Reagan
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySean McNamara
Screenplay byHoward Klausner
Based on
  • The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism
    by Paul Kengor
Produced byMark Joseph
Starring
CinematographyChristian Sebaldt
Edited byClayton Woodhull
Music byJohn Coda
Production
company
MJM Entertainment
Distributed byShowBiz Direct
Release date
  • August 30, 2024 (2024-08-30)
Running time
135 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million[1]
Box office$525,000[2]

Reagan is a 2024 American biographical drama film directed by Sean McNamara and written by Howard Klausner, based on Paul Kengor's 2006 book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. The film stars Dennis Quaid as President Ronald Reagan. Penelope Ann Miller, Robert Davi, Lesley-Anne Down, and Jon Voight feature in supporting roles.

Principal photography on the film began on September 9, 2020, and included locations such as Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Reagan was theatrically released in the United States on August 30, 2024.

Premise

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The film follows Ronald Reagan's life from his childhood to his years as president of the United States, told through a conversation between the former KGB agents Viktor Petrovich (Jon Voight) and Andrei Novikov (Alex Sparrow).

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

In 2010, it was announced producer Mark Joseph would be producing a feature film biopic of Ronald Reagan with Joseph having been inspired to take on such a project after reacting to the miniseries The Reagans with distaste.[26] Screenwriter Jonas McCord had initially been uninterested in the project, but changed his mind after deciding that Reagan's childhood and formative years were dramatically rich.[26]

Klausner and McCord wrote the script based on a book by Paul Kengor: The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism.[27] Kengor described the script's development as faithful to both his books and history.[28]

In 2012, Jon Voight was in discussions to portray Viktor Petrovich, whom Kengor said "is actually a character based on a number of KGB agents and Soviet analysts who we now know were tasked with keeping tabs on Ronald Reagan for many years".[29]

In August 2016, it was reported Sean McNamara, who had worked as a sound engineer at the age of 18 during filming of Reagan's inauguration ceremony in 1981, had signed on to direct.[1] John G. Avildsen had been in negotiations to direct prior to his death.[30] Penelope Ann Miller who plays Nancy Reagan in the film described Reagan as being a Rocky like love story where the primary focus would be on the romance between Ronald and Nancy.[30]

Joseph had trouble securing financing for the film with several deals made before production actually started, only for the money to never actually come through. This led to Joseph turning to outside independent financing which made up the film's $25 million budget.[30]

Principal photography began on September 9, 2020. Filming locations included Guthrie, Oklahoma. It was announced on October 22, 2020, that filming had shut down after several crew members tested positive for COVID-19 in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.[31][32] Filming resumed on November 5, 2020.[11]

Music

[edit]

The film features prominent musicians' covers of standards. Bob Dylan sings Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In" over the end credits. Gene Simmons covers the 1930s standard "Stormy Weather". Clint Black sings John Denver’s "Take Me Home, Country Roads."[33] The original score was composed by John Coda.

Release

[edit]

The film was originally due to be released in 2021 but was then delayed to a then-unknown date.[32][34][35] In March 2024, it was announced ShowBiz Direct would distribute the film and that it would be released in theaters on August 30, 2024.[36] Facebook temporarily restricted the film from advertising on its platform, claiming that advertisements of the movie were efforts to influence the 2024 United States elections.[37][38]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

In the United States and Canada, Reagan will be released alongside AfrAId, Slingshot, 1992, and City of Dreams, and is projected to gross $5–7 million in its four-day opening weekend.[39] It would gross $525,000 in Thursday night previews.[40]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 18% of 39 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "While Reagan the movie undoubtedly admires Reagan the man, its cloying and glossy rendering of history flattens the 40th U.S. President into caricature."[41] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 22 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[42] However, audience favorability would greatly differ.[40] Audiences on Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a "fresh" rating of 97%.[43]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Ronald Reagan Biopic Draws 'Soul Surfer' Director Sean McNamara". Variety. Archived from the original on April 15, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Reagan – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Bond, Paul (June 20, 2018). "Dennis Quaid to Play Ronald Reagan in New Biopic". Hollywood Reporter.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Exclusive: Tommy Ragen to play young Ronald Reagan in biopic 'Reagan'". Oklahoman. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Bond, Paul (November 5, 2018). "'Reagan' Movie Starring Dennis Quaid Finds Major Funding". Hollywood Reporter.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (October 13, 2020). "Penelope Ann Miller to Play Nancy Reagan in Ronald Reagan Biopic (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  7. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (February 25, 2021). "Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio meet with Osage Nation leaders about 'Killers of the Flower Moon' and 5 more Oklahoma film and TV headlines". The Oklahoman. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Thompson, Simon. "C. Thomas Howell Talks Joining 'Reagan' Cast And 'The Hitcher' Turning 35". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  9. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (November 16, 2020). "Kevin Dillon added to 'Reagan' biopic that has been filming in Oklahoma". Oklahoman.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Creed's Scott Stapp to portray Frank Sinatra in 'Reagan' biopic | NME". NME | Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Patten, Dominic (November 9, 2020). "'Reagan' Biopic Back In Production After COVID-19 Crew Outbreak; Mena Suvari To Play Oscar Winner & 1st Wife Jane Wyman". Deadline.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Trevor Donovan cast in Reagan biopic". Variety. February 19, 2021. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  13. ^ Kay, Jeremy (November 11, 2020). "Voltage Pictures' 'Reagan' finds its Margaret Thatcher (exclusive)". Screen. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "I Despised Gorbachev Until I Played His Role". The Wall Street Journal. March 9, 2021. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Ronald Reagan Biopic Casts Its Leonid Brezhnev (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. November 14, 2015. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "Scott Stapp to Portray Frank Sinatra in Upcoming Ronald Reagan Biopic: Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Bond, Paul (February 7, 2021). "Xander Berkeley to Play George Shultz as Cold War Hero in 'Reagan' Movie". Newsweek.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  18. ^ "Christian singer Moriah Peters-Smallbone to star alongside Dennis Quaid in 'Reagan'". Christian Post. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Vlessing, Etan (September 1, 2021). "Amanda Righetti, Justin Chatwin Join Dennis Quaid in Ronald Reagan Biopic (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  20. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 23, 2021). "Ryan Whitney Newman Boards 'Reagan' Biopic; Gigi Gustin Joins 'Chastise' Horror Film". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  21. ^ "Exclusive: Elya Baskin Joins Ronald Reagan Biopic Reagan as B.E. Kertchman". MovieWeb. May 10, 2022. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  22. ^ Law, Jeannie Ortega (June 20, 2022). "Film 'Reagan' shows how faith impacted 40th president's life, says actor who plays Pat Boone". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  23. ^ Dick, Jeremy (October 24, 2022). "Exclusive: Mark Moses Joins Ronald Reagan Biopic Reagan as Judge William P. Clark". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  24. ^ Johnson, Ted (December 9, 2022). "Dan Lauria To Play Tip O'Neill In Ronald Reagan Biopic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  25. ^ Toto, Christian (December 20, 2021). "'America's Got Talent' Champ Darci Lynne Farmer Latest 'Reagan' Addition". Hollywood in Toto. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Reed, Betsy. "Ronald Reagan's life story to be told on big screen". The Guardian. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Zimmerman, David (March 11, 2024). "Director of Dennis Quaid Reagan Biopic Eyes Release in August or September". National Review. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  28. ^ Bond, Paul (May 6, 2014). "Ronald Reagan Biopic Heading to Cannes". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  29. ^ Bond, Paul (December 18, 2012). "Jon Voight in Negotiations to Play KGB Agent in Ronald Reagan Biopic (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  30. ^ a b c Newsweek (July 28, 2021). "Inside the Making of Hollywood's New Ronald Reagan Movie". Newsweek.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  31. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (October 27, 2020). "'Reagan' biopic filming in Oklahoma halts production after crew members reportedly test positive for COVID-19". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  32. ^ a b Bond, Paul (October 22, 2020). "Ronald Reagan Movie Pauses Production After Coronavirus Outbreak". Newsweek.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  33. ^ Kreps, Daniel (August 17, 2024). "Bob Dylan to Cover 'Don't Fence Me In' for Ronald Reagan Biopic". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  34. ^ Huff, Lauren (January 22, 2021). "Reagan star Dennis Quaid on the challenges and 'honor' of bringing 40th President to the screen". Entertainment Weekly.com. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  35. ^ "Dennis Quaid on Cowboys & Indians". Cowboys & Indians. June 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  36. ^ "Dennis Quaid Starrer 'Reagan' Strikes North American Deal With Newly Launched ShowBiz Direct". Deadline Hollywood. March 26, 2024. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  37. ^ Hays, Gabriel (August 16, 2024). "Dennis Quaid baffled by Facebook's explanation for throttling promotion of Reagan biopic". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 18, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  38. ^ Bond, Paul (August 13, 2024). "Dennis Quaid Says Facebook is Censoring Efforts to Promote 'Reagan' Film". Newsweek. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  39. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (August 28, 2024). "'Deadpool & Wolverine' to Top Box Office Yet Again Over Desolate Labor Day Weekend". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  40. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 30, 2024). "Summer Comes To An End With $3.6B+; 'Reagan' Sees $525K, Blumhouse's 'Afraid' Scares Up $400K In Previews – Labor Day Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  41. ^ "Reagan". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  42. ^ "Reagan". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  43. ^ "Reagan". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
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