Prime Minister

This is quite possibly the worst documentary I've ever seen. Don't waste your time. It plays more like a self-congratulatory PR piece than an honest account. Rather than offering a balanced view, it's just Jacinda Ardern telling the world how kind, caring, and empathetic she supposedly was - a narrative many New Zealanders know doesn't reflect reality. There's no serious scrutiny, no opposing voices, and no acknowledgment of the damage done during her time in office. As a New Zealander myself, I found the whole thing deeply offensive - a tone-deaf attempt to rewrite history. Truly embarrassing stuff.

Had to write something .

I really enjoyed learning about Jacinda, New Zealand's politics, and how the big world events happened for the Kiwis. I'm also shocked by the in moment videos that Jacinda's husband took, which added a lot of insight into how she thinks and reacts to the major events during her tenure.

The live Q&A after was also a treat and gave us a little more color on her experience and what she's doing now. I definitely recommend people go watch this and make a judgment for yourself, but one thing for sure, it would not be boring at all.

For me this was the perfect movie. From 1971 to 1978 I lived in Wellington, half a mile from Parliament Building (in one direction), and half a mile from Premier House (in another direction) where Jacinda Ardern and Clark took up residence in 2017. When I arrived on those shores there had not yet been a New Zealand feature-length move. How things have changed -- I gazed in wonder at my old Thorndon neighborhood, fifty years older now. As I left the theater I thought that this must be the best of documentaries. Jacinda could be nominated for an Oscar, but that might not be right -- she wasn't acting, she was just being her incredible self.

I had to write a review though I very rarely do. I'm an American expat and a New Zealand citizen. Experiencing first hand the Jacinda years, especially as a comparison against the Trump years, she was an amazing and inspirational national leader. This film accurately captures what it was like during her tenure and how all of the country felt towards her, good and bad. What happened at the end of her tenure is a national disgrace. We lost a great leader and this film accurately portrays this too. It also happens to be a very well made documentary, fully engaging from beginning to end. Negative reviews are clearly political and from the opposition. Review the film and leave your politics at the door.

I didn't expect to be so emotional watching this, but it hit me harder than I anticipated. The film captures more than just Jacinda Ardern's time in office - it's a reminder of a leadership style rooted in empathy, clarity, and courage. Watching it made me nostalgic for a country that, in many ways, doesn't feel the same anymore.

It's rare to see a political figure portrayed with such honesty and vulnerability, and it only reinforced what I already felt: the world needs more Jacindas. If more leaders approached their role with the compassion and moral backbone that she did, the world would be a profoundly different place.

I'm not surprised to see a few low-star ratings from people who likely didn't watch it, or who disagree with her politics but can't articulate why - and tellingly, many of those reviews don't contain a single word of critique. That says it all.

This documentary is a moving, thoughtful portrait of a once-in-a-generation leader. I loved it.