20th Century Fox © 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved. Donald Trump was a movie star, of sorts, long before he camped out in Democratic heads. The real estate mogul appeared in films including “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “Zoolander” and “Two Weeks Notice.” That’s when Hollywood found him an essential part of Big Apple culture and a larger-than-life soul. Looking back, Trump’s persona has permeated the film landscape for decades. No, these characters didn’t have his particular shade of skin. Nor did they share his wispy locks or media mastery. There’s still something … Trumpian … about them that’s undeniable. Warner Home Video
Take Al Czervik , the character inimitably played by Rodney Dangerfield in 1980’s “Caddyshack.” Yes, Al’s rich like Trump, but it’s how he comically crashes polite society that rings a bell.
Al gets under the skin of Ted Knight’s character, but his boorish antics are ultimately liberating at the stuffy Bushwood Country Club. Did we mention Al’s real estate chops? Universal Pictures
What about Melissa McCarthy’s breakthrough role in 2011’s “Bridesmaids?” Her Megan Price is a bull in a china shop, storming through life on her own terms with her heart on her sleeves. She’s big, bold, and unapologetic, yet her friends forgive the lack of decorum not unlike MAGA nation looking the other way from Trump’s less admirable traits. Megan doesn’t mind being different. It’s who she is, and she’s not about to change.
Columbia Pictures
Trump’s inability to hold anything back reminds us of Billy Bob Thornton’s black comedy “Bad Santa.” Imagine a little one sitting on Trump’s knee, asking for what he wants for Christmas. He might answer like Thornton’s Willie Soke , giving the tyke the real deal about both Kris Kringle AND the lack of resources required to fulfill the lad’s list.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Trump’s signature ‘do is the target of every late-night host, and it does defy gravity in curious ways. It’s reminiscent of Bill Murray’s combed-over coif in 1996’s “Kingpin.” Murray co-stars as a bowling legend Ernie “Big Ern” McCracken , a bowling legend with a Trump-sized ego.
Ern also drives his opponents to distraction with his charm and humor. In “Kingpin,” that means Randy Quaid’s Amish bowler gets so flustered by Ernie’s insults he punches a wall, breaks his hand, and takes himself out of the bowling competition. The real Trump makes many foes step on rakes of their own volition. Marvel Studios
Robert Downey Jr. revived his career and jump-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2008’s “Iron Man.” Cultural observers compared his Tony Stark character to, who else, Elon Musk. Yet re-watching the original film shows some similarities to Trump.
He does what he wants, sleeps with whoever he wants, and makes everyone play by HIS rules. So very, very Trump. Paramount
The real Trump crashed the political scene in 2015 and followed his gut to outlast his primary opponents. It’s not unlike Axel Foley using his street smarts to upend a drug-smuggling operation.
Eddie Murphy’s Axel initially alienated officers Taggart and Rosewood (John Ashton and Judge Reinhold), but by the end of the film they were working alongside him (think Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio with the real-life Trump). 20th Century Fox
Another on-screen president predicted Trump’s penchant for speaking like his voters, not the elite class. Yes, President Camacho from “Idiocracy” sprinkled profanity throughout his stump speeches, much like Trump does when hammering home a point (or punch line). Terry Crews’ character was meant to show the country’s intellectual decay, not the need for a plainspoken candidate.
Warner Bros.
Some Trumpian characters arrived on purpose, and that’s why they failed to leave a mark. The excellent Pedro Pascal turned in one of his worst performances in the dreadful “Wonder Woman 1984.” The sequel casts him as a crooked businessman named Max Lord , complete with floppy hair and an oversized ego.
The film’s creative team danced around the Trump comparisons, but it didn’t matter. The film proved a massive disappointment considering how charming the original 2017 film “Wonder Woman” proved. Universal Pictures
“Back to the Future’s” Biff Tannen , our hero’s arch-nemesis, also had Trump firmly in mind 40-odd years ago, according to co-writer Bob Gale. The comparisons were weak enough to make it a long-standing mystery, and the film trilogy didn’t stop the stories cold to make the Trump comparisons clear.
Thankfully. Orion Pictures
The wildest Trump-like film connection could be the “Terminator” saga. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic Model 101 killer robot pursues his target at all costs. No one can stop him, and even when he loses an eye or a limb he keeps … on … going.
The real Trump has survived the worst media attacks in modern history, his own lack of discipline, and, to date, a flurry of indictments. Yet he’s still going to represent the GOP this fall in the Trump-Biden rematch barring a robot from the future coming back to stop him. They do have one big difference between them. Schwarzenegger famously vowed, “I’ll be ba-ack.” Trump, by comparison, has never left. Want to leave a tip? We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today. Want to join the conversation? Already a subscriber? Christian Toto is the founder of HollywoodInToto.com and the host of “The Hollywood in Toto Podcast.” more stories Sign up for the Align newsletter By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time. © 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved. Get the stories that matter most delivered directly to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
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