Several movies and TV shows have dealt with stories involving the President of the United States. While there are plenty of movies about real presidents, there are just as many about fictional presidents, and when it comes to TV, the number of fictional presidents far outweighs the real ones.
These shows include television dramas, action series, and even a sitcom-style comedy. In each case, the president is often the main focus of the series, although, in others, he is nothing more than a background character. It also includes some big names playing the U.S. Presidents, making viewers wish they were alive to really lead the country.
George W. Bush - That's My Bush!
In 2008, Oliver Stone made a movie based on George W. Bush's life just as soon as the U.S. President left office. However, there was a TV show that used him as the star while Bush was in office. Not only that, but That's My Bush! was created by South Park's Matt Stone and Trey Parker. As expected from that duo, the show was an irreverent look at the White House in the form of a sitcom on Comedy Central. It lasted one season and featured Timothy Bottoms as Bush.
Ronald Reagan - Fargo
One of horror fandom's most beloved stars came to television in Season 2 of Fargo. Bruce Campbell, who starred as the iconic Ashley Williams in the Evil Dead franchise, took on President Ronald Reagan's role in the series, although he wasn't president yet in the world of the show. The second season took place in 1980, which was the year Reagan was elected, and his appearance featured a speech as he campaigned for the top office in the nation.
Claire Underwood - House of Cards
There are two presidents to look at when it comes to Netflix's critically beloved series House of Cards. It would be easy to put Frank Underwood on this list, as Kevin Spacey was fantastic in the role of a U.S. President who had no qualms about killing his opposition. However, Frank died before the final season, and it was his wife, Claire Underwood, who proved to be just as sinister and evil, the Lady Macbeth of the story.
Bobby McCallister - Jack & Bobby
Jack & Bobby was a very different look at a U.S. President. Those who never watched it might have thought this was a show about the Kennedy brothers as children. That is not what the show is about. Instead, this showcases a teen who will become POTUS in 2041.
The brother who becomes POTUS is not who fans thought. It was Jack who had all the political aspirations, but it was Bobby who became the president in the future after his brother's death.
Selina Meyer - Veep
The second of four women on this list to become the United States president is Selina Meyer from the series Veep. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars for most of the series as the Vice President, and she is put through hell the entire time she serves in that position. In the third season, the show takes a left turn when the president resigns from his position, and Meyer becomes the new POTUS. She spends the fifth season in the position of power before losing in the next election.
Mackenzie Allen - Commander in Chief
While the show only lasted for one season, Geena Davis starred as Mackenzie Allen, the United States President, in Commander in Chief. Unlike Veep, this was a drama rather than a comedy. Allen was the first female vice president in history to take the role of president when the POTUS died following a stroke. The Chief of Staff asks her to step down, but she refuses and remains in office. If there had been a second season, the first sets up her running for office on her own in the next election.
Tom Kirkland - Designated Survivor
After leading the very successful spy action series 24 for several years, Keifer Sutherland took on a new role in 2015 when he starred in Designated Survivor. This series started with a massive catastrophe that left Tom Kirland the POTUS unexpectedly. During the State of the Union, an explosion at the Capitol kills everyone there.
Everyone in progression to take over the office of the president was there and died. The person left standing was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Tom Kirkman, and he became the new POTUS by default.
Lisa Simpson - The Simpsons
Many years ago, there was an episode of The Simpsons that predicted a Donald Trump presidency. Now, there was another prediction that came true in a way. On The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson took over as the POTUS from "President Trump." The outfit that new Vice President Kamala Harris wore at the inauguration was almost a duplicate of what Lisa wore in the episode where she became the President of the United States.
David Palmer - 24
David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) started as a U.S. Senator before becoming President of the United States on 24. While Keifer Sutherland was the lead, as Jack Bauer, Palmer was the second main character. Palmer was running for President when an assassination attempt took place that Bauer foiled. He only served one term on the series before stepping down after that. However, as the POTUS, he was a major key in stopping numerous terrorist plots.
Jed Bartlet - The West Wing
For seven seasons, Martin Sheen starred as President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet and showed a nation how an honorable president looked. From 1999-2006, The West Wing followed Bartlet's political career as the POTUS and his dealings with the administration and running the nation amidst various political issues and crises that Bartlet has to work through, while also showing how this affects him in his personal life. Sheen said his character was a mix of John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.