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Best of Enemies

2015·Movie·87 min·7.2(147)

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?"

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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?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesNetflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads, Dox Amazon ChannelAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
United KingdomAmazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, PlexApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
CanadaHoopla, Tubi TV, PlexApple TV Store
AustraliaAmazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Tubi TVGoogle Play Movies, YouTube
GermanyApple TV Store
FranceApple 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
#chicago, illinois#miami, florida#politics#intellectual#author#debate#archive footage#television network#1960s

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

Gore Vidal

Self

William F. Buckley Jr.

William F. Buckley Jr.

Self

Kelsey Grammer

Kelsey Grammer

Voice of William F. Buckley

John Lithgow

John Lithgow

Voice of Gore Vidal

Dick Cavett

Dick Cavett

Self

Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens

Self

Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky

Self (archival)

No photo

Reid Buckley

Self

Andrew Sullivan

Andrew Sullivan

Self

No photo

Todd Gitlin

Self

No photo

Brooke Gladstone

Self

Paul Newman

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.

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