Wag the Dog
“A comedy about truth, justice and other special effects.”
During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.
Where to watch Wag the Dog in United States
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Wag the Dog there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Wag the Dog streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, maxdome Store |
| France | — | Canal VOD |
| Spain | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Rakuten TV |
| Brazil | — | Amazon Video |
| Japan | U-NEXT, HBO Max on U-Next | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, FOD |
About Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog is a 1997 English-language comedy and drama film directed by Barry Levinson. The cast is led by Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche. It has a runtime of 1h 37m. Viewers rate it 6.9/10 across 1100 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
Wag the Dog was produced by New Line Cinema, Tribeca Productions, and Baltimore Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on December 25, 1997, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $15 million, it went on to gross $64 million worldwide.
- Director
- Barry Levinson
- Writers
- Hilary Henkin, David Mamet
- Release date
- December 25, 1997
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $15 million
- Box office
- $64 million
- Production
- New Line Cinema, Tribeca Productions, Baltimore Pictures
Wag the Dog cast & crew
Wag the Dog was directed by Barry Levinson and written by Hilary Henkin and David Mamet.
The cast features Dustin Hoffman as Stanley Motss, Robert De Niro as Conrad Brean, Anne Heche as Winifred Ames, Woody Harrelson as Sergeant William Schumann, Denis Leary as Fad King, and Willie Nelson as Johnny Dean.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Mark Knopfler, cinematography is by Robert Richardson, and it was produced by Jane Rosenthal and Robert De Niro.
Is Wag the Dog worth watching?
Wag the Dog holds an audience score of 6.9/10 from 1,060 ratings, a solidly received comedy films.
At 1h 37m, it's an easy, time-light watch.
If you enjoy comedy and drama, Wag the Dog is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
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.
Rate & review
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Cast of Wag the Dog
Dustin Hoffman
Stanley Motss
Robert De Niro
Conrad Brean
Anne Heche
Winifred Ames
Woody Harrelson
Sergeant William Schumann
Denis Leary
Fad King
Willie Nelson
Johnny Dean
Andrea Martin
Liz Butsky
Kirsten Dunst
Tracy Lime
William H. Macy
CIA Agent Charles Young
David Koechner
Director
Michael Belson
President
Suzanne Cryer
Amy Cain
Wag the Dog — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Wag the Dog in United States?
Wag the Dog is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is Wag the Dog in?
Wag the Dog is originally in English, with audio tracks including Albanian, English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Wag the Dog?
Wag the Dog runs 1 hours 37 minutes (97 minutes).
▸What is Wag the Dog rated?
Wag the Dog is rated R. It holds a 6.9/10 audience score from 1,060 ratings.
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