Parents' Guide to A Civil Action

Movie PG-13 1998 115 minutes
A Civil Action movie poster

Common Sense Media Review

Corrina Antrobus By Corrina Antrobus , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Moody courtroom drama shows a human side to the law.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • A Civil Action Trailer
  • A Civil Action: John Travolta sits behind a desk in a courtroom
  • A Civil Action: Two people in suits sit behind a desk. There is a glass of water in shot.
  • A Civil Action: Two people sit at a desk wearing suits.

Parent and Kid Reviews

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What's the Story?

In A CIVIL ACTION, a number of leukemia-related deaths are linked to the contamination of a local water supply in Massachusetts. Some of the grieving families decide to call on slick personal injury lawyer Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta) to seek justice. What seems like an unprofitable case (just the kind Schlichtmann tries to avoid), soon becomes an expensive investigation into responsibility. Alongside home truths on the hard nose of the law, Schlichtmann finds himself on a personal, moral journey to what justice, and success, really mean.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Brilliantly understated performances, flashes of wit and a heartbreaking true story aren't quite enough to make this movie memorable. A Civil Action works hard to give us some imaginative storytelling against a morality tale backdrop, not to mention some delicate character-building in the absence of any character backstories. Yet it aches for a little more care in its conclusion, which falls a little flat.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how A Civil Action portrayed the justice system. Did it seem like a realistic portrayal? Was it fair? Why are apologies and accountability important to people and communities?

  • How did the values of Jan Schlichtmann shift during the movie? What lessons did he learn? How did he show integrity, compassion, and empathy?

  • The film is based on a real-life case. What other movies have you seen that are based on true events?

Movie Details

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A Civil Action movie poster

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