Wag The Dog, 1997

Wag the Dog is a political satire about media manipulation and political distraction. In the film, a U.S. president is embroiled in a scandal just two weeks before an election. To divert public attention, a top spin doctor recruits a Hollywood producer to fabricate an entire war — complete with fake news footage, fabricated heroes, and propaganda — convincing the media (and the public) that a conflict with Albania is the real story. The manufactured war successfully sucks all attention away from the scandal and helps secure the president’s re-election. The film’s core idea: powerful insiders can create perceived reality by controlling the narrative.