Order in the Court! Great Courtroom Movies

The Accused (1988)

A fiercely independent woman is gang-raped, then battles the legal system twice, going after both her attackers and the onlookers whose cheering fueled and encouraged the assault. Starring Jodie Foster, who won the Best Actress Oscar, and Kelly McGillis; directed by Jonathan Kaplan. Rated R.

Adam's Rib (1949)

A husband-and-wife lawyer team clash when the wife defends a woman on trial for shooting her spouse, with the lawyer-husband as the prosecutor. A Tracy and Hepburn comedy classic. Starring Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday; directed by George Cukor. Not rated.

Amistad (1997)

Chronicles the 1839 revolt on board the slave ship Amistad bound for America. Much of the story involves the courtroom drama about the slave who led the revolt. Starring Morgan Freeman, Nigel Hawthorne, Anthony Hopkins; directed by Steven Spielberg. Rated R.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

An Army lieutenant is on trial for the murder of the man who raped his wife, and a small town lawyer – who would rather be fishing – and his alcoholic associate must defend him. One of the best courtroom dramas ever filmed. Based on the novel by real-life judge Robert Traver and feauring attorney Joseph Welch from the Army-McCarthy hearings as the trial judge. Starring James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara; directed by Otto Preminger. Not rated.

…And Justice for All (1979)

An ethical Baltimore defense lawyer disgusted with rampant legal corruption is asked to defend a judge he despises in a rape trial. But if he doesn't do it, the judge will have him disbarred. Starring Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe; directed by Norman Jewison. Rated R.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)

Martin Hunter is a high profile laywer who has an impeccable record putting criminals behind bars and is a shoo-in for governor in the upcoming election. But when ambitious rookie journalist C.J. Nicholas begins investigating Hunter for tampering with evidence to secure his convictions, the district attorney's perfect record is up for scrutiny. Commencing a risky game of cat and mouse with Hunter, C.J. frames himself as a murder suspect to catch the the corrupt D.A. in the act. Starring Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Michael Douglas; directed by Peter Hyams. Rated PG-13. Loosely based on a 1956 film starring Dana Andrews and directed by Fritz Lang.

Breaker Morant (1979)

Based on a true story, this is the tale of three soldiers who are court-martialed at the end of the Boer War. When one of their comrades is ambushed and killed, three soldiers seek revenge and kill the Boer soldier. The act of murder and the mysterious disappearance of a German missionary leads to the arrest of the three men. In one of the most controversial court-martials in military history, they are defended by Major Thomas, a small town Australian solicitor who was only given one day in order to prepare for the case. Starring Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters; directed by Bruce Beresford. Rated PG.

The Caine Mutiny (1954)

When a US Navy captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the ship during World War II, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court martial for mutiny. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Herman Wouk. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer, Van Johnson; directed by Edward Dmytryk. Not rated.

A Civil Action (1998)

A high-priced personal injury attorney represents eight families whose children died of leukemia after large corporations let toxic waste leak into the water supply in the Boston area. He puts his career, reputation and all that he owns on the line for the rights of his clients. Based on the book by Jonathan Harr. Starring John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Stephen Fry; directed by Steven Zaillian. Rated PG-13.

Class Action (1991)

Two lawyers, father and daughter, face off against each other in a multimillion dollar lawsuit. The case concerns a potentially defective auto design that could involve corporate corruption and violations of legal ethics. Starring Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio; directed by Michael Apted. Rated R.

Compulsion (1959)

Two wealthy Chicago teenagers, who thought their superior intellect would enable them to execute the perfect crime, are tried for the murder of a young boy and defended by a brilliant attorney desperately trying to save them from the death penalty. Based on the notorious 1924 Leopold-Loeb murder case. From the play and novel by Meyer Levin. Starring Orson Welles, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi, Bradford Dillman; directed by Richard Fleischer. Not rated.

The Crucible (1996)

A group of teenage girls meets in the woods at midnight for a secret love-conjuring ceremony. When their ceremony is witnessed by the town minister, the girls suddenly find themselves accused of witchcraft and as the hysteria in the village grows, blameless victims are torn from their homes, leading to a devastating climax. Loosely based on the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692. From the play by Arthur Miller. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield; screenplay by Arthur Miller; directed by Nicholas Hytner. Rated PG-13.

A Cry in the Dark (1997)

Lindy lives the nightmare of seeing a wild dog carry off her infant, then endures a travesty of a trial by the courts and media. Starring Meryl Streep, Sam Neill, Bruce Myles; directed by Fred Schepisi. Rated PG-13.

The Devil's Advocate (1997)

Attorney Kevin Lomax's 64-0 case record has brought him a tempting offer from an elite New York firm. But the job isn't what it seems. The Devil is in the details. Starring Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron; directed by Taylor Hackford. Rated R.

Disclosure (1994)

A computer specialist is sued for sexual harassment by a former lover turned boss who initiated the act forcefully, which threatens both his career and his personal life. Based on the novel by Michael Crichton. Starring Michael Douglas, Demi Moore; directed by Barry Levinson. Rated R.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

In an extremely rare decision, the Catholic Church officially recognized the demonic possession of a 19 year-old college freshman. Told in terrifying flashbacks, it chronicles the haunting trial of the priest accused of negligence resulting in the death of the young girl believed to be possessed. Middle-aged single lawyer defends Father Moore, a priest on trial for the negligent homicide of a young girl named Emily Rose. Starring Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Campbell Scott; directed by Scott Derrickson. Not rated.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply. Based on a true story. Starring Julia Roberts (Oscar winner for Best Actress), Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart; directed by Steven Soderbergh. Rated R.

A Few Good Men (1992)

A brash Navy lawyer is teamed with a gung-ho litigator in a politically explosive murder case. Charged with defending two Marines accused of killing a fellow soldier, they are confronted with complex issues of loyalty and honor -- including its most sacred code and its most formidable warrior. Based on the play by Aaron Sorkin. Starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore; screenplay by Sorkin; directed by Rob Reiner. Rated R.

Fracture (2007)

An attorney intent on climbing the career ladder toward success, finds an unlikely opponent in a manipulative criminal he's trying to prosecute. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn; directed by Gregory Hoblit. Rated R.

Fury (1936)

A once decent man becomes ruthless and bitter when he's falsely accused of a crime and becomes a target for a lynch mob. He escapes, but refuses to let his survival be known, so his attackers can be charged with murder. Starring Sylvia Sidney, Spencer Tracy, Walter Abel; directed by Fritz Lang.

The Ghost and Mr Chicken (1966)

Figuring the answers to a murder mystery lie in the old Simmons mansion, so Luther Heggs visits the estate at the witching hour of midnight. Certain he's seen a ghost, Luther writes a story which makes front page news - and brings on a libel suit from the mansion's owner. When the trial judge orders an investigation - and no apparition appears - Luther is branded a fraud. That is, until he and his devoted girlfriend team up to uncover the mystery of the hauntings - and the true murderer - in this timeless comedy classic. Starring Don Knotts, Joan Staley, Liam Redmond; directed by Alan Rafkin. Not rated.

Hart's War (2002)

Honor, courage, and sacrifice are revealed in unexpected ways as a ranking U.S. prisoner in a Nazi POW camp is joined in December 1944 by a law-student lieutenant who'd been captured despite his father's powerful military connections. When a black pilot from the famous Tuskeegee airmen is falsely accused of murdering a fellow prisoner, Lt. Hart tries his case and discovers the real motivation behind the ranking officer's kangaroo court. Starring Bruce Willis, Colin Farrell, Terrence Howard; directed by Gregory Hoblit. Rated R.

I Want to Live! (1958)

A screen adaptation of the dramatic events in the life of a "B-Girl," Barbara Graham, which led to a sensational murder trial and her execution. Based on a newspaper article by Edward Montgomery and the letters of Barbara Graham. Academy Award for Best Actress. Starring Susan Hayward, Simon Oakland, and Virginia Vincent; directed by Robert Wise.

In Cold Blood (1967)

A hard hitting docu-drama about two ex-cons who ruthlessly murder a Kansas family in 1959 in order to steal their non-existent stash of money. The first part of the film details the search for them, the second, their trial and execution. Taken from the actual events chronicled by Truman Capote in his book. Starring Robert Blake, Scott Wilson, John Forsythe; written and directed by Richard Brooks. Rated R.

In the Name of the Father (1993)

A man's coerced confession to an IRA bombing he didn't do imprisons his father as well; a British lawyer helps fight for their freedom. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson; directed by Jim Sheridan. Rated R.

Inherit the Wind (1960)

A small Tennessee town gains national attention in 1925 when a biology schoolteacher is arrested for violating state law and teaching Darwin's theory of evolution in the classroom. Based on the Scopes Monkey Trial case, from the play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly; directed by Stanley Kramer. Rated PG. Remade as a made-for-TV movie in 1999 with Jack Lemmon and George C. Scott.

Judgement at Nuremberg (1961) (VHS)

A fictionalized account of a war crimes trial of four eminent Nazi judges at Nuremberg, Germany, after World War II. From the play by Abby Mann. Starring Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, and a parade of celebrity extras; directed by Stanley Kramer. Not rated.

Legal Eagles (2003)

A hard-nosed assistant district attorney and an imaginative defense attorney combine their talents to defend a spacey "performance artist" who is accused of theft and murder. Starring Robert Redford, Debra Winger, Daryl Hannah; directed by Ivan Reitman. Rated PG.

Love Among the Ruins (1975) (VHS)

When an aging beauty is sued for breach of promise by a man young enough to be her grandson, she hires the greatest barrister in England, whom she loved and left when they were both young and poor. Made for TV. Starring Laurence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Colin Blakely; directed by George Cukor. Not rated.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. Starring Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara; directed by George Seaton. Not rated. Remade in 1994 in a version starring Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, and Dylan McDermott.

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Comedy about a writer of greeting card verses who leaves his small town home for New York when he inherits $20 million dollars. In New York, "sophisticates," including relatives, lawyers, and business executives, attempt to have him declared insane in order to gain control of the fortune. Starring Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft; produced and directed by Frank Capra. Not rated.

Murder (1930)

An actress is convicted of murder, but one of the jurists is the only person who believes in her innocence and painstakingly reconstructs the murder to prove her innocent. Based on the novel Enter Sir John by Clemence Dane and Helen Simpson. Starring Herbert Marshall, Norah Baring, Edward Chapman; directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Not rated.

The Music Box (1989)

In this intense courtroom thriller, Chicago attorney Ann Talbot agrees to defend her Hungarian immigrant father Mike Laszlo against accusations of heinous war crimes committed 50 years earlier. As the trial unfolds, Ann probes for evidence that will not only establish his innocence but also lay to rest her own agonizing doubts about his past. Starring Jessica Lange, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Frederick Forrest; directed by Costa-Gavras. Rated PG-13.

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Bill and Stan are mistaken for murderers while on vacation, and Bill's family sends his cousin to defend them for his first case as a lawyer. Starring Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio; directed by Jonathan Lynn. Rated R.

Nuremberg (2000)

Dramatic presentation of the WWII war crimes trials in Nuremberg, Germany. Originally produced as a TV mini-series. Based on the book by Joseph Persico. Starring Alec Baldwin, Jill Hennessy, Brian Cox; directed by Yves Simoneau.

Nuts (1987)

The pending case: The People of the State of New York vs. Claudia Draper. The issue: Is Claudia mentally competent to stand trial? Sure, she's shocking, outspoken, explosive. But is she "nuts?" Claudia holds nothing back as she takes on the judicial system, modern psychiatry, personal demons and anyone in her way. Starring Barbra Streisand, Richard Dreyfuss, Maureen Stapleton; directed by Martin Ritt. Rated R.

The Paradine Case (1947) (VHS)

In a suspenseful courtroom drama, set in London, a beautiful woman is accused of having murdered her husband, a blind war veteran. Based on the novel by Robert Hichens. Starring Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Charles Laughton; directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Not rated.

Paths of Glory (1957)

Based on a true story which occurred in the French Army in 1916. When a regiment fails in its attempt to attack a German position, three men stand trial for cowardice. Based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb. Starring Kirk Douglas, Adolphe Menjou, Ralph Meeker; directed by Stanley Kubrick. Not rated.

The People vs Larry Flynt (1996)

Based on the true story of the notorius Hustler publisher who was sued by the Religious Right and paralyzed by a fanatic's bullet. Chronicles Flynt's raunchy business savvy, his wildly unconventional marriage and his infamous courtroom antics. Starring Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton; directed by Milos Forman. Rated R.

Philadelphia (1993)

Story of two lawyers who join together to sue a prestigious Philadelphia law firm when the firm fires one of them because he has AIDS. Starring Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards; directed by Jonathan Demme. Rated PG-13. Academy Award for Best Original Song by Bruce Springsteen.

A Place in the Sun (1951)

A poor young man is determined to win a place in respectable society and the heart of a beautiful socialite. But his affair with a factory girl threatens his  professional and romantic prospects. Consumed with fear and desire, he is ultimately driven to a desperate act of passion that unravels his world forever. His trial for murder is the set piece of the film. A stunning adaptation of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy.  Starring  Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelly Winters; produced and directed by George Stevens. Not rated.

Presumed Innocent (1990)

When the woman deputy prosecutor R.K. Sabich had an affair with is murdered the prosecutor asks him to lead the investigation. When Sabich digs too deeply he finds himself framed for the murder. Based on the novel by Scott Turow. Starring Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia; directed by Alan J. Pakula. Rated R.

Primal Fear (1996)

A high-powered Chicago attorney defends a penniless altar boy accused of murdering the local archbishop. Based on the novel by William Diehl. Starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney; directed by Gary Hoblit. Rated R.

The Rainmaker (1997)

A rookie lawyer in over his head on a high-profile case hires a feisty paralawyer who specializes in flunking the bar. Their chances of winning are slim to none, until they uncover a trail of corruption. Based on the novel by John Grisham. Starring Matt Damon, John Voight, Mickey Rourke; directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Rated PG-13.

Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Did European aristocrat Claus von Bulow attempt to murder his wife Sunny at their luxurious Newport mansion in 1980? The tabloids of the day certainly had their opinions. "You have one thing in your favor," defense attorney Alan Dershowitz told von Bulow, "Everybody hates you." Starring Glen Close, Jeremy Irons, Ron Silver; directed by Barbet Shroeder. Rated R.

The Rose Garden (1990) (VHS)

In modern Germany, a Holocaust survivor is accused of a seemingly unprovoked assault on an elderly businessman. With the help of a tenacious Frankfurt attorney, it is revealed that the "innocent" victim presided over a brutal Nazi death camp -- and was responsible for the extermination of dozens of innocent young children. Starring Liv Ullmann, Maximilian Schell, Peter Fonda; directed by Fons Rademakers. Rated PG-13.

Rules of Engagement (2000)

Colonel Terry Childers is a patriot and war hero. But when a peacekeeping mission he leads in Yemen goes terribly wrong, he finds himself facing a court martial. Accused of breaking the rules of engagement by killing unarmed civilians, Childers' only hope of vindication rests with comrade-in-arms Hays Hodges, a military lawyer of questionable abilities. Together, they face the battle of their lives. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Guy Pearce; directed by William Friedkin. Rated R.

Runaway Jury (2003)

A juror on the inside, and a woman on the outside manipulate a court trial involving a major gun manufacturer. Based on the novel by John Grisham. Starring John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman; directed by Gary Fleder. Rated PG-13.

Sleepers (1996)

Four childhood friends sent to reform school for a prank that took a near fatal turn become victims of sexual abuse. Thirteen years later, it's payback time when two of them are arrested for the murder of their chief tormenter. The other two, a newspaper reporter and a prosecutor, hatch an elaborate scheme to rig the trial in their favor. Starring Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman; written and directed by Barry Levinson. Rated R.

A Time to Kill (1996)

A murder trial brings a small Mississippi town's racial tensions to the flashpoint. Amid a frenzy of activist marches, Klan terror, media clamor and brutal riots, an unseasoned but idealistic young attorney mounts a stirring courtroom battle for justice. Based on the novel by John Grisham. Starring Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey; directed by Joel Schumacher. Rated R.

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Two children in a small southern town are thrust into an adult world of racial bigotry and hatred when their lawyer father chooses to defend a black man unjustly accused of raping a white girl. An enduring classic. Based on the novel by Harper Lee. Starring Gregory Peck, Brock Peters, Robert Duvall; screenplay by Horton Foote; directed by Robert Mulligan. Oscars for Best Actor (Peck) and Best Screenplay (Foote). Not rated.

Town without Pity (1961)

Four American GI's, stationed in Germany circa 1960, are accused of attacking a local teenage girl. An Army major is assigned to defend the soldiers. If he's going to prevent their death sentences, he will have to turn the spotlight on the victim who is already traumatized. From the novel The Verdict by Manfred Gregor. Starring Kirk Douglas, E.G. Marshall, Robert Blake; directed by Gottfried Reinhardt. Not rated.

True Believer (1988) (VHS)

A once acclaimed civil rights attorney of the 60's, now an embittered cynic who makes a living defending drug-dealing low-lifes, has his passion for justice rekindled by an idealistic young associate. Starring James Woods, Robert Downey, Jr., Margaret Colin; directed by Joseph Ruben. Rated R.

12 Angry Men (1957)

Classic courtroom drama about a teenage boy accused of killing his father and the jury that must decide his fate. Starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley; directed by Sidney Lumet. Not rated. Remade in 1997 in a version with George C. Scott, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Danza and directed by William Friedkin.

The Verdict (1982)

An alcoholic lawyer stumbles upon one last chance to redeem himself by taking on a controversial court case that no one is supposed to win. Based on the novel by Barry Reed. Starring Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden; screenplay by David Mamet; directed by Sidney Lumet. Rated R.

The Winslow Boy (1999)

The story follows the lives of the Winslows, a banker's family living in turn-of-the-century London, as they fight to prove the innocence of their youngest son, accused of theft and expelled from the Royal Navy Academy. Based on the play by Terence Rattigan. Starring Nigel Hawthorne, Jeremy Northam, Rebecca Pidgeon; written and directed by David Mamet. Rated G. Originally filmed in 1948 in a British version featuring Robert Donat, Margaret Leighton, and Cedric Hardwicke and directed by Anthony Asquith.

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

A gruff British lawyer returns from a long convalescence to take on a homicide case -- a man accused of murdering his wealthy woman friend in order to secure his inheritance. The defendant's mysterious wife stuns the courtroom by giving damaging testimony against her husband. Based on a play by Agatha Christie. Starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, with a hilarious turn by Elsa Lanchester as a nurse. Written and directed by Billy Wilder. Not rated.

5/10

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