The Campaign

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The Campaign

R

2012

1h 25m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

200 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When incumbent Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) commits a major gaffe, two wealthy CEOs decide to try to gain influence in their district by putting up a rival candidate. Their unlikely choice is a naive tourism director named Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis). Aided by his family's political connections and a cutthroat campaign manager, Marty soon becomes locked in a dead heat with Cam. As Election Day approaches, each man slings mud galore in a last-ditch effort to bury the other.

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Critics Consensus

Its crude brand of political satire isn't quite as smart or sharp as one might hope in an election year, but The Campaign manages to generate a sufficient number of laughs thanks to its well-matched leads.

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

Sep 28, 2012

3/5

Perhaps one in ten of the jokes hits the mark; the rest are damp, childish squibs

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Sep 28, 2012

2/5

There are some laughs, it doesn't overstay its welcome and neither side in the present fight for the presidency is likely to be offended.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Sep 28, 2012

3/5

The increasingly absurd squabbling between Ferrell and Galifianakis provides more than enough hearty laughs to be getting on with.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Aug 10, 2022

4/5

The Campaign is a satire that is pointing what's wrong with American politics and in this regard, it hits it right on the money.

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Feb 12, 2021

Overwhelmed by events, intimidated by the ultra-right, intellectually lazy, distant from the population and its problems and feelings, the liberals find it almost impossible to summon up anything meaningful to say.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Dec 1, 2020

6/10

Underneath the layer of laughs is a rather forgettable story.

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Denis B

@DenisB Oct 24, 2026

It’s just funny.

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L. F

@RT68678650 Sep 9, 2026

I couldn't get into this one, sadly! Went in with my eyes open and ready for the Ferrell and Galifianakis entertaining silliness, but quickly realised this wasn't their best. Stopped watching pretty early on, which obviously isn't a great sign. Maybe it got better later, but I wasn't invested enough to find out.

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Ed R

@JustcallmeER Oct 31, 2025

Over the top comedy with hilarity that continues to ensue!

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John C

@RT25427934 Feb 4, 2025

I think that, living in Britain and being brought up on such classics as `Yes, Minister' and `The Thick of It,' the bar has been raised pretty high when it comes to political satire. The Campaign is about two political rivals, vying to be Senator in America. It's not as clever as either of the British TV shows; it's more low-brow and slapstick - definitely not as clever. However, it's still good in its own way. Will Ferrell is on form as one slimy Senator and Zach Galifianakis is equally amusing as his hapless and dopey rival. It's daft, enjoyable fun that anyone can enjoy with plenty of laugh out loud moments. It really doesn't matter who wins as the story comes secondary to seeing the two leads send up politicians in general for the lying, patronising, amoral, self-serving cads they are with their polished manufactured image and double-standards (I could go on). Maybe The Campaign is a sad sign of the times? Once upon a time politicians were respected figures of authority. Now they're so unpopular that they're easy fodder to be sent up - and we enjoy seeing them presented like this. It may not be a classic, but it has enough `laugh out loud' moments to make it definitely worth a watch.

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Drew B

@RT87397005 Jan 10, 2025

Pitch perfect casting & written horribly close to real life politics... Unfortunately. It works on a lot of levels.

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Colby B

@RT20973746 Jun 19, 2024

Not will ferrell’s best but still hilarious. The extended version is the best way to watch the movie.

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Jay Roach

Director

Will Ferrell

Cam Brady

Zach Galifianakis

Marty Huggins

Jason Sudeikis

Mitch

Dylan McDermott

Tim Wattley

Katherine LaNasa

Rose Brady

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Synopsis

When incumbent Congressman Cam Brady (Will Ferrell) commits a major gaffe, two wealthy CEOs decide to try to gain influence in their district by putting up a rival candidate. Their unlikely choice is a naive tourism director named Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis). Aided by his family's political connections and a cutthroat campaign manager, Marty soon becomes locked in a dead heat with Cam. As Election Day approaches, each man slings mud galore in a last-ditch effort to bury the other.

Director: Jay Roach
Producer: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Jay Roach, Zach Galifianakis
Screenwriter: Chris Henchy, Shawn Harwell
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros., Gary Sanchez Productions, Everyman Pictures
Rating: R (Crude Sexual Content|Brief Nudity|Language)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $86.9M
Runtime: 1h 25m
Sound Mix: Datasat, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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