Misery currently dominates The American President 90–10
Bates's obsession overwhelms Sorkin's romance in Reiner's bracket.
The Verdict Director's Cut
Annie Wilkes is Reiner's most fully realised character: her cheerfulness, her sudden rages, the way she says "dirty birdy" with genuine moral outrage. Bates plays her with a commitment that makes every other performance in Reiner's filmography look casual. The American President is a Sorkin screenplay that Reiner directed competently, and that distinction is the whole matchup: Misery is the film where Reiner's directorial choices — the pacing, the spatial claustrophobia, the decision to hold on Caan's face during the hobbling — do the storytelling. The cabin is his work. The White House is Sorkin's. In a director bracket, that difference is everything.
The Numbers
| Misery | The American President | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 90% | 10% |
| Overall Win Rate | 57% | 35% |
| Championships | 11 | 0 |
| Avg Decision | 2.8s | 3.1s |
| Budget | $20M | $62M |
| Box Office | $61M | $108M |
Where This Matchup Sits
Out of 94 Drama films on the platform, Misery is in the top quarter and The American President languishing near the bottom.
Within Rob Reiner's filmography on the platform, Misery at #2 and The American President at #8 out of 8.
Against other opponents, one pattern stands out: The Princess Bride beats both of them. It's the one film that sits above this entire matchup.
Misery at 90% doesn't leave much room for debate. This is one of the more one-sided results on BingeBracket.
Misery brings 11 tournament titles into this matchup. The American President has none yet — a champion against a challenger.
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