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Presumed Innocent

Play trailer Poster for Presumed Innocent R 1990 2h 7m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Prosecuting attorney Raymond Horgan (Brian Dennehy) assigns his chief deputy, the taciturn Rusty Sabitch (Harrison Ford), to investigate the rape and murder of colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi), unaware of their torrid affair. When evidence implicates Rusty, Horgan's political enemies demand his arrest, devastating Rusty's wife, Barbara (Bonnie Bedelia). In desperation, Rusty turns to crafty defense attorney Sandy Stein (Raul Julia), only to be stunned by his trial's revelations.
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Presumed Innocent

Presumed Innocent

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Critics Consensus

Thanks to an outstanding script, focused direction by Alan Pakula, and a riveting performance from Harrison Ford, Presumed Innocent is the kind of effective courtroom thriller most others aspire to be.

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Critics Reviews

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Joel Siegel Chicago Reader May 12, 2022
1/4
Presumed Innocent plays the audience for chumps in order to spring its closing-reel Big Whammy. Go to Full Review
John Pym Sight & Sound Jan 11, 2020
Where Presumed Innocent really takes off, though, and begins to catch an authentic flavour of the book is in the courtroom performances. Go to Full Review
Dolores Barclay Associated Press Jun 12, 2018
The movie is plump with twists, turns and blind alleys. Who can be trusted? Who is innocent? Who is guilty? Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Apr 28, 2026
9/10
As inquisitive, prodding, gentle piano music by John Williams presides over the musings and revelations, the picture boasts superb acting all around. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Nov 24, 2022
Pakula is an excellent actors director, and has this well in hand. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Aug 17, 2019
2.5/4
...a refreshingly adult drama that certainly captures the spirit of Turow's padded-out book. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Farah R @Farah 3 days ago Presumed Innocent is a solid legal drama anchored by strong performances, especially from Harrison Ford. The story kept me invested with its exploration of guilt, morality, justice, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves. It’s not necessarily the most explosive courtroom drama, but it’s consistently engaging and raises some genuinely thought-provoking questions. I was invested in the mystery and the characters, and the performances gave the story the weight it needed. See more Robert P @Superbad 3 days ago Presumed Innocent = a 3.5 star Movie... See more Bruce M @BruceMc Apr 23, 2026 "Presumed Innocent" was a huge hit when it came out, and holds up fairly well. Good direction, a good script and a great supporting cast overcome Harrison Ford's bland performance. Greta Scacchi doesn't have much to do but be beautiful, and the fetching Bonnie Bedelia is terrific as Ford's wife. Basically just a courtroom drama, but Alan Pakula's direction is crisp and the movie never drags. See more Gi S @Gistevenn Mar 26, 2026 I not a harrison ford fan but he did a good job in this movie and this was a good movie with a surprise ending. See more Hector I @Hector1184BC Mar 1, 2026 Rusty Sabich, a brilliant prosecutor, is accused of murder by the newly elected district attorney. The victim, an ambitious colleague with whom he had an affair, was investigating a corruption case involving names close to power. The film creates a constant doubt about his guilt, especially since the victim appears manipulative, using his seduction as a lever of influence. Despite the very 90s elegance of the staging and the music of John Williams, the atmosphere remains sticky, almost tinged with giallo in the stylization of the crime and the moral ambiguity. Between lies, guilt and secret lives, the story questions intimate responsibility beyond the judicial verdict. The acquittal does not dispel the trouble, and the final, chilling reversal shuffles all the cards. See more Tim B. @SlimTim0707 Jan 23, 2026 Presumed Innocent is engaging enough with help from Ford and Dennehy's screen presence, however due to an unrealistic script the film fails to truly inspire, with certain exchanges crafted as well as a 1980s daytime soap opera. I'm pretty doubtful that real attorneys at this level are so inept that the judge has to call the objections for them. See more Read all reviews
Presumed Innocent

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Movie Info

Synopsis Prosecuting attorney Raymond Horgan (Brian Dennehy) assigns his chief deputy, the taciturn Rusty Sabitch (Harrison Ford), to investigate the rape and murder of colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Greta Scacchi), unaware of their torrid affair. When evidence implicates Rusty, Horgan's political enemies demand his arrest, devastating Rusty's wife, Barbara (Bonnie Bedelia). In desperation, Rusty turns to crafty defense attorney Sandy Stein (Raul Julia), only to be stunned by his trial's revelations.
Director
Alan J. Pakula
Producer
Sydney Pollack, Mark Rosenberg
Screenwriter
Frank Pierson, Alan J. Pakula
Production Co
Warner Bros., Mirage Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$85.7M
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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