Summary
Courtroom dramashave the power to engage and enthrall audiences, and in recent years, plenty of incredible legal stories have kept viewers on the edge of their seats. This genre can significantly affect viewers as they get drawn into stories of seedy corporate conspiracies, individuals who vehemently plead their innocence, and legal practitioners trying to find the truth behind all the deceit, fraud, and underhandedness they encounter. As a true showcase of the power of cinema, courtroom dramas connect with viewers' desire for good storytelling, messages that resonate with real life, and characters being held accountable for their actions.
Thebest courtroom dramas of all timehave gone down in cinematic history as bold and endearing works of art, such as classic films like12 Angry MenandTo Kill a Mockingbird. However, this genre has remained as popular as ever, and over the past 20 years, several modern courtroom dramas have captured the imagination of viewers and left their own significant impression on this well-loved genre. From astounding performances by legendary actors to impressive directional debuts by first-time filmmakers,there’s no shortage of fantastic modern courtroom dramas to check out.
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Cast
Roman J. Israel, Esq. is an Oscar-nominated film starring Denzel Washington. Washington plays Roman J. Israel, Esq, who abandons his idealistic beliefs as a defense attorney to take extreme action as a civil rights advocate. The film was released in 2017 and directed by Dan Gilroy, who previously helmed Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
This legal drama about the civil rights advocate and defense attorney Roman J. Isreal, Esq. featured a highly underappreciated performance from Denzel Washington. AlthoughWashington was nominated for Best Actor at the time, in the years since,Roman J. Israel, Esqhas failed to gain the same type of ongoing recognition as other recent legal dramas.Roman J. Israel, Esqtold the story of an idealistic attorney whose life was upended after the founder of his firm died, and he’s thrust into a set of moral and ethical dilemmas in his new work.
As a film with a strong moral core,Roman J. Isreal, Esq.did what the best courtroom dramas do, as it brought audiences right into the heart of corruption and conflicting moral challenges faced by those in the legal sphere. Washington gave an astounding performance as he subtly captured the nuances of its title character, a highly idiosyncratic man on the autism spectrum. As a powerfully intriguing film,Roman J. Isreal, Esq.never quite lived up to its potential but was made incredibly compelling due to Washington’s firm commitment to his role.
The Judge
In the 2014 drama The Judge, Robert Downey Jr. stars as successful lawyer Hank Palmer, who returns to his hometown to defend his estranged father, Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), a judge accused of murder. Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Dax Shepard, Billy Bob Thornton, and Leighton Meester round out the rest of the main cast.
Robert Downey Jr. proved his dramatic acting skills outside the MCU with his Oscar-winning role inOppenheimer, but one earlier performance that was a testament to his more serious side was the underrated legal dramaThe Judge. Here, Downey played the Chicago lawyer Hank Palmer, who, following the death of his mother, was forced to confront his complex relationship with his father, Judge Joseph Palmer, the criminal court judge of his hometown, played by Robert Duvall. While this had all the makings of a close-knit family drama, the plot took a courtroom twist after Judge was charged with first-degree murder.
With his father as the suspect in a fatal hit-and-run accident, Hank sets out to find the truth of what happened and, in the process, must delve into the difficulties of his complex familial relationships.The Judgewas an excellent modern courtroom drama that reminded audiences of just how much range Downey hasalways possessed outside of mainstream summer blockbusters. With a talented supporting cast including Vera Farmiga and Billy Bob Thornton,The Judgepacked an emotional punch while delivering its compelling legal narrative.
Marshall
Marshall is a biographical legal drama directed by Reginald Hudlin. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, focusing on a pivotal early case in his career. Co-starring Josh Gad as attorney Sam Friedman, the story delves into their defense of a black chauffeur accused of sexual assault by his white employer.
Just one year before gaining international recognition for playing the Marvel hero inBlack Panther, the late Chadwick Boseman impressed audiences as the real-life first African American Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.Marshallwas a biographical drama focused on the trial of Joseph Spell, which was one of the first cases in Marshall’s long and impressive career. This old-fashioned courtroom drama involved an African-American chauffeur being accused of raping and murdering the wife of his boss.
Boseman gave an exceptional performance as a young Marshall traveling the country defending people of color who are wrongly accused of crimes because of racial prejudice. This was a case that brought to light highly relevant issues of class, corruption, and racism and was a firm showcase of the early stages of the incredible career Marshall would have.Marshallwas equally enjoyable as an exciting courtroom drama as it was a deeply thoughtful exploration of discrimination in the United States.
Just Mercy
Just Mercy is a historical drama film that tells the true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan decides to skip the lucrative job opportunities offered to him. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley.
The incredible injustice of those who have been incarcerated for crimes they did not commit was central to theexcellent legal dramaJust Mercy. With Michael B. Jordan as the real lawyer Bryan Stevenson, this compelling story saw the young defense attorney representing poor people on death row in South America. Through the story of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), a man wrongly convicted of murder,Just Mercydelved into Stevenson’s incredible work to better the lives of African American prisoners.
Just Mercytook real-life injustices and, together with astounding performances, shed light on the hypocrisy of the American legal system and gave a voice to those who have been silenced. With earnest vulnerability, Jordan capturedStevenson’s genuine drive to help those in need of legal assistance and desire to let the truth prevail.Just Mercywas a compelling modern courtroom drama that highlighted issues of racism and prejudice.
The Lincoln Lawyer
The Lincoln Lawyer stars Matthew McConaughey as Mick Haller, a charismatic defense attorney who operates out of the back of his Lincoln Town Car. Based on Michael Connelly’s novel, the film revolves around Haller as he grapples with a high-profile case that blurs the lines between innocence and guilt, featuring a cast that includes Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe. Directed by Brad Furman, the movie delves into themes of justice and morality.
As an actor previouslyknown for his roles in rom-coms, Matthew McConaughey shifted audience expectations with a dramatic turn in the legal thrillerThe Lincoln Lawyer.This impressive performance would signal the beginning of a new era for McConaughey’s careeras he continued to take up more challenging roles after playing the L.A. defense attorney Mickey Haller in this adaptation of a novel by Michael Connelly.The Lincoln Lawyerfeatured a solidly told story as Haller took up a case defending a wealthy realtor’s son against accusations of raping a prostitute.
WhileThe Lincoln Lawyerdidn’t break any new ground in the courtroom drama genre, it was so thoroughly entertaining and well-made that it didn’t need to. McConaughey showcased hidden depth to his acting talents with this performance as Haller gradually uncovered evidence that went against his client’s story. As an entertaining thriller with many twists and turns,The Lincoln Lawyermore than delivered and opened the doors for McConaughey to soon prove himself even more with roles inDallas Buyers Club,Interstellar, andTrue Detectivein the subsequent years.
Dark Waters
Dark Waters is a biographical legal thriller directed by Todd Haynes. Mark Ruffalo stars as environmental attorney Robert Bilott, who takes on an extensive legal battle against chemical giant DuPont after discovering evidence of toxic contamination in a small town. The film also features Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, and Bill Camp, portraying the personal and professional challenges faced during the pursuit of justice.
Truly great courtroom dramas shine a light on real-world issues and plead their case to viewers about why they should care about this particular injustice. Much in the same way director Todd Haynes showcased journalists' ability to hold power to account inSpotlight, the story ofDark Watershighlighted the corporate corruption polluting and destroying the welfare of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Inspired by the true story of the environmental attorney Rob Bilott,Dark Watersexplored how this corporate defense lawyer took on the system to expose a harrowing history of pollution and coverups.
As one ofMark Ruffalo’s best movies,Dark Waterswas a powerful legal thriller that honored the small-town victimswho had been continually endangered by corporate perpetrators. Based on the 2016New YorkTimesMagazine article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich,Dark Watersexplored how the DuPont chemical company did not act to prevent the carcinogenic acid C8 from being present in the community drinking water, leading to illness and even death. As a shocking exploration of corporate corruption,Dark Watershighlighted a very real and crucial legal case.
4The Children Act (2017)
Directed by Richard Eyre
The highly underrated British filmThe Children Actexplored complex and deeply engaging issues around faith and morality. Based on a novel by Ian McEwan,The Children Actstarred Emma Thompson as a judge proceeding over a case relating to a 17-year-old boy with leukemia needing a blood transfusion to allow for further treatment. However, the boy’s Jehovah’s Witnesses parents believe that this process goes against biblical teachings, stating that taking in blood to sustain life goes against the gift of life from God and the Christian faith.
With an astounding performance from Thompson,The Children Actsaw her reckon with these complexities as her marriage to her husband, played by Stanley Tucci, was falling apart.The Children Actbalanced Thompson’s inner turmoil with the external challenges of her workin a compelling courtroom drama that highlighted the real issue of Jehovah’s Witnesses' right to their medical beliefs. However, these beliefs became increasingly difficult to justify when a child’s life was on the line.
The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Trial of the Chicago 7 focuses on a group of people protesting the Vietnam War who were charged with conspiracy and accused of inciting riots across state lines. Directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is based on a true story and stars Eddie Redmayne (Tom Hayden), Alex Sharp (Rennie Davis), Sacha Baron Cohen (Abbie Hoffman), Jeremy Strong (Jerry Rubin), John Carroll Lynch (David Dellinger), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Bobby Seale), Mark Rylance (William Kunstler), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Richard Schultz).
A Few Good Menscreenwriter Aaron Sorkin returned to the courtroom drama genre with the historical legal dramaThe Trial of the Chicago 7. As the true story of a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines, this engaging narrative paralleled many of the issues facing the United States today with the divisions felt during the 1960s. As the ensemble cast was charged with inciting the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention,The Trial of the Chicago 7explored the right to protest and those who risk imprisonment to hold power to account.
The Trial of the Chicago 7was a love letter to the activism of the 1960s, and a gripping drama that highlighted the same passion for the potential of change felt by the accused was as needed today as it was back then. As a powerfully political film, writer and director Sorkin highlighted the constitutional American right to protest and the need to protect those who utilize that right. With strong performances throughout, Sacha Baron Cohen was particularly impressive as Abbie Hoffman, a real leading figure of several1960s social justice movements.
Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton, directed by Tony Gilroy, follows a law firm fixer tasked with managing a crisis when a lawyer experiences a breakdown while defending a culpable chemical company in a massive class-action lawsuit. The film delves into themes of corporate intrigue and legal ethics.
As one of the most legal thrillers of the 2000s,Michael Claytonkept viewers on the edge of their seats as it told the story of a lawyer discovering a coverup by one of his firm’s clients.George Clooney played the title character in this sharply written courtroom dramathat slowly built suspense as the intricate narrative and story of the moral corruption of corporate America revealed itself. As a lawyer suffered a mental breakdown while representing a guilty chemical company in a multibillion-dollar lawsuit, Clayton was brought in to fix this mess before it got further out of hand.
Denzel Washington was offered the leading role in Michael Clayton but rejected it due to his concerns about working with a first-time director.Michael Claytonwas later nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, and Washington regretted his decision (viaGQ.)
The power ofMichael Claytonwas in its morally conflicted lead character, who must reckon with his decision to work for guilty clients and do everything to protect those who commit reprehensible acts. Clooney gave one of his most outstanding performances inMichael Clayton, as the acting, dialogue, and story were top-tier. An excellent directional debut from Tony Gilroy as Michael Clayton was an impressively accomplished piece of filmmaking.
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Anatomy of a Fall
Anatomy of a Fall is a crime-drama film by director Justine Triet and made its initial debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Following the death of successful writer Sandra’s husband Samuel in the French Alps, she is arrested and accused of murder. With their blind son, Daniel, the only witness to Samuel’s death, Sandra must face nearly impossible odds to prove her innocence.
Anatomy of a Fallwas the best courtroom drama in recent years that challenged viewers' perceptions of the truth. This story about a writer charged with the death of her husband was a thoughtful exploration of the power dynamics within a marriage as its sharp script continually bent the truth in ways that left audiences questioning their understanding of its narrative.Sandra Hüller gave a spellbinding performance as Sandra Voyter, the woman whose presumed innocence was dismantled and dissected by the prosecution throughout.
As the recipient of the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival,Anatomy of a Fallhas all the makings of a moderncourtroom dramaclassic, as it encouraged conversation among viewers even after the credits had rolled. The suspicious death of Sandra’s husband became even more fascinating as those in her life, including her visually impaired son who found the body, started to question her motivations when accusations of infidelity came to the fore.Anatomy of a Fallwas a rich, complex legal drama and an emotional tour de force.
