

Best of Enemies
“Buckley vs. Vidal. 2 Men. 10 Debates. Television Would Never Be the Same.”
A documentary about the legendary series of nationally televised debates in 1968 between two great public intellectuals, the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Jr. Intended as commentary on the issues of their day, these vitriolic and explosive encounters came to define the modern era of public discourse in the media, marking the big bang moment of our contemporary media landscape when spectacle trumped content and argument replaced substance. Best of Enemies delves into the entangled biographies of these two great thinkers, and luxuriates in the language and the theater of their debates, begging the question, "What has television done to the way we discuss politics in our democracy today?"
Where to watch Best of Enemies in United States
Click a service to open Best of Enemies there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Best of Enemies streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Plex | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Canada | Hoopla, Tubi TV, Plex | Apple TV Store |
| Australia | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Tubi TV | Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store |
| France | — | Apple TV Store |
About Best of Enemies
Best of Enemies is a 2015 English-language documentary and history film directed by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon. The cast is led by Gore Vidal, William F. Buckley Jr., Kelsey Grammer. It has a runtime of 1h 27m. Viewers rate it 7.2/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads.
Best of Enemies was produced by Tremolo Productions, Media Ranch, and Motto Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on July 31, 2015.
- Director
- Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon
- Writers
- Morgan Neville, Robert Gordon
- Release date
- July 31, 2015
- Original language
- English
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $1 million
- Production
- Tremolo Productions, Media Ranch, Motto Pictures
Best of Enemies cast & crew
Best of Enemies was directed by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon and written by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon.
The cast features Gore Vidal as Self, William F. Buckley Jr. as Self, Kelsey Grammer as Voice of William F. Buckley, John Lithgow as Voice of Gore Vidal, Dick Cavett as Self, and Christopher Hitchens as Self.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Jonathan Kirkscey, cinematography is by David Leonard, and it was produced by Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon.
Is Best of Enemies worth watching?
Best of Enemies holds an audience score of 7.2/10 from 147 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed documentary films.
At 1h 27m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy documentary and history, Best of Enemies is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Best of Enemies
In United States, you can stream Best of Enemies on Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel, and Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Best of Enemies

Gore Vidal
Self

William F. Buckley Jr.
Self

Kelsey Grammer
Voice of William F. Buckley

John Lithgow
Voice of Gore Vidal

Dick Cavett
Self

Christopher Hitchens
Self

Noam Chomsky
Self (archival)
Reid Buckley
Self

Andrew Sullivan
Self
Todd Gitlin
Self
Brooke Gladstone
Self

Paul Newman
Self (archival)
Best of Enemies — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Best of Enemies in United States?
Best of Enemies is streaming on Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Dox Amazon Channel in United States.
▸Is Best of Enemies on Netflix?
Yes — Best of Enemies is currently available on Netflix in United States.
▸What language is Best of Enemies in?
Best of Enemies is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Best of Enemies?
Best of Enemies runs 1 hours 27 minutes (87 minutes).
▸What is Best of Enemies rated?
It holds a 7.2/10 audience score from 147 ratings.











