The Devil's Advocate

R

Released Oct 17, 1997

2 hr. 24 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Fantasy

Horror

List

63%

60 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) accepts a high-powered position at a New York law firm headed by legal shark John Milton (Al Pacino). As Kevin moves up in the firm's ranks, his wife, Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), has several frightening, mystical experiences that begin to warp her sense of reality. With the stakes getting higher with each case, Kevin quickly learns that his mentor is planning a far greater evil than simply winning without scruples.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Apr 16

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent The Devil's Advocate on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Though it is ultimately somewhat undone by its own lofty ambitions, The Devil's Advocate is a mostly effective blend of supernatural thrills and character exploration.

Read Critics Reviews

Beat M

Great Performance by the great Al Pacino.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

Dan R

One of my favourite films from the late 90s is 1997's 'The Devil's Advocate'. SYNOPSIS: 'An exceptionally-adept Florida lawyer is offered a job at a high-end New York City law firm with a high-end boss--the biggest opportunity of his career to date.' As absurd as some of this film's plot is it's still a great exploration into the dark effects of ambition and the supernatural world. Al Pacino absolutely chews the scenery and steals the movie as the Devil disguised as a millionaire owner of a legal film. He's mesmerising. A very young Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron offering a suitably competent supporting cast. If anything spoils the film now in rewatching, it is the very dated and wonky CGI effects. However for the time these were probably very effective. 'The Devil's Advocate' is a great little thriller that develops throughout it's 143 minute run time. I still find this really entertaining. 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

Full Review

Alec C

Morality and free will are very hard to maintain in the legal world, especially if it could cost you your soul! When an ambitious defense attorney falls under the sway of the charming boss of a legal firm, his actions leave lasting consequences on others and himself. Things will soon become dangerous in both a personal and biblical sense!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/27/23

Full Review

Bambi R

Amazing acting, with a story that is rich and fascinating. The movie holds up every rewatch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

Full Review

Did You Z

First Time Watch! This was a movie I knew about for the longest time, but I had never got around to watching it. With a great cast, an interesting premise and stars. In the 90s I was wondering what they were going to do to make this movie great. After finishing the movie, I can say that I enjoyed it, and it definitely had potential with some great performances, but unfortunately it doesn't reach its full potential. There doesn't seem to be any surprises here, everything that should have been a surprise or a twist, and turn in the road is thrown straight in your face.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/25/23

Full Review

dave O

Loved this one. Really good idea and well constructed movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Taylor Hackford

Director

Keanu Reeves

Kevin Lomax

Al Pacino

John Milton

Charlize Theron

Mary Ann Lomax

Jeffrey Jones

Eddie Barzoon

Judith Ivey

Mrs. Alice Lomax

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

20%

31%

Legion

TRAILER

for Legion

60%

34%

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

15%

44%

Mirrors

30%

19%

Twixt

79%

40%

The Monster

TRAILER

for The Monster

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Netflix in May 2022

New on Netflix in August

New on Netflix in October

View more photos

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

At half its present length it might make an OK midnight camp item.

Aug 10, 2020

Full Review

Paul Tatara

CNN.com

You don't care about any of the characters, so there's no fear of something nasty happening to them, and, with the exception of Pacino (who plays the devil himself), it's terribly miscast.

Aug 10, 2020

Full Review

Ann Hornaday

Baltimore Sun

Pacino's gleeful performance notwithstanding, "The Devil's Advocate" descends into silly self-indulgence when it should have gone straight to hell.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 10, 2020

Full Review

Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

Self-indulgent and overlong, it suffers largely due to Reeves having to carry the narrative momentum. Pacino is clearly having an absolute blast, but he seems to be in an entirely different movie from the rest of the cast.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 20, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Outrageously entertaining.

Rated: 3/4

May 24, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Although Pacino’s wily and delicious performance eventually leads to an over-the-top climax that threatens to derail the entire picture, The Devil’s Advocate develops patiently and effectively over 143 minutes.

Rated: 3/4

May 4, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) accepts a high-powered position at a New York law firm headed by legal shark John Milton (Al Pacino). As Kevin moves up in the firm's ranks, his wife, Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), has several frightening, mystical experiences that begin to warp her sense of reality. With the stakes getting higher with each case, Kevin quickly learns that his mentor is planning a far greater evil than simply winning without scruples.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Executive Producer: Barry Bernardi, Taylor Hackford, Erwin Stoff, Michael Tadross, Steve White
Screenwriter: Andrew Neiderman, Jonathan Lemkin, Tony Gilroy
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Kopelson Entertainment, New Regency Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $61.0M
Sound Mix: SDDS, Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now