how much of this contest concerns appearance. Both men want to control what the audience sees of them. Editors Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley keep the preparations moving and make the approach to the interviews feel purposeful. The talking-head interludes are less helpful, interrupting a drama whose performances already tell us how much is at stake. We do not need quite so much assistance in deciding what matters. Hans Zimmer’s score adds to the pressure, though it can make the occasion feel grander than the exchanges justify. There is enough tension in the questions without further encouragement. The limitation is Howard and Morgan’s enthusiasm for a contest with a clear result. Nixon’s political wrongdoing receives less attention than the question of how he will perform under pressure. That limits how much the film can tell us about him. We understand why an audience might root for Frost; we get less help in deciding what these interviews can actually establish. The film’s attention to vulnerability also softens Nixon enough to make us wish it had kept more of the danger that Langella occasionally suggests. The familiar underdog shape makes this accessible without any specialist appetite for political history. We would have preferred a little less guidance about whom to back, especially with two actors capable of holding our attention unaided. Watch it for Sheen and Langella, with some caution about the history lesson. *Fi1m score 81, published 15 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Frost/Nixon an absorbing drama, with praise centred on Frank Langella and Michael Sheen. Langella draws particular admiration for making Nixon charming, calculating and vulnerable, while Sheen gives Frost enough ambition and uncertainty to sustain the contest. The reviews repeatedly describe Ron Howard’s approach as a boxing match or underdog story, crediting that structure with turning extended interviews into tense entertainment. Several also welcome the emphasis on the men’s competing needs rather than a straightforward division into hero and villain. Reservations concern historical depth, invented drama and the move from stage to screen. Some critics find the adaptation energetic; others think it remains a talk-heavy play despite Howard’s efforts. The New York Times finds the portrait insufficiently dangerous, even while admiring the leads. The spread is wide: Slant Magazine rejects the film’s self-importance and argues that its showbusiness focus sidelines Nixon’s crimes, a much harsher judgement than most critics offer. ## Straight answers **Is Frost/Nixon worth watching?** *Frost/Nixon* is worth watching for Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, and we scored it 81. Ron Howard turns the interviews into a tense contest, and Langella makes Nixon uncomfortably sympathetic without letting us forget his capacity for manipulation. The sporting structure makes the politics too tidy, so go for the performances rather than the history lesson. **How long is Frost/Nixon, and what is it rated?** *Frost/Nixon* runs 2h 02m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a drama and history film. **Where can I watch Frost/Nixon in the US?** *Frost/Nixon* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Frost/Nixon, and is it suitable for children?** *Frost/Nixon* is a 15 certificate in the UK and R in the US, but it contains no violence and nothing frightening; the certificate reflects adult language and subject matter rather than anything alarming. It is a drama about two men preparing for and conducting a television interview. Younger children would find it slow, but older teenagers with an interest in politics or acting should manage it easily. **How does Frost/Nixon compare to The Queen?** *Frost/Nixon* and [*The Queen*](https://film.one/film/the-queen) are both Peter Morgan scripts about public figures managing damage, and both let careful performances do the work of speeches. *The Queen* is the funnier and more humane of the two, with Helen Mirren's tightly controlled performance at its centre. *Frost/Nixon* is more of a contest, and a more stressful watch, suiting anyone who wants tension from conversation rather than warmth. **What should I watch after Frost/Nixon?** After *Frost/Nixon*, try [*The Queen*](https://film.one/film/the-queen) (2006, Fi1m 84): More political damage control, with careful performances doing the work of speeches. Then [*Good Night, and Good Luck.*](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck) (2005, Fi1m 83): Television journalism under pressure, with more attention to the work behind the questions; and [*The Interview*](https://film.one/film/interview-with-the-vampire) (1998, Fi1m 79): An Australian interrogation drama that finds ample suspense in who asks what. ### Reviews we read (18) - **RogerEbert.com**, Roger Ebert (4/4): The film succeeds as a spellbinding thriller centered on the tense interviews, with strong performances by Frank Langella and Michael Sheen that embody the characters' deep needs and vulnerabilities. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/frostnixon-2008) - **The AV Club**, Nathan Rabin (A-): The critic praises the film for finding a fresh angle on Nixon through the lens of two men seeking redemption, with the story structured like a sports underdog tale. He singles out Langella's masterful performance highlighting Nixon's charm, guile, and self-sabotage. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/frost-nixon-1798205349) - **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (85/100, inferred): Howard takes a strong play and makes it even better, delivering involving, engrossing cinema thanks to professional skills and standout performances, especially Langella's Nixon. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-dec-05-et-frost5-story.html) - **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): The film successfully preserves the strong stage performances of Michael Sheen and Frank Langella while turning the material into an energetic sports-movie-style underdog story. It is not Sheen's best work but remains likeable thanks to his charm and Langella's vulnerable Nixon. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/frost/nixon) - **Empire**, Ian Nathan (75/100, inferred): The critic praises Michael Sheen's pitch-perfect, layered portrayal of Frost and Ron Howard's dynamic, sports-movie-like adaptation that turns the interviews into gripping drama. They note it celebrates journalism effectively but find Frank Langella's Nixon lacking sufficient menace and the film light on historical depth. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/frostnixon-review/) - **Evening Standard** (75/100, inferred): The critic enjoys the film as a sharp battle of wits and character study devoid of heroes, highlighting Frank Langella's sublime, nuanced Nixon and Michael Sheen's magnetic, multifaceted Frost. They note the faithful adaptation may underwhelm fans of the play but succeeds as engaging drama about television and manipulation. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/great-battle-of-wits-in-frost-nixon-7438930.html) - **The New Yorker**, David Denby (75/100, inferred): The film brings Nixon's intelligence to the forefront in an absorbing duel of interviews, offering insight without fully solving the mystery, though it carries an unwarranted aura of momentousness. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/12/08/history-in-the-making) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (70/100, inferred): The adaptation of the play is a soothing, agreeably amusing experience anchored by excellent leads, though it lacks the dangerous edge that could make the portrait of Nixon more unsettling. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/movies/05fros.html) - **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): Frank Langella delivers a magnetic, non-impersonating performance as Nixon that will attract awards attention, though the film has problems finding its audience and never makes the on-screen contest feel truly equal. Howard opens out the stage play adequately but it remains a not-very-cinematic piece focused on the power of the TV image. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/frost/nixon/4041410.article) - **The Independent** (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the central performances by Frank Langella and Michael Sheen fascinating and the climactic close-up powerful on the big screen. They complain that the material stays stubbornly uncinematic, with too much Hollywood artillery applied to an essentially two-hander talky drama that sits uneasily between stage play and film. [Read](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/frost-nixon-gala-opening-london-film-festival-962515.html) - **Slant Magazine** (20/100, inferred): The critic dismisses the film as a trivial, self-important showbiz story that inflates the interviews into phony therapy and sanctimony while sidelining Nixon's real crimes. He complains that it offers little new insight beyond the famous quote and prefers a more irreverent approach like the film Dick. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/frost-nixon/) - **The Guardian**: The film is a riveting, sharper and more intense version of the stage play about the Frost-Nixon interviews. It focuses on the high-stakes confrontations between the two ambitious men and the strong supporting performances around them. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/25/frost-nixon-review) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Kirk Honeycutt: The critic views the film more as a boxing match than a political drama, with strong early rounds for Nixon and a knockout for Frost. He praises the lead performances by Langella and Sheen while noting Howard's professional but personality-free direction and some overly slick fictional elements. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/frost-nixon-review-2008-movie-125057/) - **Eye for Film**, Chris (★★★★★): The critic is won over by the film’s emotional power, especially in the interview scenes, and singles out Frank Langella’s towering, sympathetic performance as Nixon for making every other element feel authentic. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/frostnixon-film-review-by-chris) - **Digital Spy**, Ben Rawson-Jones (80/100, inferred): The film is a compelling underdog story of David Frost's interviews with Richard Nixon, with strong direction from Ron Howard that builds tension effectively. It belongs to the standout performances of Michael Sheen and Frank Langella, who bring the verbal sparring to life. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a143567/frostnixon/) - **The Skinny**, Andrew McWhirter (4/5): Ron Howard's drama humanizes Nixon through Langella's performance as a thoughtful and fragile figure rather than a monolithic villain, while Sheen nails Frost's mannerisms. The boxing-match structure and focus on the characters' humanity are the film's true achievements. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/frost-nixon) - **Collider**, Jackson Jackson: The film is a gripping dramatization of the lead-up to and circumstances of the famous interviews, with strong writing and a phenomenal cast led by Frank Langella as Nixon. It is taut and enthralling despite some disruptive talking-heads interludes. [Read](https://collider.com/frostnixon-dvd-review/) - **Paste**, Tim Basham: The film succeeds as drama thanks to a talented supporting cast and especially Langella's brilliant, complex performance as Nixon, even as it relies on historical exaggerations and invented moments for suspense. Howard positions Frost as an underdog who rises to the challenge. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/ron-howard/frostnixon) ## Details - **Director:** Ron Howard - **Director:** Ron Howard - **Screenplay:** Peter Morgan - **Cinematography:** Salvatore Totino - **Editor:** Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill - **Music:** Hans Zimmer - **Production design:** Michael Corenblith - **Costume design:** Daniel Orlandi - **Producer:** Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Brian Grazer - **Cast:** Frank Langella as Richard Nixon; Michael Sheen as David Frost; Kevin Bacon as Jack Brennan; Rebecca Hall as Caroline Cushing; Toby Jones as Swifty Lazar; Matthew Macfadyen as John Birt; Oliver Platt as Bob Zelnick; Sam Rockwell as James Reston Jr. - **Runtime:** 2h 02m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 5 December 2008 - **Genres:** Drama, History - **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2008); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Nominee, 2008); [Golden Globe Best Drama winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-drama.md) (Nominee, 2008) - **Budget:** $25 million - **Box office:** $27 million ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: streaming - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $3.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $14.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-15.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HU, IE, IL, IT, JP, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PL, PT, SE, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2009: Best Actor (nominated); Best Director (nominated); Best Film Editing (nominated); Best Picture (nominated); Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated) ## If you liked this - *The Queen* (2006), Fi1m 84: More political damage control, with careful performances doing the work of speeches. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-queen.md) - *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), Fi1m 83: Television journalism under pressure, with more attention to the work behind the questions. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md) - *The Interview* (1998), Fi1m 79: An Australian interrogation drama that finds ample suspense in who asks what. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/interview-with-the-vampire.md) - *A Face in the Crowd* (1957): For a harsher look at charm, television and the manufacture of public trust. - *The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum* (1975): A German account of media cruelty, with less reassurance about who controls the story. --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/frost-nixon