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Posted by Christian Keane

https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2026/10-great-courtroom-movies-you-probably-havent-seen/

https://www.tasteofcinema.com/?p=70378

The courtroom drama has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, with Justine Triet’s monumental Anatomy of a Fall (2023) winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes, Clint Eastwood returning to our screens with Juror #2 (2024), and Netflix backing the true life tale of The Trail of the Chicago Seven (2020) a few years back.

But it’s always been there, in the background; from the old classics like 12 Angry Men (1957) or Witness for the Prosecution (1957) right through until now, enjoying a particularly fruitful patch that coincided with the boom of the erotic thriller in the 70’s and 80’s.

Here we look back at 10 of the more underrated courtroom dramas, ones that may have slipped your notice, or were perhaps discarded unfairly at the time, all of which are worthy of a reappraisal, or at the very least, a second glance.

1. The Star Chamber (1983)

When you consider Michael Douglas’s acting career, it’s fair to say that there are many excellent films that immediately jump out. But Peter Hyams’s 1983 legal drama probably isn’t one of them. The Star Chamber might be difficult to track down, but it’s well worth doing so. Douglas plays Steven Hardin, a judge who has become so disgusted by the how the legal system works, he’s considering his life choices.

When a case of criminals getting off on yet another technicality proves one system error too far, he seeks the help of a fellow judge (Hal Halbrook) in trying to do something about it. Halbrook’s Benjamin invites Hardin into an inner ring of judges who take the law into their own hands when this sort of thing happens, creating their own court and delivering justice their own way when the time presents itself.

The idea is something we’ve seen time and again in vigilante films but presenting such a narrative through the legal system itself proves a fascinating concept, and Douglas, as you might expect, is equal to the task. He throws himself into the film and, even when it doesn’t all hang together, you believe in his character. The Star Chamber is a thoroughly engaging piece of film making, and while it might not be up there with his very best, proves that Douglas can single handedly sell you a film.

2. Jagged Edge (1985)

Glenn Close would become one of the icons of the erotic thriller solely for her display in Adrian Lyne’s Fatal Attraction (1987), but in Richard Marquand’s courtroom drama and erotic thriller she plays a lawyer who takes on Jack’s (Jeff Bridges) case, a man whose rich heiress wife has been murdered, and he’s the accused.

Written by Joe Eszterhas, the script was sold for half a million dollars (his Basic Instinct script went on to sell for $3 million), and you can see the seeds of what was to come from Eszterhas in Jagged Edge. Marquand’s film removes the titillation in favour of what ends up being a courtroom drama, and Jagged Edge is good fun, with solid performances, with the outrageousness of Basic Instinct removed, and works a whole lot better as a result. This ends up being very much a courtroom drama, despite Close’s Teddy falling in love with Jack; and although it’s flawed, it’s lead performances take this above your average legal thriller.

In the end, Jagged Edge walks a fine line between the two sub-genres and ultimately succeeds rather well. It might be discarded in favour of Eszterhas’s more famous scripts these days, but Jagged Edge holds up today and is worth another look as a legal drama, rather than purely an erotic thriller penned by Eszterhas, as many dismiss it as.

3. Presumed Innocent (1990)

Recently reimagined by Apple TV+ as a TV series, Alan J. Pakula’s brilliant 1990 legal thriller keeps you guessing until the very last shot. When a lawyer is found murdered, her boss assigns the case to a colleague, Rusty (Harrison Ford), but when the case exchanges hands, it turns out Rusty was having an affair with the victim.

It sets up an intriguing premise; How do you defend yourself against a charge of rape when you were having an affair with the dead woman, your fingerprints are on a glass in her apartment, and phone records prove you called her earlier in the evening, not to mention the fact that your semen has been found at the scene of the crime?

This is what Ford’s Rusty is dealing with, and it must be said that this is one of his finest on-screen performances, up there in terms of sheer helplessness with The Fugitive (1993). Rusty’s wife (a wonderful performance by Bonnie Bedelia) stands by him, but she’s understandably bitter because of his infidelity, and as this bitterness grows, so does the tension; making Presumed Innocent a gripping thriller from start to finish, and its courtroom sequences are enthralling. It’s also surprisingly quiet and understated, making the whole thing seem more plausible, and draws you in even further to its web of intrigue.

4. A Time to Kill (1996)

The late Joel Schumacher is often remembered for his ill-advised Batman & Robin (1997) film, although many seem to forget that he actually helmed Batman Forever (1995) before that, which was a far better film. For those cinema fans out there however, we’re aware that Schumacher was an excellent film maker, and his 1996 courtroom drama A Time to Kill is a good example of this.

The plot revolves around Carl, an African American man who kills two white men who raped his daughter as their trial is set to begin. Carl (Samuel L. Jackson) then hires a white American to defend him in his own trial, showing an unshakeable faith in the lawyer that he can get him off. Schumacher’s film is gripping and hosts an impressive cast list; Matthew McConaughey as the lawyer Jake who Carl hires, and there are roles for Sandra Bullock and Kevin Spacey along the way.

Despite Jake’s doubt about whether he can be successful in his attempts to help Carl walk free in a segregated Southern town, A Time to Kill pulls you into its grasp and despite its lengthy running time, never outstays its welcome. This is a Schumacher film that doesn’t get the credit it deserves and is a far better film than many preceive it to be.

5. The Rainmaker (1997)

Again, this is a courtroom drama made by a big-name director that falls by the wayside in comparison to his bigger films, and yet Francis Ford Coppola’s John Grisham adaptation The Rainmaker is a star-studded courtroom drama that is frequently discarded.

Starring Matt Damon as a trainee lawyer who enters a shady law practise, Rudy is given the benefit of his boss’ (Mickey Rourke) experience only on the condition that he brings his own business to the firm. The case that the film focuses on involves Rudy suing an insurance company that refuses to pay the medical bills of young boy who is critically ill. Facing Rudy is a highly experienced legal team, led by Jon Voight.

Coppola’s film is well crafted and superbly acted, providing audiences with a compelling legal drama that pulls you in with its emotion, and holds you there until the credits role. It remains one of the finest Grisham adaptations to date, and while there’s a few to choose from, the Rainmaker remains one that seemingly gets lost amongst the rest, despite its impressive direction and cast list.

https://www.tasteofcinema.com/2026/10-great-courtroom-movies-you-probably-havent-seen/

https://www.tasteofcinema.com/?p=70378