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Trailer

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939Movie2 h 10 minNR

ComedyDrama
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Metacritic737.8Rotten Tomatoes97%94%

A cathartic, intriguing comedy movie about society and history, with standout performances.

Good for family movie night · friends night · kids

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

Romance, drama, laughter and heartbreak... created out of the very heart and soil of America!

After the death of a United States Senator, the idealistic Jefferson Smith is appointed as his replacement in Washington. The naive and earnest new senator soon finds himself battling political corruption.

Feels like

  • Political Drama
  • Idealism vs. Corruption
  • American Civics
  • Classic Hollywood
  • Innocence Lost
  • Social Justice
  • Filibuster
  • Iconic Performance

Cast

24 of 147

Crew

Directed by
Frank Capra
Written by
Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster
Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin, Morris Stoloff

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 19, 1939 · 2 h 10 min · NR

Released
October 19, 1939
Runtime
2 h 10 min
Age rating
NR
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$10 million
Available in
71 countries

Tropes

Foreshadowing, Femme Fatale, Blood on the Debate Floor +9

  • Foreshadowing
  • Femme Fatale
  • Blood on the Debate Floor
  • Throwing Out the Script
  • Villainous Breakdown
  • Eagleland
  • Country Mouse
  • You're Insane!
  • Paparazzi
  • Heel–Face Turn
  • Endearingly Dorky
  • Deadpan Snarker

12 of 112 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?"

Questions about Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?

Tubi TV

In the United States, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is free with ads on Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 4 other countries.

Is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 73).

Is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington okay for kids?

NR

Yes: it's rated NR in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Will Mr. Smith Goes to Washington make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly satire (8 of 10) and sharp wit (5 of 10).

Was Mr. Smith Goes to Washington a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$10 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $10 million worldwide, 6.4 times its budget.

What tropes does Mr. Smith Goes to Washington use?

ForeshadowingFemme FataleBlood on the Debate FloorThrowing Out the ScriptVillainous BreakdownEaglelandCountry MouseYou're Insane!PaparazziHeel–Face TurnEndearingly DorkyDeadpan Snarkerand 100 more

TV Tropes lists 112 tropes for it, including Foreshadowing, Femme Fatale, and Blood on the Debate Floor.