The Obama Effect (2012): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2012, The Obama Effect is a comedy and drama film directed by Charles S. Dutton, running about 85 minutes. “A people's past, a nation's future, one man's passion.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. A serious health scare ignites John Thomas, an insurance salesman in his 50s, to take a closer look at his life. Motivated by a misguided obsession with getting Barack Obama elected, John takes an overwhelming involvement in the Presidential campaign. While John becomes obsessed with the ideal of change that Obama represents for Americans, he has in turn neglected to create positive change in his own life, particularly with regard to his health and familial relationships. John hides his health problems from his strong, yet supportive wife, Molly, creating a strain on their marriage. John seeks the support of a Republican relative, MLK, who initially starkly resists supporting a Democratic candidate. John's son, Kalil, rebels against his father's avid support of Obama by supporting the Republican candidate as well. John neglects to support his daughter, Tamika, at a crucial moment in her life...

Who’s in it. The Obama Effect stars Charles S. Dutton as John Thomas, Katt Williams as MLK, Vanessa Bell Calloway as Molly Thomas and Giselle Bonilla as Maria Santiago, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 2.5/10, The Obama Effect has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Obama Effect page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Obama Effect tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.