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Earlier this year, the ABA Journal asked 12 prominent lawyers who teach film or are connected to the business to choose what they regard as the best movies ever made about lawyers and the law. We’ve collated their various nominees to produce our jury’s top picks.
Oct 20, 2021 · From political thrillers to police procedurals, these are the films that put the legal system on trial
- tom.nicholson@hearst.co.uk
- 3 min
- Rick Stevenson
- My Cousin Vinny (1992) Given some of the other films present in this top ten, "My Cousin Vinny" might seem like an odd pick for the gold medal spot. It didn't get quite as much critical praise in its day as some of the older classics preceding it here, nor as many award nominations.
- To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) What could beat out a classic like "Anatomy of a Murder?" The film that topped the AFI's own list of the greatest courtroom dramas ever — the 1962 big screen adaptation of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."
- Anatomy of a Murder. When we talk about legal dramas, there are a few old classics that always have to be discussed — a list that includes "12 Angry Men," "To Kill a Mockingbird," and 1959's "Anatomy of a Murder."
- The Verdict (1982) 1982's "The Verdict" is arguably the best pure trial lawyer movie available. Directed by Sydney Lumet, who made a name for himself in this genre decades prior with "12 Angry Men" and starring Paul Newman in one of the best performances of his esteemed career, "The Verdict" earned five Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Adapted Screenplay (from the novel of the same name by Barry Reed).
- My Cousin Vinny. Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio. 477 votes. This comedic courtroom drama follows the story of two college students from New York who are accused of murder in rural Alabama, leading their loud-mouthed, inexperienced attorney cousin to come to their rescue.
- A Few Good Men. Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore. 828 votes. A gripping military courtroom drama with an all-star cast, it centers around the trial of two Marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier, with a rookie Navy lawyer assigned to their defense.
- 12 Angry Men. Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley. 824 votes. In a sweltering New York City jury room, 12 jurors deliberate the guilt of a young man accused of killing his father, initially convinced of his guilt except for one holdout.
- To Kill a Mockingbird. Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford. 637 votes. Adapted from Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, this Southern Gothic tale follows the courageous attorney Atticus Finch as he defends a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in Depression-era Alabama.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird. 8.3 (337K) Rate. 88Metascore. Atticus Finch, a widowed lawyer in Depression-era Alabama, defends a Black man against an undeserved rape charge, and tries to educate his young children against prejudice. Director Robert Mulligan Stars Gregory Peck John Megna Frank Overton. 2. 12 Angry Men. 9.0 (887K) Rate. 97Metascore.
Mar 4, 2024 · Movies set in a law or court-based arena are ripe for potent cinematic drama. After all, there’s some sort of conflict—often an actual lawsuit—at the center. But the great films have more than that.
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We office wanted to make a list of my favorite 10 legal movies, but it was just too difficult to narrow down. So after making my selections, we went through 14 other lists to create a super list of the 54 best legal films of all time.
