Courtroom Dramas

From surprise witnesses to rousing closing arguments, a good courtroom drama knows how to keep viewers hanging on every word. From classics like 12 Angry Men that'll show your kid the (sometimes exaggerated) realities of the courtroom, to the powerful The Trial of the Chicago 7, these movies are sure to be both educational and captivating. Our list of favorite courtroom dramas has some great picks for older tweens and up. Why not also take a look at our pick of Political Movies or TV About Racism and Social Justice?

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Witness for the Prosecution Poster Image
MOVIE

Witness for the Prosecution

age 11+

Classic 1950s courtroom drama has smoking, drinking, murder.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1958)
12 Angry Men Poster Image
MOVIE

12 Angry Men

age 12+

Outstanding Henry Fonda jury classic is still relevant.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1957)
Inherit the Wind Poster Image
MOVIE

Inherit the Wind

age 12+

Knock-out courtroom drama has deft comic touches.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1960)
Loving Poster Image
MOVIE

Loving

age 12+

Moving drama about interracial couple's historic fight.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
To Kill a Mockingbird Poster Image
MOVIE

To Kill a Mockingbird

age 12+

Masterpiece with crucial lessons about prejudice.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1962)
Anatomy of a Murder movie poster
MOVIE

Anatomy of a Murder

age 13+

Classic 1950s legal drama has discussion of rape and murder.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1959)
The Caine Mutiny Court Martial movie poster:  man's head in between scales of justice
MOVIE

The Caine Mutiny Court Martial

age 13+

Book-based courtroom thriller has drinking, language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2023)
Denial Poster Image
MOVIE

Denial

age 13+

Compelling film about truth deals with intense subject.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
Judgment at Nuremberg movie poster: A group of headshots of some of the different characters
MOVIE

Judgment at Nuremberg

age 13+

WWII courtroom drama includes disturbing archive footage.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1961)
Just Mercy Poster Image
MOVIE

Just Mercy

age 13+

Effective, intense drama about racism and justice; swearing.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)
Kramer vs. Kramer Poster Image
MOVIE

Kramer vs. Kramer

age 13+

Sensitive, truthful look at the breakup of a family.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1979)
Marshall Poster Image
MOVIE

Marshall

age 13+

Inspirational, entertaining biopic of a very human hero.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)
Anatomy of a Fall movie poster: A dead man with blood coming out of his head lies on the snow while his wife and child hug.
MOVIE

Anatomy of a Fall

age 14+

French courtroom drama has violence, suicide, language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2024)
Argentina, 1985 movie poster: Two Argentinian men talk intently in court
MOVIE

Argentina, 1985

age 14+

Inspiring Argentine historical drama has smoking, language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2022)
Dark Waters Poster Image
MOVIE

Dark Waters

age 14+

Essential, harrowing true story of environmental crime.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)
Juror #2 Movie Poster: Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult) stands beneath a Lady Justice statue, his gaze cast downward
MOVIE

Juror #2

age 14+

Language, violent images in superb, nuanced courtroom drama.

In Theaters (Release Year: 2024)
Miranda's Victim Movie Poster: Seven actors in 1960s costumes in front of a courthouse
MOVIE

Miranda's Victim

age 14+

Insightful, well-acted legal drama has violence, language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2023)
Philadelphia Poster Image
MOVIE

Philadelphia

age 14+

Moving, Oscared '90s drama fostered AIDS empathy.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1993)
Worth Poster Image
MOVIE

Worth

age 14+

Heavy emotion in poignant 9/11 drama with some language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)
Amistad Poster Image
MOVIE

Amistad

age 15+

Intense true story about slavery has graphic violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1997)