The courtroom drama is a Western movie staple, with countless clichés and famous films to its credit. While not as popular as major genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and horror, movies about attorneys and various legal dramas have been a proud legacy of Hollywood since the days of black-and-white cinema. The legal drama genre, like any other, has evolved throughout time, but many of the popular clichés and structural conventions of lawyer movies have stayed stable.
Of course, just because there is a narrative structure in place does not mean that making a successful courtroom drama is simple. The genre’s predictable design makes sloppy imitation movies much simpler to create. Thus to provide a blockbuster screen time to our readers, here is a list of The Best Lawyer Movies of all time.
30. RBG (2018)
- Director: Betsy West, Julie Cohen
- Writer: Betsy West, Julie Cohen
- Cast: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harryette Helsel, Ann Kittner, Clara Spera
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
- Streaming Platform: Apple TV
RBG follows Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s career over several decades and how she established a judicial legacy while becoming a pop culture star.
A vote approved Ginsburg 96 to 3 after answering issues regarding abortion and discrimination candidly during her Senate committee hearings, which President Clinton recalls was remarkable considering the heated political atmosphere of the 1990s.
29. And Justice For All (1979)
- Director: Norman Jewison
- Writer: Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson
- Cast: Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
- Streaming Platform: iTunes, Google Play, and Vudu
The film, directed by Norman Jewison, depicts Al Pacino’s character, Arthur Kirkland, a Baltimore defense attorney who ends himself in jail after hitting Judge Henry T. Fleming (played by John Forsythe) while arguing in favor of his client, Jeff McCullaugh (played by Thomas G. Waites). Unfortunately, McCullaugh was mistaken for a killer with much the same name after being detained for a minor traffic infraction.
Kirkland finally gets out of prison and is recruited to represent Judge Fleming, who is accused of brutally assaulting and raping a young woman. Fleming wants Kirkland to be his lawyer because he feels having someone who openly dislikes him defending him would benefit him.
28. Amistad (1997)
- Director: Steven Spielberg
- Writer: David Franzoni
- Cast: Djimon Hounsou, Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
Amistad was a narrative about a slave ship from Cuba to the United States in 1839. In Steven Spielberg’s film Cinque (Djimon Hounsou) organizes the enslaved people in an insurrection, culminating in their imprisonment in Connecticut.
Morgan Freeman’s character, Theodore Johnson, a formerly enslaved person, hears of these people’s suffering and enlists the aid of estate attorney Roger Baldwin (played by Matthew McCaughnehey) to represent and forgive them. Their quest eventually gained the backing of John Quincy Adams, depicted by Anthony Hopkins.
27. The Firm (1993)
- Director: Sydney Pollack
- Writer: John Grisham
- Cast: Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tom Cruise, Holly Hunter
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video, Apple Tv
In Sydney Pollack’s The Company, based on John Grisham’s legal thriller of the same name, a young lawyer named Mitch McDeere (played by Tom Cruise) enters the ranks of a tiny and prominent firm. Although first honored to be a member of the business, McDeere quickly discovers, with the assistance of a receptionist portrayed by Holly Hunter, that there is more to the firm than strikes the eye and that it is involved in financial fraud for the mafia.
When the FBI approaches McDeere to obtain information concerning his colleagues’ behavior, he finds himself in a pickle. As a result, he must choose between following the law and making the option that will keep him safe.
26. Primal Fear (1996)
- Director: Gregory Hoblit
- Writer: Ann Biderman, Steve Shagan
- Cast: Edward Norton, Richard Gere, Laura Linney
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
Edward Norton gives that performance in 1996’s “Primal Fear,” which portrays Aaron, a former Catholic altar boy suspected of killing the bishop of his diocese. When Aaron adopts a more confident and violent persona known as Roy, his defense counsel, played by Richard Gere, swiftly recognizes what he thinks to be depersonalization/derealization disorder.
Any further plot specifics would likely ruin the picture for someone who hasn’t seen it; however, enough to say that while most of the planning is quite formulaic, Norton’s performance is simply excellent. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and went on to win the same award at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards.
25. Based On Sex (2018)
- Director: Mimi Leder
- Writer: Daniel Stiepleman
- Cast: Felicity Jones, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Armie Hammer
- IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
- Streaming Platform: Sony Liv
“Based on Sex” received positive reviews upon its initial release (through Rotten Tomatoes); however, several critics commented that it succeeds more due to its original content than its cinematic implementation. Jones is excellent in the lead part, and the writing is decent; however, when dealing with a historical character like RBG, it’s often preferable to let history speak for itself.
Murder trials and overly dramatic justice stories abound in the legal drama genre. “Based on Sex” is a breath of new air since it focuses on how case law and legal precedent may profoundly affect the country for the better.
24. The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
- Director: Taylor Hackford
- Writer: Tony Gilroy, Jonathan Lemkin
- Cast: Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Charlize Theron
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Keanu Reeves plays Kevin Lomax, a Florida defense attorney who accepts a position at John Milton’s New York legal office (played by Al Pacino).
As Kevin rises through the business ranks, his mentally ill wife, Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), has a series of increasingly terrifying and mystical events that distort her perspective of reality. While coping with his wife’s sickness, Kevin discovers that his employer is involved in some illegal activities and is, therefore, not who he seems to be.
23. A Civil Action (1998)
- Director: Steven Zaillian
- Writer: Jonathan Harr
- Cast: John Travolta, William H. Macy, John Lithgow
- IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 62%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
John Travolta plays personal injury lawyer Jan Schlichtmann in this film written and directed by Steven Zaillian & based on a true story. Schlichtmann becomes embroiled in a matter that, while appearing to be simple at first, turns out to be quite complicated and threatens to be his undoing.
The case involves a multinational corporation responsible for poisoning a town’s water supply and causing leukemia in some of its people. Schlichtmann goes up against a formidable litigator played by Robert Duval in an attempt to put things right and hold the business accountable, risking bankrupting his firm and destroying his career.
22. 12 Angry Men (1957)
- Director: Sidney Lumet
- Writer: Reginald Rose
- Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Reginald Rose
- IMDb Rating: 9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Vudu Movie & TV Store, VUDU or Redbox
Sidney Lumet’s famous courtroom drama depicts the discussions of 12 men, all jury members weighing the destiny of a poor adolescent man accused of murder. He may face the death sentence if proven guilty.
Except for Juror 8, all jurors believe that the young guy is guilty at the start of the video. Juror 8, portrayed by Henry Fonda, urges his fellow jurors to deliberate on the defendant’s case before convicting him. Throughout the proceedings, many jurors change their votes as they are forced to confront parts of the evidence that they first ignored.
21. Marshall (2017)
- Director: Reginald Hudlin
- Writer: Jacob Koskoff, Michael Koskoff
- Cast: Chadwick Aaron Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Sterling K. Brown
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
“Marshall,” like “Based on Sex,” gains a lot of narrative impetus from its source material. Marshall was a bright, daring civil rights lawyer. He achieved significant advances for racial equality and fairness in America. The film concentrates on one of his most crucial early cases, State of Connecticut v. Joseph Spell.
The NAACP sends Marshall to defend a Black driver who has been wrongly accused of sexually abusing his white boss. Even though the odds and the community are opposed to the defendant, Marshall successfully navigates the case, achieving a not-guilty decision.
20. The Conspirator (2010)
- Director: Robert Redford
- Writer: James Solomon
- Cast: James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Evan Rachel Wood
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 56%
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
The Conspirator, directed by Robert Redford, depicts the consequences of President Lincoln’s assassination. Following the assassination of the President, seven men, and one woman are taken into custody for conspiracy to murder the President, Vice President, and Secretary of State.
The hesitant lawyer Frederick Aiken represents the lone lady, Mary Surratt (played by Robin Wright) (played by James McAvoy). Surratt runs the guesthouse where John Wilkes Booth and the other conspirators planned their assassination. Convinced that Surratt is innocent, Aiken works tirelessly throughout the film to defend her and demonstrate that she is being exploited to apprehend her son. But unfortunately, this further suspect was at large.
19. The Client (1994)
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Writer: John Grisham
- Cast: Susan Sarandon, Brad Renfro, Tommy Lee Jones
- IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
“The Client,” starring Susan Sarandon in quite an Oscar-nominated performance, is an excellent lawyer movie about people involved against their will in the sometimes violent convulsions of the American court system. Based on John Grisham’s novel of the same name, Sarandon portrays lawyer Regina Love.
The latter is recruited to defend an 11-year-old child (Brad Renfro) after witnessing the killing of a mafia connection. A separate attorney, played by Tommy Lee Jones, attempts to get the youngster to expose vital information confided to him by the deceased, putting him and his family at risk.
18. A Time To Kill (1996)
- Director: Joel Schumacher
- Writer: John Grisham
- Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bullock
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 67%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
In this film, directed by Joel Schumacher, Samuel L. Jackson plays Carl Lee Hailey, a father who murders the racist men who viciously raped his daughter while being prosecuted for their crime. Hailey is subsequently forced to rely on the assistance of defense lawyer Jake Brigance, played by Matthew McConaughey, to be acquitted.
Brigance believes Hailey’s acquittal prospects are poor, partly due to his residence in a tiny and divided town in the South. Still, he accepts the man’s case when he demonstrates unwavering trust in his talents.
17. Compulsion (1959)
- Director: Richard Fleischer
- Writer: Richard Murphy
- Cast: Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: iTunes
Richard Fleischer’s criminal thriller depicts the story of two psychopathic students, Artie Straus (Bradford Dillman) & Judd Steiner (played by Dean Stockwell). Artie and Judd are in significant danger after they kill another person to pull off a perfect crime. But unfortunately, they leave behind critical evidence and are arrested for their actions.
After that, Orson Welles, who plays their lawyer, must labor tirelessly to defend the two teenage men and spare them from death. The movie is based on a well-known 1924 Leopold and Loeb case.
16. The Paper Chase (1973)
- Director: James Bridges
- Writer: James Bridges
- Cast: Timothy Bottoms, John Houseman, Lindsay Wagner
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- Streaming Platform: Prime Video, Vudu Movie & TV Store
In James Bridges’s The Paper Chase, a first-year Harvard law student called James Hart (played by Timothy Bottoms) overcomes a series of educational hurdles. However, when he has a run-in with an imposing contractual professor, Charles W. Kingsfield, his load gets even more significant (played by John Houseman).
Despite Kingsfield’s concentration in the classroom and the strict demands he lays on his pupils, which force many to leave their studies and drop out entirely, James perseveres and sometimes even starts dating his professor’s daughter, Susan, played by Lindsay Wagner.
15. Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
- Director: Robert Benton
- Writer: Robert Benton
- Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Justin Henry
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
- Streaming Platform: Apple TV
Written and directed by Robert Benton, Kramer vs. Kramer is about an advertising executive Ted Kramer (acted by Dustin Hoffman), as he finds out his spouse (played by Meryl Streep) is leaving him and his young son for good.
Even after getting fired from his advertising job, Ted develops fantastic chemistry and a relationship with his son with the aid of another single mother – Margaret, portrayed by Jane Alexander. However, this presents issues later on when his wife returns to try to reclaim custody. As a result, an exhausting judicial struggle develops, with significant consequences for all parties engaged in the case.
14. The Rainmaker (1997)
- Director: Francis Ford Coppola
- Writer: John Grisham
- Cast: Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
The Rainmaker, created by Francis Ford Coppola, depicts Rudy Baylor, a rookie attorney who, unable to find employment, is compelled to work for another lawyer with questionable morality, played by Mickey Rourke.
Baylor meets Deck Shifflet, a paralegal portrayed by Danny DeVito, and Dot Black (performed by Mary Kay Place), whose insurance carrier would not give coverage for her dying son. When Baylor discovers this knowledge, he joins forces with Shifflet to fight Black’s insurance provider and its tough lawyer (played by Jon Voight).
13. A Few Good Men (1992)
- Director: Rob Reiner
- Writer: Aaron Sorkin
- Cast: Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, Demi Moore
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
A Few Good Men, directed by Rob Reiner & written by Aaron Sorkin, follows army attorney Lt. Daniel Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise) after he represents two Marines accused of killing fellow Marines at Guantanamo Bay.
Another lawyer, represented by Demi Moore, convinces Kaffee not to pursue a plea deal for these Marines. Instead, she persuades him that they are following orders from a company commander, Col. Nathan Jessep, portrayed by Jack Nicholson.
12. A Man For All Seasons (1976)
- Director: Fred Zinnemann
- Writer: Robert Bolt
- Cast: Paul Scofield, Robert Bolt, Robert Shaw
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 84%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
A Man for All Seasons, directed by Fred Zinnemann, is set in middle ages England and chronicles the life of Sir Thomas More, presented by Paul Scofield.
More is famous for defying King Henry VIII (played by Robert Shaw) and failing to urge the Pope into annulling the king’s marriage so he may remarry. Moreover, despite extraordinary pressure, a devout Catholic stayed firm in his refusal to allow the monarch to divorce. The emperor and his adherents retaliated by accusing More of treason.
11. Judgment At Nuremberg (1961)
- Director: Stanley Kramer
- Writer: Montgomery Clift, Abby Mann
- Cast: Maximilian Schell, Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
- Streaming Platform: Pluto TV
This political thriller, set in the late 1940s after World War II, follows nazis who are prosecuted inside an American courtroom in Germany. In Stanley Kramer’s film, these people must face a martial tribunal and answer allegations of human rights violations.
Chief Justice Haywood (Spencer Tracy) shall hear from the principal defendant, Ernst Janning (Burt Lancaster), as well as his defense counsel (Maximillian Schell), the widow of a Nazi commander, a US army captain (William Shatner), and a witness called Irene Wallner (played by Judy Garland).
10. Presumed Innocent (1990)
- Director: Alan J. Pakula
- Writer: Scott Turow
- Cast: Harrison Ford, Bonnie Bedelia, Greta Scacchi
- IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
Presumed Innocent, directed by Alan J. Pakula, follows Rusty Sabich, a senior deputy portrayed by Harrison Ford. The latter is ordered by prosecuting attorney Raymond Horgan (played by Brian Dennehy) to look into the murder and rape of his coworker, Carolyn Polhemus (played by Greta Scacchi).
Horgan is unaware that Polhemus & Sabich are having an affair at the moment of the assignment. However, evidence eventually implicates Sabich, prompting Horgan’s opponents to seek his arrest. Sabich must hire defense attorney Sandy Stern (Raul Julia) to assist him in his case.
9. The Verdict
- Director: Sidney Lumet
- Writer: David Mamet, Jay Presson Allen
- Cast: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
The Verdict features Frank Galvin, represented by Paul Newman, who was once an attorney out of work after being sacked out of a Boston law firm for jury manipulation allegations. At the start of the movie, directed by Sidney Lumet, Galvin agrees to take on a medical malpractice case to favor his buddy Mickey (played by Jack Warden).
Galvin initially intends to settle the matter but refuses the hospital’s offer and decides to go to trial alternatively, much to the astonishment of the court and the victim’s relatives.
8. Erin Brockovich (2000)
- Director: Steven Soderbergh
- Writer: Susannah Grant
- Cast: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
- Streaming Platform: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Erin Brockovich presents the true story of a woman who challenged Pacific Gas and Electric after discovering a cover-up that had been subjecting a local community to tainted water, leading to significant diseases.
Julia Roberts plays Erin Brockovich in the film, directed by Steven Soderbergh. Albert Finney plays her lawyer, Ed Masry, who finally hires her at his practice. Brockovich begins her inquiry after discovering medical data relating to the crime while working at Masry’s business.
7. Philadelphia (1993)
- Director: Jonathan Demme
- Writer: Ron Nyswaner
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
Philadelphia, directed by Jonathan Demme, is a lawyer film following the tale of lawyer Andrew Beckett. He fights to conceal his homosexuality and HIV status for fear of jeopardizing his job at a famous Philadelphia law firm. However, a coworker eventually exposes his secrets.
Beckett chooses to sue the business for discrimination after losing his employment there. Joe Miller, played by Denzel Washington, is the only lawyer who will aid him with his case. The two guys team together to take on Belinda Conine, one of the firm’s finest litigators, portrayed by Mary Steenburgen. Denzel Washington was critically acclaimed for his acting in this good courtroom drama.
6. Legally Blonde (2001)
- Director: Robert Luketic
- Writer: Robert Luketic
- Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Jennifer Coolidge
- IMDb Rating: 6.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
Based on Amanda Brown’s novel, Legally Blonde is a courtroom drama-comedy starring Reese Witherspoon playing Elle Woods, a Californian sorority girl. After her ex, Warner Huntington III (played by Matthew Davis), splits up with her on the date she expected him to propose, Elle pursues him to Harvard Law School.
While her first objective is to win Warner back, Elle quickly falls in love with the legal industry as she struggles to overcome the difficulties of being a first-year law graduate. She later realizes she can be a brilliant lawyer in her own right. Julia Roberts was acclaimed a lot for her portrayal of the titular character.
5. Witness For Persecution (1957)
- Director: Billy Wilder
- Writer: Billy Wilder, Lawrence B. Marcus, Harry Kurnitz
- Cast: Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Apple Tv
In this movie, Tyrone Power portrays Leonard Vole, who is charged with killing a wealthy woman. Vole is defended by the renowned Sir Wilfrid Robarts (played by Charles Laughton) and should have his wife, Christine, support his alibi to win the case (played by Marlene Dietrich).
In an unexpected change of events, Christine chooses to come to court & testify against him. Several unexpected plot twists occur throughout the award-winning film as Sir Wilfrid attempts to defend his client and conclude the case.
4. The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
- Director: Brad Furman
- Writer: John Romano
- Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
The Lincoln Lawyer, directed by Brad Furman, features Matthew McConaughey portraying Mick Haller, a defense attorney who operates his law office from the Lincoln Continental. Mick’s clients are primarily minor offenders, but he’s given the unusual opportunity to defend an affluent Beverly Hills playboy named Louis Ross Roulet, portrayed by Ryan Phillippe, who’s been convicted of attempted murder.
Mick first believes that the trial will be simple and straightforward. But he quickly discovers that there’s more to it than strikes the eye and that it’s linked to a past case.
3. Anatomy Of A Murder (1959)
- Director: Otto Preminger
- Writer: Wendell Mayes
- Cast: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
- Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Anatomy of a Murder, predicated on the novel of the same title, is regarded as one of the greatest courtroom dramas of all time. It pursues Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler (played by James Stewart), who’s had his work cut out for him since having to agree to safeguard Lt. Manion (played by Ben Gazzara), who killed a local bar owner after gaining knowledge he’s been accused of rape.
To aid his client, Biegler, who is persuaded to take up the case by his mentor, Parnell McCarthy (played by Arthur O’Connell), has to go up against better attorney Claude Dancer (played by George C. Scott).
2. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
- Director: Robert Mulligan
- Writer: Harper Lee
- Cast: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford
- IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
- Streaming Platform: MX Player
What could top “Anatomy of a Murder”? The 1962 big-screen production of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” topped the AFI’s ranking of the finest courtroom dramas. Let’s go right to the point:
This is a list of lawyer movies where Atticus Finch, portrayed flawlessly by Gregory Peck in the film adaptation, is possibly the most famous lawyer in English-language literature. Horton Foote’s adaptation of Lee’s narrative is a striking reminder that laws and pre-existing justice institutions are frequently insufficient to protect the innocent. It’s a narrative about prejudice, innocence, and the human ability for brutality and generosity.
1. My Cousin Vinny
- Director: Jonathan Lynn
- Writer: Dale Launer
- Cast: Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
- Streaming Platform: Hulu
My Cousin Vinny, filmed by Jonathan Lynn & written by Dale Launer, depicts two young Americans, Bill Gambini & Stan Rothenstein, who’ve been caught and charged with murder while traveling in rural Alabama. The destiny of these guys is now on the shoulders of Vincent Gambini (Vinny), Bill’s cousin and a lawyer who has recently passed the bar exam.
Joe Pesci’s character, Gambini, does his best to protect his cousin with his cousin’s friend, but he makes a lot of mistakes along the way. Marisa Tomei portrays Mona Lisa as Gambini’s fiancee, who assists him with his defense.