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Is there a film genre more ’90s than the legal thriller? Sure, a few great movies predated the decade, but the ’90s seemed to produce more thrillers about the legal system than any other era. The films typically followed a young, typically male, often Southern lawyer who was in over his head as he takes on the case of a lifetime. But the best of the genre didn’t stick to a formula and offered a variety of protagonists dealing with some form of a miscarriage of justice — or just fighting for their lives in and out of court. Here are ten essential films from that era worth revisiting (or watching for the first time).
Presumed Innocent (1990)
A prosecutor, played by Harrison Ford, is falsely accused of raping and murdering his lover, a colleague. Raúl Juliá plays the lawyer who comes to his defense.
Find out where to stream Presumed Innocent on GoWatchIt.
JFK (1991)
Oliver Stone’s epic drama features an all star cast fronted by Kevin Costner, who plays New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison. The film follows Garrison’s quest to prove a government conspiracy behind John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
Find out where to stream JFK on GoWatchIt.
A Few Good Men (1992)
Rob Reiner brought Aaron Sorkin’s play to the big screen for this film about the court martial of two Marines who are charged with the murder of a fellow soldier. It includes the classic line, “You can’t handle the truth!” uttered by Jack Nicholson.
Find out where to stream A Few Good Men on GoWatchIt.
The Firm (1993)
Tom Cruise, Holly Hunter, and Gene Hackman star in this expertly made thriller directed by Sydney Pollack and based on John Grisham’s bestselling novel, which was not only his first success — it also brought the legal thriller genre to immense popularity.
Find out where to stream The Firm on GoWatchIt.
In the Name of the Father (1993)
Daniel Day Lewis nabbed one of his many Oscar nominations for his portrayal of Gerry Conlon, an Irish man falsely imprisoned along with three others for planting car bombs in Belfast. Emma Thompson also received an Oscar nomination as the attorney who defends his case.
Find out where to stream In the Name of the Father on GoWatchIt.
The Pelican Brief (1993)
After two Supreme Court justices are assassinated, Darby Shaw, a young law student (played by Julia Roberts), writes a legal brief suggesting who is responsible. It turns out her conspiracy theory is right. Shaw teams up with a reporter (Denzel Washington) to investigate the plot — putting both of their lives in danger.
Find out where to stream The Pelican Brief on GoWatchIt.
The Client (1994)
A young boy witnesses the suicide of a mob lawyer, making him a mob target. Coming to the rescue is a brassy lawyer (played by Susan Sarandon in an Oscar-nominated role), who works to protect him in and out of court.
Find out where to stream The Client on GoWatchIt.
Primal Fear (1996)
Edward Norton received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of an altar boy accused of murdering a Catholic priest in this thriller. Richard Gere plays the defense attorney attracted to the high-profile case, and Laura Linney plays the prosecutor (and his former lover).
Find out where to stream Primal Fear on GoWatchIt.
A Time to Kill (1996)
Another John Grisham joint, this time based on his first novel and inspired in part by To Kill a Mockingbird. Matthew McConaughey plays a young lawyer who comes to the defense of a black man who murders the two men accused of raping his daughter. While the trial plays out in court, several factions on both sides attempt to sway the outcome in numerous violent ways.
Find out where to stream A Time to Kill on GoWatchIt.
The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
If the Devil were on Earth, would he be a lawyer? Most certainly. (I’m not sure if he would hire Keanu Reeves, though.)
Find out where to stream The Devil’s Advocate on GoWatchIt.
