The Post
Movie, 2017, The 2010s, Set in The Pentagon Papers, 1971
The Post is #31 of 35 in release order and #31 of 35 in chronological order in the Steven Spielberg.
The story
A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government. Inspired by true events.
The Post recap
The Post (2017) follows Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham as she decides whether to print the leaked Pentagon Papers in defiance of Nixon. Steven Spielberg directs a script by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer. Military analyst Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) copies a secret study showing that four presidents lied about Vietnam, and The New York Times begins publishing it in June 1971 until a court stops it. Meryl Streep plays Graham, who took over the family paper after her husband's suicide and is about to take the company public, while her board doubts her. Her executive editor, Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), wants to catch the Times. Assistant editor Ben Bagdikian (Bob Odenkirk) tracks down Ellsberg and gets the full report. Graham's old friend, former defense secretary Robert McNamara (Bruce Greenwood), is implicated, lawyers warn of criminal charges, and the investors could pull out. The Post comes between The BFG and Ready Player One in Spielberg's career.
The Post ending explained
The Post ends with a Watergate security guard discovering a break-in. Graham tells Bradlee to publish, even after learning the Post shares the Times's source, which could put them in contempt of court. Papers across the country follow, and on June 30, 1971, the Supreme Court rules 6 to 3 for the newspapers. Nixon bars the Post from the White House. A year later, guard Frank Wills finds the burglars, setting up the story told in All the President's Men (1976).
Post-credits scenes
No. The Post has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Post
The Post is streaming on History Vault and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The BFG, before Ready Player One.
- Chronological order: after The BFG, before Ready Player One.
Cast
- Meryl Streep as Kay Graham
- Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee
- Sarah Paulson as Tony Bradlee
- Bob Odenkirk as Ben Bagdikian
- Tracy Letts as Fritz Beebe
- Bradley Whitford as Arthur Parsons
- Bruce Greenwood as Robert McNamara
- Matthew Rhys as Daniel Ellsberg
- Alison Brie as Lally Graham
- Carrie Coon as Meg Greenfield
- Jesse Plemons as Roger Clark
- David Cross as Howard Simons
Directed by Steven Spielberg.