Common Sense Media Review
By Lynnette Nicholas
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Legal drama candidly tackles race relations in America.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
A Time to Kill
What's the Story?
A TIME TO KILL takes a candid look at America's judicial system while giving viewers a glimpse of the psychological and physical trauma and consequences that come along with racial injustice, systemic racism, and oppression. In a small Mississippi town, bold young lawyer Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey) and his assistant, Ellen Roark (Sandra Bullock), defend Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson), a poor black man accused of killing the two white men who raped his young daughter. This incites fury, and the Ku Klux Klan seeks revenge. The movie is based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham.
Is It Any Good?
This film candidly depicts the residual effect of racism on the next generation. Viewers get the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and consider what life is like for both a white man and a black man in the South. While A Time to Kill fairly portrays unjust crimes committed against Carl Lee and his family, the film also allows viewers to see the intense experiences of a white man and his legal team who choose to defend a black man in the South during a pivotal time in America's history. A Time To Kill doesn't shy away from revealing topics, attitudes, and the realities of many who lived in the South during this time period.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the subject matter of A Time to Kill. Has the social climate in America changed since this film came out in 1996? Has racial tension in America lessened or increased? Why do you say that?
Do you think that black men in America have the right to a fair trial? Why or why not?
Did you notice any stereotyping in this movie? What about in other movies that deal with race? What's the danger of stereotypes?
How do the characters and story show the value of perseverance and integrity? Why are those important character strengths?
Why do you think that Jake told the jury, in reference to 10-year-old Tonya, during his final closing statement to "imagine she is white"?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 24, 1996
- On DVD or streaming : April 30, 1998
- Cast : Matthew McConaughey , Sandra Bullock , Samuel L. Jackson
- Director : Joel Shumacher
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 149 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence and some graphic language
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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