Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

A Time to Kill

Play trailer Poster for A Time to Kill R 1996 2h 30m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
66% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) is a heartbroken black father who avenges his daughter's brutal rape by shooting the bigoted men responsible for the crime as they are on their way to trial. He turns to Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), an untested lawyer, to defend him. Brigance struggles to believe that he can get Hailey acquitted in this small, segregated Southern town, given Hailey's race and the deliberate nature of his crimes, but Carl has unshakable faith in him.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

A Time to Kill

A Time to Kill

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Overlong and superficial, A Time to Kill nonetheless succeeds on the strength of its skillful craftsmanship and top-notch performances.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 06/14/2022
In order to enjoy this mediocre John Grisham courtroom drama, labeled as top-notch entertainment by many of my colleagues, you have to accept an ersatz, cartoonish version of the deep south... Go to Full Review
Chris Peachment Daily Telegraph (UK) 11/29/2017
(Grisham) films are... grossly over-inflated examples of that old genre which hardly ever need change, the courtroom drama. A Time To Kill is no different, except that its verdict would be laughed out of any court anywhere in the civilised world. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 06/14/2009
A likable -- maybe even lovable -- movie. Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault 09/01/2022
B-
The performances are strong, the issues provocative. Go to Full Review
Grant Watson Fiction Machine 07/03/2022
6/10
There is a lot in here that is effective, and plenty that works. There is simply also a lot that doesn’t. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 06/13/2021
3/4
...a slow-moving yet mostly engrossing drama... Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Dana S Nov 25 My all time favorite movie. Riveting! On the edge of your seat movie with surprises at every turn. I've seen it about 20 times and will watch again! See more Monic Kenya M Nov 23 Excellent acting. Strong script. See more Dave C Nov 15 Solid, star-studded long-form book-to-screen story covering the usual raft of themes found in many a John Grisham novel. Well-acted, and well-told, if a tad longer than it could do with being See more Basilio S Nov 12 A must watch, amazing acting, unpredictable, it's long but the suspense pulls you back. It elicits the emotions expected. I wish i saw more of the daughter. I am just surprised the daughter was not used as a witness in court. Not sure if she was not old enough. See more Cameron B Oct 15 The performances are strong, the issues provocative. See more Frans B Sep 16 Very difficult to watch, gut wrenching. All star cast performs convincingly in character. Very well written, albeit a bit drawn out. Great cinematography. Very memorable movie filled with all the elements that makes for a courtroom drama and then some. See more Read all reviews
A Time to Kill

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Unfaithful 51% 68% Unfaithful Watchlist City Hall 60% 38% City Hall Watchlist Murder in the First 55% 79% Murder in the First Watchlist The Lesser Evil 60% 73% The Lesser Evil Watchlist The Siege 44% 53% The Siege Watchlist TRAILER for The Siege Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Carl Lee Hailey (Samuel L. Jackson) is a heartbroken black father who avenges his daughter's brutal rape by shooting the bigoted men responsible for the crime as they are on their way to trial. He turns to Jake Brigance (Matthew McConaughey), an untested lawyer, to defend him. Brigance struggles to believe that he can get Hailey acquitted in this small, segregated Southern town, given Hailey's race and the deliberate nature of his crimes, but Carl has unshakable faith in him.
Director
Joel Schumacher
Producer
Arnon Milchan, Michael G. Nathanson, Hunt Lowry, John Grisham
Screenwriter
Akiva Goldsman
Production Co
Regency Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$108.7M
Runtime
2h 30m
Sound Mix
Surround
Most Popular at Home Now