Skip to content
HOLLYWOOD METRICS
HomeAboutCraftNewsAnalyticsScriptsBooksPricingAPIMCP
Catalog/Comedy/Primary Colors
Primary Colors poster
B
Strong
MASTER SCORE 64.2 / 100
1998·Comedy / Drama·2h 23m

PRIMARY COLORS

“What went down on the way to the top.”

In this adaptation of the best-selling roman à clef about Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House, the young and gifted Henry Burton is tapped to oversee the presidential campaign of Governor Jack Stanton. Burton is pulled into the politician's colorful world and looks on as Stanton -- who has a wandering eye that could be his downfall -- contends with his ambitious wife, Susan, and an outspoken adviser, Richard Jemmons.

Above the Line
Mike Nichols·DirectorElaine May·ScreenplayMichael Ballhaus·Director of PhotographyRy Cooder·Original Music ComposerArthur Schmidt·Editor
Cast
John Travolta·Jack StantonEmma Thompson·Susan StantonBilly Bob Thornton·Richard JemmonsAdrian Lester·Henry BurtonMaura Tierney·Daisy GreenPaul Guilfoyle·Howard FergusonLarry Hagman·Gov. Fred PickerKathy Bates·Libby HoldenDiane Ladd·Mamma StantonRebecca Walker·March
Full Crew
(30 credits)
Directing· 2
Mike Nichols·DirectorMichael Haley·First Assistant Director
Writing· 1
Elaine May·Screenplay
Camera· 1
Michael Ballhaus·Director of Photography
Editing· 1
Arthur Schmidt·Editor
Sound & Music· 1
Ry Cooder·Original Music Composer
Art & Design· 9
Bo Welch·Production DesignTom Duffield·Art DirectionGary Jones·Costume DesignAnn Roth·Costume DesignCheryl Carasik·Set DecorationJ. Roy Helland·Makeup DesignerLynne K. Eagan·Key Makeup ArtistMindy Hall·Makeup ArtistMichelle Bühler·Makeup Artist
Production· 9
Mike Nichols·ProducerJonathan D. Krane·Executive ProducerNeil Machlis·Executive ProducerMichael Haley·Associate ProducerMichele Imperato Stabile·Co-ProducerJuel Bestrop·CastingEllen Lewis·CastingGreg McKay·CastingJuliet Taylor·Casting
Other Departments· 6
Betsy Sokolow-Sherman·Unit PublicistVictoria Vanderkloot·Stunt DoubleJ. Roy Helland·Hair DesignerAnthony Wilson·HairstylistJasen Joseph Sica·Key Hair StylistSusan V. Kalinowski·Hairstylist
By the Numbers
64.2
OF 100
Master Score
6.7
OF 10
IMDb
81%
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
$52M
ROI -20%
Worldwide Gross
0
2 NOMS
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

Find on TMDB
Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind Primary Colors's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#FFFFFF
#000000
#C80000
Mood
Hopeful, Political
Composition
Layered
Era
1990s
Visual Style
Photographic

“The movie poster features two individuals, a man and a woman, positioned in the foreground against a bright white background that transitions into a waving Amer”

political drama
Key Elements
American FlagSuitTieEarringsWatch
Atmosphere
Bright
Color Mood
Mixed
Setting
Abstract
Design Score
7/10
More Like This

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Neighboring films in the catalog's similarity graph.

Keep Going

THREE WAYS DEEPER

Auteur
AUT
MORE BY MIKE NICHOLS

Every catalog entry where Mike Nichols is credited as director.

Open
Family
GEN
MORE COMEDY

Top-ranked films inside comedy, sorted by master score.

Open
Era
DEC
MORE FROM THE 1990S

The best films of the 1990s, ranked across every available metric.

Open
View on IMDbView on TMDBCatalog
HOLLYWOOD METRICS

The definitive mathematical oracle for cinematic success and creative script intelligence.

74,000+ Films100 Years1.1M+ Reviews
PRODUCT
  • Dashboard
  • Pricing
  • Script Analysis
  • Watch the Demo
  • The Red List
  • News
  • Analytics
  • API
  • MCP Connector
COMPANY
  • About
  • Track Record
  • Trust & Script Privacy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
CONNECT
  • ▶YouTube
  • ◉Instagram
  • ♪TikTok
  • @Threads
  • fFacebook
Get Started Free →
© 2026 Hollywood Metrics. All rights reserved.Powered by bespoke agents and autonomous agentic workflows