The Second Civil War (1997): cast, story & where to watch
1997 · Film · ★ 6.3
Released in 1997, The Second Civil War is a comedy, drama and tv movie film directed by Joe Dante, running about 97 minutes. “A very uncivil comedy” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. When a planeload of Pakistani orphans are shipped to his state for permanent relocation, the governor of Idaho defies the president and closes the state's border. News Net Television, a cable news program that makes hay by reporting on political scandals, quickly spins the racist act into an overnight media sensation, creating a divide in national opinion over the issue.
Who’s in it. The Second Civil War stars Beau Bridges as Gov. Jim Farley, Joanna Cassidy as Helena Newman, Phil Hartman as The President and James Earl Jones as Jim Kalla, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, The Second Civil War has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Second Civil War page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Second Civil War tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Second Civil War (1997)?
- In US, The Second Civil War is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Second Civil War worth watching?
- The Second Civil War holds an audience score of 6.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and tv movie. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Second Civil War?
- The Second Civil War stars Beau Bridges, Joanna Cassidy, Phil Hartman, James Earl Jones and James Coburn.
- When was The Second Civil War released?
- The Second Civil War was released in 1997, with a runtime of about 97 minutes.