Wag the Dog
“A comedy about truth, justice and other special effects.”
Synopsis
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Original Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-08-17
Top Cast
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Dustin Hoffman
Stanley Motss
Robert De Niro
Conrad Brean
Anne Heche
Winifred Ames
Woody Harrelson
Sergeant William Schumann
Denis Leary
Fad King
Willie Nelson
Johnny Dean
Andrea Martin
Liz Butsky
Kirsten Dunst
Tracy Lime
William H. Macy
CIA Agent Charles Young
David Koechner
Director
Michael Belson
President
Suzanne Cryer
Amy Cain
John Michael Higgins
John Levy
Suzie Plakson
Grace
Jason Cottle
A.D.
Harland Williams
Pet Wrangler
Sean Masterson
Bob Richardson
Bernard Hocke
Technician
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 25, 1997
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$64.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
4.28x
+$49.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Barry Levinson
- Screenplay & Story
- Hilary Henkin, David Mamet
- Original Score
- Mark Knopfler
- Original Title
- Wag the Dog
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Albanian, English
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $64.3M
- Production Studios
- New Line Cinema, Tribeca Productions, Baltimore Pictures, Punch Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Barry Levinson
Hilary Henkin, David Mamet, Larry Beinhart
Mark Knopfler
Robert Richardson, Ken Arlidge, Daryl Studebaker
Stu Linder
Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro, Barry Levinson, Claire Rudnick Polstein, Michael De Luca
Department Leadership Roster
Mark Knopfler
Original Music Composer
Hilary Henkin
Screenplay
Jane Rosenthal
Producer
David Mamet
Screenplay
Stu Linder
Editor
Barry Levinson
Director
Robert De Niro
Producer
Rita Ryack
Costume Design
Barry Levinson
Producer
Robert Richardson
Director of Photography
Wynn Thomas
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Wag the Dog.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Wag the Dog.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Wag the Dog
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Wag the Dog about?
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
Who directed Wag the Dog?
Wag the Dog was directed by Barry Levinson.
Who stars in Wag the Dog?
The principal cast of Wag the Dog includes Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, Woody Harrelson, Denis Leary.
When was Wag the Dog released and how long is it?
Wag the Dog was released in 1997 with a total runtime of 1h 37m.
What was the box office and production budget of Wag the Dog?
Wag the Dog had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $64.3M at the worldwide box office (4.28 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Wag the Dog?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Wag the Dog was composed by Mark Knopfler.
Is Wag the Dog based on a book or true story?
Wag the Dog is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Larry Beinhart".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Wag the Dog?
Wag the Dog holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).