Subgenre Sampler
Rental > Suspense/Crime > Courtroom: 67 Films to Rent
- Big Little Lies - Season 2 (TV Mini-series) (2019)
- Dir. Andrea Arnold
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley…
- The second chapter of this acclaimed HBO series, this time from the director of FISHTANK and AMERICAN HONEY, throws a grief ridden…
- Black Earth Rising (TV Series) (2018)
- Feat. John Goodman, Michaela Coel, Tamara Tunie
- Political thriller series about the prosecution of war criminals, with Michaela Coel playing a Rwandan–born British legal investigator whose…
- Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017)
- Dir. Dan Gilroy
Feat. Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo
- A superbly written dramatic thriller from the director of NIGHTCRAWLER set within the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel…
- Whole Truth, The (2016)
- Feat. Keanu Reeves, Renee Zellweger, Gugu Mbatha-Raw…
- Keanu Reeves plays an attorney who works on a tough case to defend a 17–year–old suspected of murdering his wealthy father in this…
- Witness for the Prosecution, The (2016)
- Feat. Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, David Haig…
- 2–part miniseries based on Agatha Christie's popular story. A wealthy heiress is found murdered and her principle heir is naturally the major…
- Arthur & George (TV Mini-series) (2015)
- Dir. Stuart Orme
Feat. Martin Clunes, Arsher Ali, Art Malik
- Three–part drama set in 1906 that follows the intersecting lives of Arthur Conan Doyle, world–famous author of 'Sherlock Holmes', and…
- How to Get Away with Murder (TV Series) (2014)
- Feat. Viola Davis
- Legal drama centred around a group of ambitious law students and their brilliant criminal defense professor who become involved in a twisted murder…
- Closed Circuit (2013)
- Dir. John Crowley
Feat. Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent…
- A dangerous conflict of interest arises when two ex–lovers end up on opposite sides of a high profile terrorism trial in this probing courtroom…
- Ace Attorney (2012)
- Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Hiroki Narimiya, Takumi Saito
- Takashi Miike churns out this preposterous video game adaptation, about a cocksure lawyer who agrees to defend his courtroom rival in a murder trial,…
- Jury, The (The Jury 2) (2011)
- Feat. Julie Walters, John Lynch, Roger Allam…
- A gripping court room drama regarded for its authenticity and attention to detail, which centres on a prolonged court room trial from the perspective…
- Killing Time (TV Mini-Series) (2011)
- Feat. David Wenham, Diana Glenn, Colin Friels
- Another hard–hitting crime story ripped from Australian headlines, starring David Wenham as a favourite defense lawyer of Melbourne's gangland…
- Accused (TV Series) (2010)
- Feat. Christopher Eccleston, Naomie Harris, Warren Brown…
- Acclaimed British anthology series centres each episode on the back story of a new character as they make their way to the dock in court to await the…
- Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
- Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Michael Douglas…
- Glib remake of the hard–to–find Fritz Lang classic has an intrepid reporter (Metcalfe) determined to bring down a corrupt D.A (a…
- Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, The (2009)
- Dir. Daniel Alfredson
Feat. Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre
- Satisfying conclusion to the trilogy features some lengthy courtroom scenes as Salander and Nyqvist fight to clear her name and unravel the…
- Storm (2009)
- Dir. Hans-Christian Schmid
Feat. Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, Stephen Dillane
- Accomplished international courtroom drama sees a determined prosecutor (Fox) risk life and limb in order to prove that the former commander of the…
- Fracture (2007)
- Dir. Gregory Hoblit
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn…
- A you–know–whodunnit legal psychodrama with Anthony Hopkins as a wealthy businessman who shoots his wife dead, then plays a cruel (if…
- Michael Clayton (2007)
- Dir. Tony Gilroy
Feat. George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson…
- Razor–sharp legal thriller involving a sprawling class–action law suit and alleged cover–up, George Clooney plays a humble legal…
- New Street Law (TV Series) (2006)
- Feat. John Hannah, Paul Freeman, John Thomson…
- Engrossing legal drama with Hannah and Freeman as heads of two law firms sharing the same premises. Plenty of ethical conundrums populate a tightly…
- Runaway Jury (2003)
- Dir. Gary Fleder
Feat. John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman…
- It's back to court with John Grisham, in a well–cast, entertaining tale of gun–control issues, jury–manipulation, big business and…
- Torso (Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story) (2003)
- Dir. Alex Chapple
Feat. Kathleen Robertson, Victor Garber, Brenda Fricker…
- Would–be socialite Evelyn Dick is arrested by Canadian police for the murder of her husband in this above–average account of the trial…
- Life of David Gale, The (2002)
- Dir. Alan Parker
Feat. Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney
- Ingenious though slightly muddled thriller, enacts the leadup to death–rower Kevin Spacey's arrest, trial for murder and imminent…
- Civil Action, A (1999)
- Dir. Steven Zaillian
Feat. John Travolta, Robert Duvall, William H. Macy…
- Fact–based account of a protracted courtroom duel between two corporations and small–town folk, whose children have been affected by…
- General's Daughter, The (1999)
- Dir. Simon West
Feat. John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Woods
- Gathering suspense from the 'closed–world' ethics of the US military, this thriller from the writer of A FEW GOOD MEN concerns a gruesome,…
- Insider, The (1999)
- Dir. Michael Mann
Feat. Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer…
- A brooding masterpiece from dir. Mann (HEAT), who finally wrestles down a topic of sufficient weight to justify the peerless brilliance of his…
- True Crime (1999)
- Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, James Woods
- Implausible but fun, this is Clint Eastwood relaxing his usually rigorous standards with a hokey thriller–by–numbers stocked with…
- Confession, The (1998)
- Dir. David Jones
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Ben Kingsley, Amy Irving
- Fairly standard–issue moral dilemmas in the courtroom for attorney Baldwin, involved in a complex case of guilt, redemption and retribution in…
- Gingerbread Man, The (1998)
- Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Embeth Davidtz, Robert Duvall…
- Script by the courtroom–obsessed John Grisham is here assigned to auteurist Robert Altman (THE PLAYER, SHORT CUTS), who manages to…
- Devil's Advocate, The (1997)
- Dir. Taylor Hackford
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron
- Invincible lawyer Keanu Reeves is tempted to join an elite law firm, but bossman Al Pacino has a firey temper and is looking for lifelong commitment,…
- Night Falls On Manhattan (1997)
- Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Richard Dreyfuss, Andy Garcia, Lena Olin
- Poking around among the NYPD's rotten apples, this unsettling thriller gouges up about as much police corruption and moral dry–rot as you can…
- Rainmaker, The (1997)
- Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Matt Damon, Danny De Vito, Jon Voight…
- John Grisham's novel is spared from the airport–novel–as–movie–fodder assembly line by a refined Coppola script that attends…
- Jaded (1996)
- Dir. Caryn Krooth
Feat. Carla Gugino, Rya Kihlstedt, Christopher McDonald…
- Putting a hefty, controversial twist on the subject of rape, this psychodrama has smalltown loner Carla Gugino sexually abused, not by a man, but by…
- Juror, The (1996)
- Dir. Brian Gibson
Feat. Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt…
- Struggling artist and mother Demi Moore is summoned to jury service and is singled out by the mob defendants to swing the verdict in their favour.…
- Mistrial (1996)
- Dir. Heywood Gould
Feat. Bill Pullman, Robert Loggia, Blair Underwood…
- Frustrated by the legal system, cop Bill Pullman pours gasoline on community tensions by kidnapping a judge and jury – to put a suspected…
- Primal Fear (1996)
- Dir. Gregory Hoblit
Feat. Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton
- Hotshot Chicago attorney Richard Gere defends, with difficulty, an altar boy accused of brutally murdering a much–loved archbishop. The…
- Time to Kill, A (1996)
- Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock…
- A blue–eyed lawyer comes to the defence of a black man (Samuel L. Jackson) who murdered his daughter's rapists in the Deep South. This…
- Just Cause (1995)
- Dir. Arne Glimcher
Feat. Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Ed Harris…
- Power–attorney Sean Connery defends a death row prisoner despite the evidence against him, and butts heads with Larry Fishburne, the cop…
- Kavanagh QC (TV Series) (1995-2001)
- Feat. John Thaw, Ray Winstone, Ewan McGregor
- Clever Brit crime series, with INSPECTOR MORSE's John Thaw stepping easily back into the role of criminal investigator, this time as a London law…
- Murder One (TV Series) (1995-1997)
- Feat. Daniel Benzali, Stanley Tucci, Mary McCormack…
- A compelling crime drama whose chief novelty was basing each season around a single courtroom case, from indictment and jury selection, through to…
- Client, The (1994)
- Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Susan Sarandon, Brad Renfro, Tommy Lee Jones…
- The best adaptation yet of a John Grisham legal–eagle novel. Susan Sarandon embraces the character–driven story that is mercifully free…
- Murder in the First (1994)
- Dir. Marc Rocco
Feat. Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman
- Powerhouse acting enlivens fact–based proceedings that led to the closure of Alcatraz. Kevin Bacon plays a victimised prisoner pushed to the…
- Trial by Jury (1994)
- Dir. Heywood Gould
Feat. Armand Assante, Joanne Whalley, Gabriel Byrne…
- A ruthless mob boss (Armand Assante) on trial for multiple murders employs strong–arm tactics to 'influence' mother–of–two…
- A Crime (Un Crime) (1993)
- Dir. Jacques Deray
Feat. Alain Delon
- Vintage courtroom vehicle for the ice cool Delon, sturdy in its workmanlike screenplay and no–nonsense attitude.
- Firm, The (1993)
- Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman…
- Tom Cruise ain't bad as a prodigal law graduate offered a six–figure salary with a prestigious but corrupt law firm. A reasonable meal is made…
- Guilty As Sin (1993)
- Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Rebecca De Mornay, Don Johnson, Stephen Lang…
- Attorney Rebecca De Mornay finds herself unable to discharge her suave lady–killing client (Don Johnson – perfectly cast). Never as…
- In the Name of the Father (1993)
- Dir. Jim Sheridan
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson
- Daniel Day–Lewis gives a devastating performance in this powerhouse re–creation of the tragedy that beset Jerry Conlon, his family and…
- Joh's Jury (1993)
- Dir. Ken Cameron
Feat. Simon Bossell, Noah Taylor, Gerry Connolly
- Intensively researched teledrama about the sensational trial of Queensland state premier Joh Bjelke–Petersen (Connolly) for perjury in…
- Malice (1993)
- Dir. Harold Becker
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman
- An unlikely but nonetheless ripping yarn unfolds when a brilliant but dubious doctor is sued for medical negligence by his college pal's wife.…
- Pelican Brief, The (1993)
- Dir. Alan J. Pakula
Feat. Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington
- Julia Roberts mugs through this leaden adaptation of John Grisham's novel as a genius law student whose thesis about two top–level…
- Class Action (1990)
- Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
- A lawyer becomes forced to prosecute a case in which his estranged daughter will act for the defence. Courtroom ethics are violated in style by Gene…
- Presumed Innocent (1990)
- Dir. Alan J. Pakula
Feat. Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia…
- Scott Turow's best seller is faithfully adapted here with Harrison Ford cast as the D.A. who finds himself accused of the rape and murder of a…
- Criminal Law (1989)
- Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Tess Harper…
- Hot shot lawyer Gary Oldman successfully defends psycho–killer Kevin Bacon, only to find he had made a costly misjudgement.
- Music Box (1989)
- Dir. Costa-Gavras
Feat. Jessica Lange, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Frederic Forrest…
- Jessica Lange plays the attorney daughter of a Hungarian immigrant (Mueller–Stahl), now accused of WW2 war crimes. Her quest for the truth…
- Rampage (1988)
- Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Michael Biehn, Alex McArthur, Nicholas Campbell
- This grapples with the psychology of murder and the moral dilemma surrounding the death penalty. A vicious serial killer is prosecuted but how will…
- Suspect (1987)
- Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Cher, Liam Neeson, Dennis Quaid…
- Solid courtroom thriller proffers Cher as the defence for derelict murder–accused Liam Neeson, who’s helped out by a juror who smells a rat…
- Matlock (TV Series) (1986)
- Feat. Andy Griffith, Linda Purl
- Updating the "Perry Mason" blueprint with rumpled Southern charm, the ultra laid–back Andy Griffith plays Ben Matlock, an Atlanta defense…
- Jagged Edge (1985)
- Dir. Richard Marquand
Feat. Glenn Close, Jeff Bridges, Peter Coyote…
- Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges star in this compelling courtroom thriller about a defence attorney who romances her client who is on trial for a brutal…
- Still of the Night (1982)
- Dir. Robert Benton
Feat. Meryl Streep, Roy Scheider
- Hitchcock–style thriller about a psychiatrist who falls in love with a woman who may have brutally murdered one of his patients.
- Kojak Collection, The (The Marcus-Nelson Murders, The Belarus File, The Price of Justice) (1973-1987)
- Dir. Joseph Sargent, Robert Markowitz, Alan Metzger
Feat. Telly Savalas, Marjoe Gortner, Jose Ferrer…
- Telly Savalas stars as the tough but witty sleuth who became a small screen icon in the 1970's. This set features the three feature–length TV…
- Murder Most Foul (1964)
- Dir. George Pollock
Feat. Margaret Rutherford, Ron Moody, Charles Tingwell…
- Fourth and final film in the Agatha Christie/MGM set. Rutherford appears again as Miss Marple, defiant as the only member of a jury who believes the…
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
- Dir. Otto Preminger
Feat. James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara…
- Smalltown lawyer James Stewart defends a man accused of murdering a suspected rapist. The shifting ambiguities of the case make this more a…
- Compulsion (1959)
- Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles…
- As distinctive a rendition of the infamous Leopold–Loeb murder case as ROPE and SWOON, Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman playing the…
- Perry Mason (TV Series) (1957-1966)
- Feat. Raymond Burr, William Hopper, William Talman…
- Benchmark legal drama series which turned star Raymond Burr into a television institution as the near–invincible criminal lawyer, Perry…
- Time Without Pity (1957)
- Dir. Joseph Losey
Feat. Michael Redgrave, Leo McKern, Ann Todd…
- Nervy noir has Michael Redgrave in top form as an alcoholic father racing against time to save his son from the gallows.
Somewhat dated thriller…
- Twelve Angry Men (12 Angry Men) (1957)
- Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley…
- Henry Fonda holds–out on a unanimous jury who wish to convict an alleged murderer. A sweltering tension is worked up as he struggles to…
- Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
- Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton…
- Tense courtroom thriller, with Tyrone Power in the dock, defended by Charles Laughton, and consoled by wife Marlene Dietrich. Agatha Christie's story…
- Please Murder Me (Please Murder Me!) (1956)
- Dir. Peter Godfrey
Feat. Angela Lansbury, Raymond Burr, Dick Foran…
- Raymond Burr and Angela Lansbury square off in this tough–minded noir about a lawyers who successfully defends his client only to discover…
- Murder! (1930)
- Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Herbert Marshall, Edward Chapman, Miles Mander
- Hitchcock's second talkie is a clever whodunnit in which a juror (Marshall) in the murder trial of a young woman decides to open his own…