10 Best Courtroom Dramas of the Century So Far, Ranked

With the release of films like Presumed Interest and Anatomy of a Fall, it is safe to presume that a burgeoning interest in well-written courtroom dramas has not only been present but flourishing in recent times. Exemplary courtroom dramas typically educate audiences about legal proceedings, either through established archetypes or plot-driven narratives. The entertainment, however, is derived from a desire to delve into the characters themselves. Their identity and ambitions alike are treated with the utmost care, and it shows in the finalized presentation.

With the ability to transform mundane aspects of things like pets and memories into astonishing, almost magical symbols, these 10 films excellently and necessarily highlight the nuances of one’s understanding of crime, justice, and identity.

10 The Judge (2014)

The Judge sees Robert Downey Jr. stars as Hank Palmer, a Chicago-based lawyer who returns to his hometown of Carlinville, Indiana. Much of the film is dedicated towards Hank’s relationship with his family. From his reunification with his brothers during the mourning of their mother to his complicated relationship with his father (Robert Duvall), The Judge finds Hank embroiled in a legal battle that hits too close to home.

A Complex Family Drama

Despite critics making note of the formulaic storytelling, they found Downey and Robert Duvall’s performances quite entertaining. Both actors wield their portrayals with a dedication to pulling back the curtains and exposing their respective character’s plights and regrets, especially with regard to their relationship. Furthermore, the cinematography offers an appealing depiction of the mystery at hand, seeing father and son unite to vindicate the former.

Stream The Judge on Netflix

9 The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

The Trial of the Chicago 7 sees the trial and treatment of the Chicago Seven, a group of anti-war protesters who were charged with conspiracy during the Vietnam War. With an ensemble cast including Yahya-Abdul Mateen II, Eddie Redmayne, and Jeremy Strong, the performers strongly convey the ideals of the protesters as well as the artistic vision of director Aaron Sorkin.

A Crucial Movement Explored

The film was particularly highlighted by critics as a delightful story to watch unfold. Using a strong concoction of fact and fiction, The Trial of The Chicago 7 addresses the long history of suppression that American activists experience. Through dynamic characters like Bobby Seale (Mateen II) and William Kunstler (Mark Rylance), the film as a whole benefits from the reimagination of these souls’ imperative stories.

8 The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

Adapted from the 2005 novel of the same name, The Lincoln Lawyer is a 2011 courtroom drama starring Matthew McConaughey as fictional lawyer Mickey Haller. Typically, providing legal services to criminals, the Los Angeles-based lawyer finds himself dealing with an assault case, his client being the heir to a wealthy businessman. Further investigating the occurrences, Haller is then reminded of a former case, bridging a dark connection between the two.

The Lincoln Lawyer not only stands as a compelling piece to dive into but also a worthwhile introduction to Mickey Haller. Carrying himself with an expected urgency as well as a down-to-earth approach to maintaining relationships with everyone from his driver to his employers, McConaughey’s portrayal is nothing short of enjoyable. Enhanced with a curated soundtrack of classic soul and hip-hop hits, the film also benefits from a splendid dose of realism.

7 On the Basis of Sex (2018)

On the Basis of Sex, a look into the life of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones). Beginning at her time at Harvard Law School, the film looks into her rigorous education in and out of classes, her marriage to Martin Ginsburg, the pervasive misogyny that attempted to undermine her, and her eventual graduation into the American legal system.

A Glance at an American Trailblazer

On The Basis Of Sex contextualizes the historic rise of Ginsburg, following her to the very moment her legacy was cemented as a Supreme Court Justice. Jones carries the mantle of the late lawyer with a powerful conviction. Watching the metamorphosis of Ginsburg reads less as a myth-making exercise on behalf of the filmmakers, instead opting for a humane and holistic approach to capturing her ambitions, essence, and ideals.

Stream On the Basis of Sex on Prime Video

6 Marshall (2017)

Marshall is a 2017 film that brings the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first Black-American supreme court justice, to the big screen. Portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, the film focuses on a particular case that sees the then-NAACP lawyer take on a case where Joseph Spell (Sterling K. Brown), a Black man, is accused of assaulting his white employer, Eleanor Strubing (Kate Hudson).

As Marshall’s knowledge of the case grows, the film makes imperative assertions about anti-Blackness in the United States and captures a fascinating glimpse at the man that would make the legend.

A Crucial Case for a Monumental Man

Through Boseman’s convincing performance, he not only managed to capture the qualities that would forever cement Thurgood Marshall’s name in history, but he also managed to invite audiences to gaze upon Marshall’s entire life from multiple vantage points.

From its insight into life in America as a Black person, its navigation of the law, to the dedication to proliferating the truth through peers like Sam Friedman (Josh Gad), Marshall stands as a beautiful story of friends and community while also commemorating the life of a profound figure,

Rent Marshall on Apple TV+

5 Runaway Jury (2003)

Runaway Jury sees John Cusack, Rachel Weisz, and Dustin Hoffman in an engaging drama centered around a fatal mass shooting. After Celeste Wood (Joanna Going), the wife of one of the victims, sues her husband’s employer, rival lawyers Wendell Rohr (Dustin Hoffman) and Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) duel in the courtroom while (Cusack) and Marlee (Weisz) act as a vigilant, independent third party aiming to curtail the corruption tangled into the trial.

A Holistic, Exhilarating Courtroom Classic

Aside from the decorated cast, Runaway Jury excels in underpinning the various perspectives of any given case. Addressing the corruption of corporations, the implicit and explicit biases that may appear in a room of jurors, and an often overlooked glance at vigilant souls dedicated to providing justice by any means, the film strongly taps into the earnest feelings of anyone who has ever felt disenfranchised by the justice system, offering them a heartfelt reminder that they are not alone in their disillusionment.

4 Michael Clayton (2007)

Michael Clayton is celebrated by many as a must-see courtroom drama. George Clooney being at the helm of the film is an enticing factor for most film fanatics. However, his portrayal of the titular lawyer in the exhilarating drama left many enamored. After discovering a discrepancy within his firm, Clayton soon unearths a series of cover-ups that jeopardize the firm’s legitimacy as well as his interpersonal relationships with his professional peers.

The film not only benefits from the star power but also provides audiences with an exciting drama, but its masterful use of suspense whisks the audience away from their lives and places them directly in the conflict. Michael Clayton benefits immensely from stellar pacing and brings much needed adrenaline to the stereotypically dull arena of the courtroom.

3 Denial (2016)

Part of Denial’s appeal is its continued relevance. Starring Rachel Weisz, Timothy Spall and Andrew Scott, Denial sees American author Deborah Lipstadt (Weisz) embroiled in a libel case after she brought light to David Irving’s (Spall) denial of the Holocaust in one of her books.

The subsequent trial exposes audiences to the crucial work that goes into explaining the truth in a legal environment as well as the lengths at which people will go to promote their worldview as the truth, no matter how damaging it may be, or how incorrect they truly are.

An Earnest Look at a Dark Phenomenon

Antisemitism and genocide denial are core issues that Denial excellently handles through its eerily realistic portrayals and stellar attention to detail. Through its interpretation of Lidspadt’s memoirs as well as its dedication to grasping the utter vileness of the Holocaust, Denial illustrates the devastating consequences of allowing others to rewrite history and underpins the nefarious motivations for their denial of atrocities occurring.

Stream Denial on Max

2 Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Anatomy of a Fall (Anatomie d’une chute) stands as one of the most cherished courtroom dramas for any fan of film. Starring Sandra Hüller, Milo Machado-Graner, and Swann Arlaud, the film focuses on the trial of Sandra Voyter (Hüller), a novelist who is implicated in the death of her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) after his body is discovered outside by her son, Daniel (Machado-Graner).

Enlisting the help of Vincent (Arlaud), an old friend and lawyer, Sandra attempts to vindicate herself. However, a set of secrets are unearthed that leaves everyone asking more questions than intended.

An Intimate, Pensive Drama

Anatomy Of A Fall is equally a compelling courtroom drama as it is a rich story of the collapse of a marriage. Navigating grief, deceit, and the flexible interpretation of the truth as well as a given motive, Anatomy Of A Fall reveals itself to be a rather engaging journey through conflict, duty, and family.

Performances from key characters like Hüller, Theis, and Machado-Graner, accompanied by portrayals from Arlaud and Antoine Reinartz, capture the tension, the discomfort, and the air of mistrust that lingers throughout the film.

Stream Anatomy of a Fall on Hulu

1 Saint Omer (2022)

Saint Omer, released in 2022, sees filmmaker Alice Diop step outside of making documentaries in exchange for a riveting study of the human condition disguised as a courtroom drama.

Based on Diop’s experience with the 2013 Fabienne Katou trial, the film sees Rama (Kayije Kagame), a novelist and professor, travel from Paris to the titular town to sit in on a trial where graduate student Laurence Coly (Guslagie Malanda) is judged by the eye of the law for alleged infanticide. What transpires is a transformative experience that expertly addresses themes of motherhood, isolation, race, dehumanization, and generational trauma.

A Careful Interrogation of Erasure in the Courtroom

Saint Omer is a sublime mélange of stellar performances, gripping storytelling and, most importantly, letting its intentions bleed out into the film itself. What begins as an interrogation of Laurence collapses into a haunting yet earnest examination of the readiness that society’s powerful and accompanying bystanders have when flattening complex people down to easily condemnable pariahs.

Concurrently, the film also paints a powerful portrait about the complicated relationships many women and femmes have with their mothers. Through exploring the lives of two French-Senegalese women, Saint Omer accomplishes a satisfying feat, using and respecting specific lived experiences to highlight a series of universal and almost esoteric truths.

Stream Saint Omer on Prime Video