List of Fictional Revolutions and Coups - Film and Television

Film and Television

• Akira
  • Colonel Shikishima, upon hearing the civilian government trying to arrest him, orders the military to overthrow the government.
• Avatar: The Last Airbender
  • Azula of the Fire Nation infiltrates Ba Sing Se and is able to take over the Dai Li who then proceed to, once again, take over the Earth Kingdom capital.
• The Legend of Korra
  • The season one antagonist Amon has making a attempt-successful revolution entitled "Anti-bending revolution"; At Republic city and United Republic of Nations, put quickly failed by lost brother foiled the plan and leaving the revolution was over in season finale.
• A Very British Coup, a 1988 British television adaptation of the 1982 novel by Chris Mullin
  • Features an unsuccessful coup against Harry Perkins a left-wing Labour Prime Minister and in that way differs from Chris Mullin's book.
• Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
  • At the end of Season One, President Laura Roslin interferes with Commander Adama's authority over his own people, convincing Starbuck to hijack a captured Cylon spacecraft and return to Caprica. As a result, Adama stages a military coup and assumes total authority. This results in unrest, rebellion, and ultimately the break-up of the fleet. Later, martial law is imposed (Fragged) by then-commanding officer Colonel Saul Tigh following an assassination attempt against Adama. The military coup and martial law are finally resolved by Home, Part 2, as Roslin and her followers continue their search for the Tomb of Athena on Kobol as Adama travels there to reunite the fleet. All return to Galactica and Adama reinstates Roslin as President.
  • In the Season 4 episode The Oath, Tom Zarek and Lt Felix Gaeta spearhead a revolt against Adama and Roslin. The duo plus a mix of civilians and Marines take over the Galactica's CIC and put Adama on trial for trumped-up charges while rounding up some of the other characters. Roslin helps turn the tide in the continuing episode Blood on the Scales and Adama personally oversees Gaeta and Zarek's execution by firing squad after retaking the ship without firing a shot by storming the command center. Gaeta admits that he's fine with how things turned out however.
• Code Geass
  • Lelouch manages to successfully overthrow his father the Emperor and establish himself as the ruler of Britannia, after spending the series leading the revolutionary group the Black Knights.
• Doctor Who
  • In Trial of a Time Lord: The Ultimate Foe, the revelation that the Valeyard was an evil future incarnation of the Doctor, and mistakes were made by the Time Lord High Council that led to the near destruction of Earth, just to hide a few secrets, Gallifreyans rebelled against the High Council, and overthrew it.
• Eureka Seven
  • During the entire series The Gekkostate, an anti-government militia and counterculture collective led by Holland, attempt to take control of the Government though rebellious means. When control of the U.F. Forces gets transferred (in a coup, see below) to Dewey Novak, they become more determined to defeat him and take control of the government.
  • In episode 38, Dewey Novak, a high-ranking Colonel in the U.F. Forces (and primary antagonist of Eureka Seven), leads a coup to overthrow the Sage Council (the main authority in the U.F.). After invading the Capital he ascends the space elevator linking the city to the original colony ship in high orbit where the Sages rule. He manages to get to the level the Sages are on and kills Braya and Kuzemi. The remaining Sage, Koda, who had ironically underwrote Dewey's release from prison then hands power over to him. It is unknown what happens to her afterwards.
• Kung Mawawala Ka (If You're Gone)
  • The Philippine military successfully launches a coup against the regime of President Leandro Montemayor. His daughter, Ernestina, and some members of the president's inner circle are the masterminds. The military leadership installs their own leader, but the true power lay with AFP chief Gen Romeo Gonzalo. Splinter factions in the military and a rebel group restore democratic rule at the series finale.
• Naruto
  • In Naruto, a coup d'état against Konoha was planned by the Uchiha Clan before their massacre due to their oppression from the village's elders and Hokages. This had occurred due to the battle at the Valley Of The End's outcome between Madara Uchiha and the Senjuu's leader, who eventually became the First Hokage.
• Sonic the Hedgehog, a cartoon series, by DIC Entertainment
  • 1993 - Loosely based by the video game franchise of the same name, Dr. Robotnik takes over the city of Mobotropilis with his political power and army of formerly government robots in a coup d'état. This plotline/concept was also used in the still running comic book series by Archie Comics.
• Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG
  • Section 9 tackles revolutionary Hideo Kuze, the leader of refugees in Dejima who are trying to gain independence.
• Gin Tama
  • In Gin Tama, the character Shinsuki Takasugi, plans on using a destructive coup d'état to destroy Edo. This is shown when he takes advantage of a mechanic to use robots, again when he forms the Kiheitai and even by joining an alliance with a traitor of the Shinsengumi police force.
• School Rumble
  • In fall of 2005, a most astounding battle took place in Yagami High that would remain in history as the most 'unprofessional' war in history. In a seemingly quiet town, 37 students of Class 2-C took arms and initiated what historians would dub 'the most desperate battle for survival to date'. Fighting for an ideal that holds neither political nor economical gains, the students engaged and killed their own classmates for the grand prize of their choice of 'program' for the cultural festival. The Battle of Yagami High is also known as the School Rumble Battle Royale and the Yagami High Civil War. It is was shown in episodes 2-3 of School Rumble: Second Term.
• The Office
  • In the episode, "The Coup", Angela prods Dwight to meet Jan and propose taking over the branch. After the meeting, Jan calls Michael and demands he get his branch under control. Michael leads Dwight to believe that he has been given control of the branch before revealing the ruse.
• Power Play: A National Film Board of Canada film based on the book by Edward Luttwak. Army officers in an unnamed country plan to overthrow the President and restore civilian government. To do so, they must have the cooperation of an armored regiment. The coup is successful, but the armored regiment commander, (Peter O'Toole), assumes power instead of the plotters.
• Patlabor: The Movie 2
  • A group calling itself the National Defense Family stages a series of terrorist attacks in Tokyo, including a bombing of the Rainbow Bridge with military aircraft and tricking the JASDF into dog fighting over the city, meant to appear to the civilians like a military coup. The attacks escalate tensions between civilian government, who arrest military officers believed to be involved in the attacks, and the military, who declare martial law. Intelligence officer Tsuge, an operative of the National Defense Family, takes this opportunity to attack Tokyo with JSDF-marked helicopters and disrupt outside communications, completing the illusion of a military takeover.
• Seven Days in May
  • John Frankenheimer adaptation of the novel by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey.
• The Simpsons
  • Cape Feare
    • Lisa Simpson receives pen-pal's letter informing her that the pen-pal's country has been overthrown by "the benevolent General Krull".
  • Bart vs. Australia
    • As Bart Simpson conducts a series of telephone inqueries to a variety of southern hemisphere locales about the which way does the water turn in their toilet, he calls the presidential palace of a Latin American dictator. When an aide mistranslates Bart's question to el Presidente as "The tide is turning", the dictator panics and, thinking it's a signal from the rebels, flees the capital.
  • Simpson Safari
    • When the Simpson family travels to the African country of New Zanzibar, their guide Ktengi informs them that President Muntu "took over in a bloodless coup - all smothering". At the end of the episode, President Ktengi has ousted Muntu, who works as a flight attendant on the Simpsons' flight home.
• Stargate Atlantis
  • Coup D'etat
    • Ladon Radim, a member of the Genii strike force, contacts Atlantis with the prospects of a new ZPM in exchange for weapons to orchestrate a rebellion and overthrow Cowen, the current leader of the Genii.
  • Enemy at the Gate
    • The Wraith Kenny overthrows Todd and takes control of the ZPM-powered Hive Ship, very nearly leading to the destruction of Earth before Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard kills him and destroys the ship with a nuclear weapon.
• Stargate Universe
  • Divided
    • The civilian crew of the Destiny mutinies against the military members of the crew to try to take the ship. It's bloodless and an attempt to force the military to submit to civilian control, but it fails when the military manages to retake control.
• V
  • Reptilians from another planet successfully take control of the Earth, leading humans to stage a revolution.