Courtroom Dramas

Looking for something to watch with your aspiring lawyer? 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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MOVIE

Witness for the Prosecution

age 11+

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

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1958)

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MOVIE

12 Angry Men

age 12+

Outstanding Henry Fonda jury classic is still relevant.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1957)

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MOVIE

Inherit the Wind

age 12+

Knock-out courtroom drama has deft comic touches.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1960)

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MOVIE

Loving

age 12+

Moving drama about interracial couple's historic fight.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)

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MOVIE

To Kill a Mockingbird

age 12+

Masterpiece with crucial lessons about prejudice.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1962)

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MOVIE

Anatomy of a Murder

age 13+

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

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1959)

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MOVIE

Denial

age 13+

Compelling film about truth deals with intense subject.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)

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MOVIE

Just Mercy

age 13+

Effective, intense drama about racism and justice; swearing.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)

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MOVIE

Kramer vs. Kramer

age 13+

Sensitive, truthful look at the breakup of a family.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1979)

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MOVIE

Marshall

age 13+

Inspirational, entertaining biopic of a very human hero.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)

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MOVIE

Argentina, 1985

age 14+

Inspiring Argentine historical drama has smoking, language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2022)

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MOVIE

Dark Waters

age 14+

Essential, harrowing true story of environmental crime.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)

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MOVIE

Philadelphia

age 14+

Moving, Oscared '90s drama fostered AIDS empathy.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1993)

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MOVIE

Worth

age 14+

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

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)

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MOVIE

Amistad

age 15+

Intense true story about slavery has graphic violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1997)

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MOVIE

Erin Brockovich

age 15+

Legal drama based on a true story has lots of cursing.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2000)

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MOVIE

...And Justice for All

age 15+

'70s courtroom drama has swearing, violence, sex.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1979)

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MOVIE

A Time to Kill

age 15+

Legal drama candidly tackles race relations in America.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1996)

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MOVIE

The Verdict

age 15+

'80s legal drama has alcoholism, smoking, and language.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1982)

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MOVIE

A Few Good Men

age 16+

Complex military whodunit. For mature teens+.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1992)

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