Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
A naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington, but he tries to forge ahead despite attacks on his c...
Directed by Frank Capra · Comedy · Drama · 129 min · 1939
Trailer
Director
Frank Capra
Studio
N/A
Release
19 Oct 1939
Runtime
129 min
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Full Plot
Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator--presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal.
Cast & Characters
Jefferson Smith
James Stewart
Clarissa Saunders
Jean Arthur
Senator Joseph Paine
Claude Rains
Jim Taylor
Edward Arnold
Governor Hopper
Guy Kibbee
Diz Moore
Thomas Mitchell
Chick McGann
Eugene Pallette
Ma Smith
Beulah Bondi
Senate Majority Leader
H. B. Warner
President of the Senate
Harry Carey
Susan Paine
Astrid Allwyn
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $1.5M, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has grossed $9.6M worldwide — about 6.4x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
James Stewart appears in 4 films in our catalog, including It's a Wonderful Life, Vertigo.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Columbia Pictures originally purchased Lewis R.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (128,934 votes), 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (128,934 votes), 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington holds a 85% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington's IMDb rating?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 128,934 votes.
What is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington's Metacritic score?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has a Metascore of 73/100 on Metacritic.
Is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington good? What are critics saying?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (128,934 votes), 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington has a runtime of 129 min.
Who directed Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was directed by Frank Capra.
Where can I watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?+
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Some reviewers praised its story and characters, while others criticized its naive ending and lack of impact. The film's failure to gain lasting recognition has led some people to view it as a "lost classic". Despite this, the movie remains interesting for those who appreciate its commentary on democracy and government.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Fun movie with an interesting story and characters but with an extremely naïve ending. In any case, I must to be seen by Frank Capra and a young James Stewart.
Andres Gomez · 8/10There's an interview somewhere with Bette Davis enthusing about the skills of Claude Rains, and I think this is an example of just what she meant. He is the established senator ("Paine") who has taken the rather stoic view that representing big business some of the time allowing…
CinemaSerf · 8/10**A strangely current film that, using comedy, shows us well the problems that affect our democratic system.** I only discovered this film a few days ago. It is quite evident that it has fallen into total oblivion and few people remember it. However, it is worth revisiting. It's…
Filipe Manuel Neto · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
This... this was a good movie. It took a lot of guts back then to say that Congress was playing a crooked game, but this movie said it with gusto!
@SpiderandMosquito · 228 likesJames Stewart had so much integrity and true passion to each and every role he took on
@annasigersmark9910 · 105 likesJimmy Stuart was so beautiful!!! Wish I could go back in time😭
@yaireliz5079 · 67 likes"Somebody will listen to me " Greatest quote I've ever heard
@marcusmaddox2176 · 85 likesI remember watching this movie in school. A true classic!
@anthonygutierrez4669 · 110 likesI've seen this a few times and it's always good. Fun fact he was always billed as James Stewart but because he was the ultimate Everyman, he was known as the more approachable Jimmy Stewart. Thank you for your service flying bombers in WWII Jimmy!
@knormal1 · 19 likesI have watched this movie at least 50 times.
@georgesenda1952 · 33 likesJust watched this film last night for the first time. It is totally worth all the praise. A perfect balance of charm, subtle commentary, and true American spirit. Go watch this if you haven’t.
@retrolord8546 · 10 likes
