Need some recommendations for good lawyer movies? and why not? There is nothing more exciting than courtroom drama where lawyers are at each others throat trying to prove their client’s innocence and the jury’s decision will bring salvation to one and ruin to the other. Such high stakes lawyer movies are always able to capture the attention of audiences across all age groups.
Best Lawyer Movies of All Time (IMO)
Some law-based movies are deadly serious, a few debate moral values faced by lawyers in their daily life and others are simply hilarious. Whether you’re looking for serious law and justice movies or want to have a few laughs, here is the list of best lawyer movies for you to watch during your down time.
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1. Liar-Liar
| Movie Released On | 18 March 1997 |
| Directed By | Tom Shadyac |
| Starring | Jim Carrey as Fletcher Reede Maura Tierney as Audrey Reede Justin as Max Reede |
| Genres | Comedy, fantasy |
| Box Office | $302.7 million |
| IMDB Ratings | 6.9/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 82% |
| Available On | Google Play, Amazon & iTunes |
Synopsis
This is one of the best lawyer movies by comedian Jim Carrey. The movie isn’t totally based on the courtroom but the story is about a lawyer who never speaks the truth and a son who makes a wish for his father to stop lying, which puts the lawyer into hot water.
Critical Review
The bond between the father and his son makes this movie quite endearing. Honestly, the acting of Jim Carrey and Justin Cooper is next level. If you’re in a bad mood then watching this movie will surely cheer you up.
Did You Know?
- The filmmakers of liar liar were inspired from another movie named Big and decided to produce this one.
- Leading role of this movie was first offered to Robin wailliams (late)
- Jim carrey actually got hurt in the bathroom scene.
2. My Cousin Vinny
| Movie Released On | March 13, 1992 |
| Directed By | Jonathan Lynn |
| Starring | Joe as Vinny Ralph as Billy Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito |
| Genres | Comedy & Crime |
| Box Office | $64.1 million |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 86% |
| Available On | Amazon Prime & HBO Max |
Synopsis
This is one of the best lawyer comedy movie of all time. The story is about Vinny, an inexperienced car injury lawyer who decided to defend his cousin named Billy and his friend Stan charged with murder.
Critical Review
If you love crime movies involving comedy and fun, watch it now. This is a 90’s classic masterpiece with funny and amazing dialogues plus sounds more real than reel. It shows a great bonding between Tomei and Pesci, both have impressive acting during the whole movie.
Did You Know?
- The movie is inspired from a law student who failed at the bar more than 13 times
- There is no place like Beechum country, it is totally fictional
- The courtroom scene was filmed in summer and the temperature of that area was 100 degree
- During early days of shooting, producers wanted to remove Marisa Tomei but later on she worked hard and proved to them that keeping her was the right decision
3. The Rainmaker
| Movie Released On | November 18, 1997 |
| Directed By | Francis Ford Coppola |
| Starring | Matt Damon as Rudy Baylor Danny Devito as Deck Shifflet Claire Danes as Kelly Riker |
| Genres | Drama |
| Box Office | $45.9 million |
| IMDB Rating | 7.2/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 82% |
| Available On | Prime video & Redbox |
| Adapted from | Novel by John Grisham |
Synopsis
The second movie on our list of best lawyer movies is about Rudy, a struggling new attorney who works for a shady lawyer. He is trying to fight a corrupt insurance company which is refusing to pay his client’s claim. The claim could help save the life of a young boy on the hospital bed.
Critical Review
This is an amazing movie where Matt Damon is winning hearts with his charming acting skills. It has an incredible screenplay and a superb story. If you want to kill time by watching something great then go for this one.
Did You Know?
- Do you remember the scene where Matt Damon was wokeen up by Danny Devito? It was filmed in great hurry because Damon had really fallen asleep.
- Danny was wearing prosthetic teeth to get a more prominent smile.
- Edward Norton wanted to get the role of Rudy Baylor but was unsuccessful
4. I am Sam
| Movie Released On | December 3, 2001 |
| Directed By | Jessie Nelson |
| Starring | Sean Penn as Sam Dakota fanning as Lucy Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison |
| Genres | Melodrama, Romance & fatherhood |
| Box Office | $97.8million |
| IMDB Rating | 7.6/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 35% |
| Available On | Amazon Instant videos & Netflix |
Synopsis
The movie is about Sam who has autism and his adopted daughter. He fights to retain her custody in court. It is undoubtedly one of the best lawyer movies full of melodrama, struggle, and an over all emotional roller-coaster.
Critical Review
The movie shows how fatherhood changes a man who was suffering from cognitive disabilities. Filmmakers have also blended amazing music in the movie.
Did You Know?
- The movie was inspired from a true story about a disabled father
- This is the favorite movie of Nicolas Sarkozy (Ex-President of France).
- Bollywood also made a copy of this movie starring Ajay Devgan named “Mai Aisa Hi Hoon”.
- Dakota fanning has a disabled aunt not only in reel life but in real life too.
5. Judgment at Nuremberg
| Movie Released On | December 14, 1961 |
| Directed By | Stanley Kramer |
| Genres | War and drama |
| Box Office | $10 million |
| IMDB Rating | 8.2/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 92% |
| Available On | Prime Video |
| Adapted from | The trials of former Nazi leaders after world war 2 |
Synopsis
Another law-based somber and thought-provoking movie. We place it fourth in our list of best lawyer movies due to its excellent excellent reception world over. The story is about four German judges who were the heads during the Nazi regime, and the charges on them about crimes against humanity.
Did You Know?
- Spencer tray prophesized about Maximillian Schell, when he was shooting the first scene. He said, this man will surely get an Oscar for this picture and his words rang true.
- Maximillian Schell set history by wining Oscar on the lowest-billed lead category.
- Right after the end of this movie, people who were imprisoned during Nuremberg trials were released.
6. Catch Me If You Can
| Movie Released On | December 25, 2002 |
| Directed By | Steven Spielberg |
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr Tom Hanks as Carl Amy Adams as Brenda strong |
| Genres | Suspense & Drama |
| Box Office | $352.1 million |
| IMDB Rating | 8.1/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 96% |
| Available On | Amazon prime & Google Play |
| Adapted from | Catch Me If You Can: The True Story of a Real Fake |
Synopsis
This story is about Frank, who amazes the world with his power of deception. He works as a lawyer, doctor, and co-pilot and defrauds nearly a million dollars all before his 18th birthday.
Critical Review
If you’re looking for a bad lawyer movie where a lawyer is indulged in criminal activities instead of serving justice, then this is simply the best movie for you.
Did You Know?
- Frank abagnale on whom this book was based on stated that “ the movie is bit exaggerated and it’s just a movie do not take this as a biographical documentary of mine”
- Before steven, tons of people has starting directing this movie but end up making another movies
- In real, Abagnale never met his father again after he ran away but steven changes it a bit
- Fun fact is, the cast shooted in more than 140 location within 52 days
7. To Kill A Mockingbird
| Movie Released On | December 25, 1962 |
| Directed By | Robert Mulligan |
| Starring | Gregory as Atticus finch mary as scout finch Phillip as Jem Finch |
| Genres | Drama & Mystery |
| Box Office | $13.1 million |
| IMDB Rating | 8.2/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 93% |
| Available On | Amazon instant videos & Google Play |
| Adapted from | To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee |
Synopsis
The story is about Atticus finch, his widowed father, and a lawyer who defends a black man named Tom Robinson accused of raping a white woman.
Critical Review
It is one of the best lawyer movies ever made. The movie is a complete beauty with excellent cast, incredible acting, and focused on the main issues that black people faced for ages. Moreover, the voice of a lawyer against injustice is something that wins the heart.
Did You Know?
- The production cost of this movie were $2 Million and it ended up earning almost $13 Million.
- James Anderson behavior was way too mean not only in movie but on the set too. During a scene, Anderson pulled Phillip Afford’s hair brutally and then dragged him out with him.
- This was the debut movie of Mary Badham. She loved the acting experience so much that she screwed up her lines purposely just to delay the production.
8. The Lincoln Lawyer
| Movie Released On | March 10, 2011 |
| Directed By | Brad Furman |
| Starring | Mathew as Mickey Marisa as Maggie Ryan Phillippe as Louis |
| Genres | Mystery / Thriller |
| Box Office | $87.1 million |
| IMDB Rating | 7.3/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 83% |
| Available On | Google Play & Amazon Instant videos |
| Adapted From | Novel series based on fictional lawyer Mickey Haller |
Synopsis
It is one of the best lawyer movies. The story revolves around a man named Mick Haller, who is a famous defense lawyer. He lands the case of Louis Roulet, a playboy of Beverly hills and son of a wealthy realtor accused of raping and killing a prostitute.
Critical Review
If you want to spend your Monday watching a decent movie then watch this. The movie is fast paced and will keeps you hooked till the end. Moreover, McConaughey who is notorious for his villainous roles, looks incredible portraying such a quality character in this movie.
Did You Know?
- Michael choose McConaughey due to his performance in Tropic thunder
- In 2014, Mcconaughey was choosen by Lincoln cars as a spokesman
9. Anatomy of a Murder
| Movie Released On | July 1, 1959 |
| Directed By | Otto Preminger |
| Starring | James as Paul Biegler Lee as Laura Ben as lieutenant Fredrick |
| Genres | Crime & Mystery |
| Box Office | $8 million |
| IMDB Rating | 8/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 100% |
| Available On | Netflix & Amazon prime |
Synopsis
Here is another courtroom that made its way to our list of best lawyer movies. This is about a lawyer named Paul Biegler who defends a lieutenant accused of murder. Watch the movie to find out if Michigan will win the case or not.
Did You Know?
- James Stewart’s father got offended from this film and named it a “dirty picture”
- The movie has seen it’s due share of controversy due to the foul language used in it
- The movie is banned in Chicago, IL
10. Witness for the Prosecution
| Movie Released On | December 17, 1957 |
| Directed By | Billy Wilder |
| Starring | Marlene as Christine Charles Laughton as Wilfrid Tyrone power as Leonard |
| Genres | Mystery & Drama |
| Box Office | $9 million |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 100% |
| Available On | Google play & Amazon instant videos |
| Adapted from | Play by Agatha Christie |
Synopsis
Leonard gets arrested against the murder charge of a wealthy older woman and a legendary lawyer named Wilfrid decides to defend him but something unexpected happens.
Did You Know?
- It was first shown in London to the royal family and they promised to not reveal the ending.
- Marlene underwent several plastic surgeries and used a wig in the production.
What Say You Members Of The Jury?
Was the list able to cover all the top lawyer movies that you wished to watch? Did we miss an important one? Which one is your favorite? Do let us know in the comments below!
Images from: Wikimedia Commons
