The Lincoln Lawyer

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The Lincoln Lawyer

R

Released Mar 18, 2011

1h 59m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

172 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.

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Critics Consensus

It doesn't offer any twists on the predictable courtroom thriller formula, but with a charming Matthew McConaughey leading its solid cast, The Lincoln Lawyer offers briskly enjoyable entertainment.

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Scott Foundas

Film Comment Magazine

A much better version of this movie may exist somewhere in the editing-room blender, to be excavated by cine-archeologists of the future.

Jun 20, 2013

Full Review

James White

Empire Magazine

A solid thriller with McConaughey doing what he does best.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 3, 2011

Full Review

Leonard Maltin

leonardmaltin.com

The Lincoln Lawyer is a well-crafted, well-cast adaptation of Michael Connelly's best-selling novel, shot on interesting Los Angeles locations. It's a crime thriller with...

Rated: 2.1/2

Apr 1, 2011

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Viewers hoping for anything more than your run-of-the-mill courtroom thriller will feel letdown, whereas general audiences will surely eat this stuff up.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 31, 2023

Full Review

Toussaint Egan

Polygon

The Lincoln Lawyer marks the beginning of what many at the time characterized as the 'McConaissance'.

Oct 22, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

The ultra-confidence swagger for which McConaughey is so well known works well here.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 14, 2020

Full Review

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Larry K

Matthew McConaughey is really great in this. Fun movie!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

Full Review

Randall M

The cast does a fine job, but the characters are stock and the story is kind of silly. Early on, it seems as if the we're headed toward either "Powerful rich guy nobody believes got set up" or "Powerful rich guy killed a prostitute and his attorney is going to prove it". Since neither story line is particularly intriguing, we know it's going to get weird and silly.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

Full Review

Madam D

Saw this many years ago. Like McConaughey so watched it again. A few angles didn't add up, but basicially a pretty good thriller. Always fun to see rich guys go down.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/27/25

Full Review

Jed I

5.7/10 — "Mediocre"/"Passable"

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/25

Full Review

Thomas A

Wimpiest cross-exam ever recorded. The prosecution might as well have asked Roulet, "What's your favorite color.?"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/07/25

Full Review

mark g

Strong cast lifts a cookie cutter story. Entertaining and well shot. McConaughey is invested and gets help from Tomei, Philippe and Macy. It's a solid and entertaining film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

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Brad Furman

Director

Matthew McConaughey

Mick Haller

Marisa Tomei

Maggie McPherson

Ryan Phillippe

Louis Roulet

Josh Lucas

Ted Minton

William H. Macy

Frank Levin

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - When Do You Retire?

1:55

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - I'm Trying to Make it Right!

3:01

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - Attorney-Client Privilege

2:38

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - Cross-Examination

2:15

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - It's Called the Justice System

1:43

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - They Want the Death Penalty

2:06

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - Whose Side are You on Anyway?

2:07

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - Can You Give Me a Lift?

2:20

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - This Whole Thing is a Set-Up

1:33

The Lincoln Lawyer: Official Clip - Hospital, Not the Morgue

2:30

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The Lincoln Lawyer: Trailer 2

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The Lincoln Lawyer: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy (Ryan Phillippe) who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.

Director: Brad Furman
Producer: Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Sidney Kimmel, Richard S. Wright, Scott Steindorff
Screenwriter: John Romano
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Stone Village Productions, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 19, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $58.0M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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