This study investigates the representation of American political discourse in selected contemporary Hollywood films through the lens of Speech Act Theory (SAT) and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). While the philosophical foundation of Speech Act Theory originates from Austin’s (1962) distinction between locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary acts, the analytical framework of this study is primarily based on Searle’s (1969, 1976) fivefold classification of illocutionary acts: assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declarations.The study analyzes political utterances produced by key characters in three selected films released after 2020. By integrating Searle’s taxonomy with Fairclough’s (1995) and Van Dijk’s (2008) critical discourse perspectives, the research connects micro-level linguistic functions with macro-level ideological structures. The findings reveal that assertive and directive acts dominate political discourse, functioning strategically to construct authority, legitimize power, and shape ideological positioning within cinematic narratives.
