Jagged Edge (1985)
The Case: Lawyer Teddy Barnes (Glenn Close) is hired by Jack Forrester (Jeff Bridges) when he’s put on trial for the murder of his wife.
Only In The Movies: A number of fun, tried and true courtroom conventions fire up Jagged Edge. Not only has Barnes not practiced criminal law in a while but, naturally, she also falls in love with Forrester. Who says law's dull?
Only In The Movies: A number of fun, tried and true courtroom conventions fire up Jagged Edge. Not only has Barnes not practiced criminal law in a while but, naturally, she also falls in love with Forrester. Who says law's dull?
North Country (2005)
The Case: Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) takes her company, Evelith Mines, to court over sexual harassment, filing the first successful sexual harassment case in the USA.
Only In The Movies: Facts get twisted and turned to fit the dramatic narrative in Niki Caro’s involving if obvious drama.
Only In The Movies: Facts get twisted and turned to fit the dramatic narrative in Niki Caro’s involving if obvious drama.
A Cry In The Dark (1988)
The Case: Lindy Chamberlain (Meryl Streep) is charged with the murder of her young daughter, who she states was carried off by a dingo during a camping trip.
Only In The Movies: The phrase ‘The dingo took my baby’, uttered by Lindy, has taken on a pop culture life of its own thanks to the movie. It’s been referenced in everything fromThe Simpsons to Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Only In The Movies: The phrase ‘The dingo took my baby’, uttered by Lindy, has taken on a pop culture life of its own thanks to the movie. It’s been referenced in everything fromThe Simpsons to Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
High Crimes (2002)
The Case: Lawyer Claire Kubik (Ashley Judd) asks for the help of unconventional law practitioner Charles W. Grimes (Morgan Freeman) when her husband is arrested for the murder of Latin American villagers.
Only In The Movies: If we learnt anything from Ally McBeal, it’s that the best courtroom dramas rely on lawyers with different approaches butting heads – which is exactly whatHigh Crimes plays around with.
Only In The Movies: If we learnt anything from Ally McBeal, it’s that the best courtroom dramas rely on lawyers with different approaches butting heads – which is exactly whatHigh Crimes plays around with.
Rules Of Engagement (2000)
The Case: Former colonel Hayes Hodges (Tommy Lee Jones) is now working as a lawyer, and is the perfect man for the job in defending Colonel Terry Childers (Samuel L. Jackson) against a murder charge.
Only In The Movies: The plot twist that reveals Childers saved Hodges in Vietnam smacks of movie bumph.
Only In The Movies: The plot twist that reveals Childers saved Hodges in Vietnam smacks of movie bumph.
Double Jeopardy (1999)
The Case: A woman (Ashley Judd) accused of murdering her husband is sent to prison. When she discovers he’s still alive, she decides to murder him for real, reasoning she can't get put on trial for the same murder twice.
Only In The Movies: Sadly, that's not actually how the law works. While the law of 'double jeopardy' stops somebody from being tried for the same crime twice, Judd would actually be committing a whole new crime. Oops.
Only In The Movies: Sadly, that's not actually how the law works. While the law of 'double jeopardy' stops somebody from being tried for the same crime twice, Judd would actually be committing a whole new crime. Oops.
Reversal Of Fortune (1990)
The Case: Claus von Bülow (Jeremy Irons) is taken to court for the attempted murder of his wife (Glenn Close). Enter Professor Alan Dershowitz (Ron Silver) to help prove his innocence.
Only In The Movies: Fortune takes a different perspective on things to most courtroom dramas, focussing on the building of the case rather than its delivery in the courtroom.
Only In The Movies: Fortune takes a different perspective on things to most courtroom dramas, focussing on the building of the case rather than its delivery in the courtroom.
The Life Of David Gale (2003)
The Case: David Gale (Kevin Spacey) is accused of rape and murder and put on death row. While waiting for his demise, he tells a reporter his story.
Only In The Movies: The film’s ticking clock climax is strung out for maximum tension – good ol' Hollywood.
Only In The Movies: The film’s ticking clock climax is strung out for maximum tension – good ol' Hollywood.
The Hurricane (1999)
The Case: Boxer Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter (Denzel Washington) is convicted of triple-homicide and sentenced to three life terms. Can he fight back against a racist system?
Only In The Movies: The Hurricane met with much controversy upon release for its meddling with the facts surrounding the real case. A New Yorker critic branded it “false, evasive and factually very thin – a liberal fairytale”. Still great, though.
Only In The Movies: The Hurricane met with much controversy upon release for its meddling with the facts surrounding the real case. A New Yorker critic branded it “false, evasive and factually very thin – a liberal fairytale”. Still great, though.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
The Case: Very little time spent in the courtroom here, but it’s still a film that builds a compelling case, as Ms Brockovich (Julia Roberts) attempts to bring justice to a California power company.
Only In The Movies: It’s based on the true story of a real woman, but there’s no denying it relies on some serious star wattage from Roberts and Albert Finney.
Only In The Movies: It’s based on the true story of a real woman, but there’s no denying it relies on some serious star wattage from Roberts and Albert Finney.
A Soldier’s Story (1984)
The Case: During World War II, an army attorney investigates the death of a black soldier who was returning to his base in the Deep South.
Only In The Movies: The power of the flashback is one that most courtroom dramas (and now episodes of CSI) use as a dramatic device, and it’s never more powerful than in A Soldier’s Story.
Only In The Movies: The power of the flashback is one that most courtroom dramas (and now episodes of CSI) use as a dramatic device, and it’s never more powerful than in A Soldier’s Story.
My Cousin Vinny (1992)
The Case: Inexperienced law-practitioner Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci) is called in when his young cousin (Ralph Macchio) is charged with murder in suburban Alabama.
Only In The Movies: A confession for stealing tuna turns into a massive homicide case? Yep, only in Hollywood.
Only In The Movies: A confession for stealing tuna turns into a massive homicide case? Yep, only in Hollywood.
Absence Of Malice (1981)
The Case: Michael Colin Gallagher (Paul Newman) attempts to get his life under control after he’s associated with a murder by journalist Megan Carter (Sally Field).
Only In The Movies: The film’s tagline played up the drama something chronic – In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?
Only In The Movies: The film’s tagline played up the drama something chronic – In America can a man be guilty until proven innocent?
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
The Case: A lawyer attempts to free an old man who believes he is Santa Claus from the asylum that he’s been confined to.
Only In The Movies: This happened for real in the 1800s, but the twee premise combined with no-nonsense courtroom procedure provides the kind of drama that could only exist in the movies.
Only In The Movies: This happened for real in the 1800s, but the twee premise combined with no-nonsense courtroom procedure provides the kind of drama that could only exist in the movies.
Separate But Equal (1991)
The Case: The first major victory for the civil rights movement, as racial segregation in a school is challenged in the courthouse.
Only In The Movies: Everything here is completely true. Well, mostly.
Only In The Movies: Everything here is completely true. Well, mostly.
The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
The Case: Slick-as-crude-oil lawyer Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is hired by rich kid Louis (Ryan Phillippe) when he’s charged with sexual assault.
Only In The Movies: Would a defence attorney and a prosecutor really have a child together in reality? And would they really be unable to make their relationship work because of their morally opposite standings?
Only In The Movies: Would a defence attorney and a prosecutor really have a child together in reality? And would they really be unable to make their relationship work because of their morally opposite standings?
In The Bedroom (2001)
The Case: Richard Strout (William Mapother) kills Frank Fowler (Nick Stahl) after seeing him with his wife. When it looks likely that he’ll get off scot-free, others take matters into their own hands.
Only In The Movies: Though the case is one soaked in blood and guilt, director Todd Field plays everything with an under-stated eye that makes it truly devastating.
Only In The Movies: Though the case is one soaked in blood and guilt, director Todd Field plays everything with an under-stated eye that makes it truly devastating.
The Rainmaker (1997)
The Case: Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) is a job-hunting young attorney who’s still yet to sit his final exams. That doesn’t stop him helping out in an insurance case, though, in which he attempts to get justice for a young man at death’s door.
Only In The Movies: Could a young, unqualified lawyer really manage to come out on top in the end without burning out beforehand?
Only In The Movies: Could a young, unqualified lawyer really manage to come out on top in the end without burning out beforehand?
The Client (1994)
The Case: When a young boy witnesses the suicide of a mafia lawyer, he’s plucked up by a DA who wants to use him to put the kibosh on a mob family. Meanwhile, lawyer Reggie Love (Susan Sarandon) comes to his defence.
Only In The Movies: A lawyer named Reggie Love? Only in a (John Grisham) movie…
Only In The Movies: A lawyer named Reggie Love? Only in a (John Grisham) movie…
Sleepers (1996)
The Case: Four boys are sentenced to a year in the Wilkenson Centre after a prank gone wrong results in an old man being injured.
Only In The Movies: Here, the court case is simply the beginning for these four boys, whose lives are changed irredeemably by the verdict. A great look at what happens after the courtroom’s gone quiet.
Only In The Movies: Here, the court case is simply the beginning for these four boys, whose lives are changed irredeemably by the verdict. A great look at what happens after the courtroom’s gone quiet.
A Time To Kill (1996)
The Case: A just-out-of-law-school attorney (Matthew McConaughey) defends a man (Samuel L. Jackson) who killed the men who raped his young daughter.
Only In The Movies: Considering the specifics of the case – a black girl is raped by white men, who are in turn killed by the girl’s father – would a black man really hire a white lawyer to defend him in court?
Only In The Movies: Considering the specifics of the case – a black girl is raped by white men, who are in turn killed by the girl’s father – would a black man really hire a white lawyer to defend him in court?
A Civil Action (1998)
The Case: Jan Schlichtmann fights the system as he takes on corporate ills in a water-pollution case, and discovers that he’ll have to do more than just turn on the charm with this gig.
Only In The Movies: Jan Schlichtmann was a real guy, but only in the movies would he have the considerable charisma of John Travolta.
Only In The Movies: Jan Schlichtmann was a real guy, but only in the movies would he have the considerable charisma of John Travolta.
Intruder In The Dust (1949)
The Case: In the Deep South in the 1940s, Lucas Beauchamp (Juano Hernandez) is accused of murder. Finding himself a lawyer in Gavin Stevens (David Brian), Bauchamp’s salvation may come in the form of Stevens’ nephew, who knows the accused to be a good and just man.
Only In The Movies: Would a lawyer be allowed to admit the judgement of a boy, purely based on his prior observations? Hardly.
Only In The Movies: Would a lawyer be allowed to admit the judgement of a boy, purely based on his prior observations? Hardly.
Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
The Case: A career man (Dustin Hoffman) who has little time for his young son finds himself lumbered with the child when his wife (Meryl Streep) disappears. When the boy’s mother returns, his father fights for full custody.
Only In The Movies: Plot-wise, the relationship between Ted Kramer and his son smacks of Hollywood heart-string pluckage. Meanwhile, the idea that the boy would have to testify, as championed by Howard Duff, is absolute movie rubbish.
Only In The Movies: Plot-wise, the relationship between Ted Kramer and his son smacks of Hollywood heart-string pluckage. Meanwhile, the idea that the boy would have to testify, as championed by Howard Duff, is absolute movie rubbish.
Fury (1936)
The Case: Joe Wilson (Spencer Tracy) is arrested for kidnapping a child. When a mob burns down the jail, the district attorney (Walter Abel) takes the perpetrators to court for murder.
Only In The Movies: A classic in its own right, but director Fritz Lang was restricted by MGM who demanded that he make his protagonist innocent and bolt on a happy ending. Not at all like modern movies, then…
Only In The Movies: A classic in its own right, but director Fritz Lang was restricted by MGM who demanded that he make his protagonist innocent and bolt on a happy ending. Not at all like modern movies, then…
Primal Fear (1996)
The Case: Lawyer Martin Vail (Richard Gere) defends an altar bar who is accused of murdering a priest in cold blood, but is it as clear cut as all that?
Only In The Movies: The film’s giant plot twist is almost too far-fetched to be realistic, but it packs one hell of a wallop dramatically.
Only In The Movies: The film’s giant plot twist is almost too far-fetched to be realistic, but it packs one hell of a wallop dramatically.
The Passion Of Joan Of Arc (1928)
The Case: Jeanne d’Arc (Maria Falconetti) is put on the stand where judges attempt to coerce her into admitting that she is lying about her mission from God.
Only In The Movies: Though The Passion is a black-and-white silent film, director Carl Theodor Dreyer helped build the tension by using crash close-ups and refusing to let his actors wear make-up.
Only In The Movies: Though The Passion is a black-and-white silent film, director Carl Theodor Dreyer helped build the tension by using crash close-ups and refusing to let his actors wear make-up.
The Caine Mutiny (1954)
The Case: Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Queeg (Humphrey Bogart) is relieved of duty by the first officer when he starts showing signs of mental instability. Queeg’s response? Charge the first officer with mutiny.
Only In The Movies: The climax of the court martial trial is contrasted simultaneously with scenes of the ship getting battered by a typhoon – not over the top at all, then.
Only In The Movies: The climax of the court martial trial is contrasted simultaneously with scenes of the ship getting battered by a typhoon – not over the top at all, then.
A Few Good Men (1992)
The Case: Navy lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise) enters the courtroom in order to defend Marines who have been charged with murder.
Only In The Movies: Do lawyers really have teeth as perfect as Tom Cruise's?
Only In The Movies: Do lawyers really have teeth as perfect as Tom Cruise's?
Amistad (1997)
The Case: African slaves who seized the slave ship taking them to America are put on trial at the Supreme Court for mutiny. John Quincy Adams (Matthew McConaughey) pleas for their release.
Only In The Movies: “Give us free!” Movies were made for embittered speeches like the ones in Amistad.
Only In The Movies: “Give us free!” Movies were made for embittered speeches like the ones in Amistad.
Witness For The Prosecution (1957)
The Case: Screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s mystery, in which Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is charged with the murder of a rich widow. Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) is the lawyer hired to defend him.
Only In The Movies: Like the best courtroom dramas, what starts out as a fairly simple open-shut case quickly balloons into something beautifully complicated – much to the chagrin of Sir Wilfrid Robarts.
Only In The Movies: Like the best courtroom dramas, what starts out as a fairly simple open-shut case quickly balloons into something beautifully complicated – much to the chagrin of Sir Wilfrid Robarts.
Michael Clayton (2007)
The Case: Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is a ‘fixer’, an attorney who is brought in to support a case against a giant chemical company after their lawyer has a mental breakdown.
Only In The Movies: Though it’s full of plausible characters and an engagingly realistic story, Clayton knows what makes movies ticks and keeps the melodrama bubbling nicely along.
Only In The Movies: Though it’s full of plausible characters and an engagingly realistic story, Clayton knows what makes movies ticks and keeps the melodrama bubbling nicely along.
A Man For All Seasons (1966)
The Case: Thomas More (Paul Schofield) stands up to one of history’s most terrifying figures when he opposes Henry VIII’s plans to divorce Catherine of Aragon.
Only In The Movies: Far more than being a history lesson, Fred Zinnemann’s film looks into what happens when the law is questioned. Is a King above the law?
Only In The Movies: Far more than being a history lesson, Fred Zinnemann’s film looks into what happens when the law is questioned. Is a King above the law?
The People Vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
The Case: Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson) battles for freedom of speech as he wrestles public condemnation of his publication, Hustler.
Only In The Movies: Flynt was a real guy, but he’s changed significantly for the movie – in reality he was unable to do anything without assistance (being paraplegic), meaning scenes like his discovery of Althea in the bathtub were entirely Hollywoodised.
Only In The Movies: Flynt was a real guy, but he’s changed significantly for the movie – in reality he was unable to do anything without assistance (being paraplegic), meaning scenes like his discovery of Althea in the bathtub were entirely Hollywoodised.
JFK (1991)
The Case: New Orleans DA Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) investigates the assassination of the American President, and discovers that not everything the FBI have reported can be validated.
Only In The Movies: One man against the world – the kind of story that movies were made for.
Only In The Movies: One man against the world – the kind of story that movies were made for.
The Accused (1988)
The Case: District attorney Kathryn Murphy (Kelly McGillis) endeavours to help rape victim Sarah Tobias (Jodie Foster), who was assaulted by three men in a bar.
Only In The Movies: The Accused cleverly plays around with gender roles and audience expectations as it takes the controversial route of suggesting Sarah’s a liar.
Only In The Movies: The Accused cleverly plays around with gender roles and audience expectations as it takes the controversial route of suggesting Sarah’s a liar.
Presumed Innocent (1990)
The Case: Prosecutor Rozat ‘Rusty’ Sabich (Harrison Ford) falls victim to his own case when he starts investigating the death of a woman he had an affair with – and gets charged with the murder himself.
Only In The Movies: Having your personal and professional lives come crashing together is par for the course in courtroom dramas.
Only In The Movies: Having your personal and professional lives come crashing together is par for the course in courtroom dramas.
Philadelphia (1993)
The Case: Lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) is fired by his firm when it discovers he has AIDS. Determined to file a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, Beckett hires small-town lawyer Joe Miller (Denzel Washington).
Only In The Movies: Philadelphia tackled a hugely controversial topic – AIDS – at a time when most people were trying to look the other way, making it a brave stand for Hollywood.
Only In The Movies: Philadelphia tackled a hugely controversial topic – AIDS – at a time when most people were trying to look the other way, making it a brave stand for Hollywood.
In Cold Blood (1967)
The Case: Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Richard Hickock (Scott Wilson) stand trial for the murder of the Clutter family in Kansas.
Only In The Movies: A fictional character was created for the movie in ‘The Reporter’ (Paul Stewart), presumably to refine messy exposition.
Only In The Movies: A fictional character was created for the movie in ‘The Reporter’ (Paul Stewart), presumably to refine messy exposition.
Judgement At Nuremberg (1961)
The Case: Four Nazi judges are put on trial in an American court for their war crimes.
Only In The Movies: Nuremberg plays around with notions of justice beautifully, suggesting that sometimes the only way justice can be attained is by noting injustices.
Only In The Movies: Nuremberg plays around with notions of justice beautifully, suggesting that sometimes the only way justice can be attained is by noting injustices.
Anatomy Of A Murder (1959)
The Case: An army lieutenant (Ben Gazzara) is accused of the murder of a bartender who he says raped his wife. Lawyer Paul Biegler (James Stewart) attempts to figure out the truth.
Only In The Movies: Director Otto Preminger lent his film a realistic bent by casting real-life lawyer Joseph N. Welch as Judge Weaver.
Only In The Movies: Director Otto Preminger lent his film a realistic bent by casting real-life lawyer Joseph N. Welch as Judge Weaver.
In The Name Of The Father (1993)
The Case: British lawyer Gareth Peirce (Emma Thompson) fights for the freedom of Irish Gerry Conlon (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his father, who’ve been imprisoned accused of having links to the IRA.
Only In The Movies: Not only in the movies, as it happens –In The Name Of The Father is based on an extraordinary true story.
Only In The Movies: Not only in the movies, as it happens –In The Name Of The Father is based on an extraordinary true story.
Paths Of Glory (1957)
The Case: During an attack that would be impossible to overcome, soldiers fighting in WWI refuse to take up arms – and face the wrath of their unit commander instead.
Only In The Movies: Kubrick’s tough-as-old-boots anti-war movie sidesteps artistic license to instead deliver a sucker-punch of a story. We’re always in floods by the end.
Only In The Movies: Kubrick’s tough-as-old-boots anti-war movie sidesteps artistic license to instead deliver a sucker-punch of a story. We’re always in floods by the end.
Inherit The Wind (1960)
The Case: A science teacher is put on the stand for teaching evolution in his class. Lawyer Henry Drummond and politician Matthew Brady argue each side of the case.
Only In The Movies: The case is based on the real-life 1925 Scopes monkey trial, though having Oscar-winning screenwriter Nedrick Young spinning the words helped giveInherit The Wind a little more razzle-dazzle.
Only In The Movies: The case is based on the real-life 1925 Scopes monkey trial, though having Oscar-winning screenwriter Nedrick Young spinning the words helped giveInherit The Wind a little more razzle-dazzle.
The Crucible (1996)
The Case: In 1682 Massachusetts, a woman is accused of being a witch and must prove otherwise in court.
Only In The Movies: It’s based on true events and sticks pretty true to them, though only in the movies would 17th century women look as clean and well-groomed as Winona Ryder and Joan Allen.
Only In The Movies: It’s based on true events and sticks pretty true to them, though only in the movies would 17th century women look as clean and well-groomed as Winona Ryder and Joan Allen.
Breaker Morant (1980)
The Case: Set during the Boer War, Edward Woodward and Bryan Brown play Aussie officers who find themselves under court-martial for war crimes. Are they merely being used as political scapegoats?
Only In The Movies: The defence of the officers – they were just following orders – wouldn’t go very far in today’s courts.
Only In The Movies: The defence of the officers – they were just following orders – wouldn’t go very far in today’s courts.
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
The Case: Family man and lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) speaks in the defence of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman in the Depression-crippled South.
Only In The Movies: Technically, Finch could have requested to have the trial relocated if he felt he wouldn't get a fair trial in the Deep South - which would actually have saved him a lot of bother. Wouldn't have been quite as affecting, mind.
Only In The Movies: Technically, Finch could have requested to have the trial relocated if he felt he wouldn't get a fair trial in the Deep South - which would actually have saved him a lot of bother. Wouldn't have been quite as affecting, mind.
…And Justice For All (1979)
The Case: Arthur Kirkland (Al Pacino) defends a judge he hates against a rape charge, despite being against the corrupt law system.
Only In The Movies: According to US law, if a lawyer knows his client is completely guilty, he can go to the judge with that information. Which means Kirkland could’ve saved himself a whole lot of bother and just told the truth with no legal repercussions on his part…
Only In The Movies: According to US law, if a lawyer knows his client is completely guilty, he can go to the judge with that information. Which means Kirkland could’ve saved himself a whole lot of bother and just told the truth with no legal repercussions on his part…
12 Angry Men (1957)
The Case: Jurors deliberate over a murder case, and find their perceptions of the prosecuted man changed by the rather passionate Juror No 8.
Only In The Movies: Juror No 8 should technically have been kicked off the jury – he buys a knife similar to the one used in the crime in order to prove a point, which means he’s technically carrying out his own investigation. That’s illegal.
Only In The Movies: Juror No 8 should technically have been kicked off the jury – he buys a knife similar to the one used in the crime in order to prove a point, which means he’s technically carrying out his own investigation. That’s illegal.
The Verdict (1982)
The Case: Washed-up lawyer Frank Galvin (Paul Newman) attempts to rescue his floundering career by pushing for a medical malpractice case to go to trial.
Only In The Movies: A number of blink-and-miss-em continuity errors in this one (the length of time the woman's in a coma changes, while the dates are often muddled), but the law's pretty sound. A towering achievement for Paul Newman, too.
Only In The Movies: A number of blink-and-miss-em continuity errors in this one (the length of time the woman's in a coma changes, while the dates are often muddled), but the law's pretty sound. A towering achievement for Paul Newman, too.
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