Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Presumed Innocent

Play trailer Poster for Presumed Innocent R 1990 2h 7m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 57 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Presumed Innocent

Presumed Innocent

What to Know

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More (57)
Joel Siegel Chicago Reader Presumed Innocent plays the audience for chumps in order to spring its closing-reel Big Whammy. Rated: 1/4 May 12, 2022 Full Review John Pym Sight & Sound Where Presumed Innocent really takes off, though, and begins to catch an authentic flavour of the book is in the courtroom performances. Jan 11, 2020 Full Review Dolores Barclay Associated Press The movie is plump with twists, turns and blind alleys. Who can be trusted? Who is innocent? Who is guilty? Jun 12, 2018 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Pakula is an excellent actors director, and has this well in hand. [Full review in Spanish] Nov 24, 2022 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a refreshingly adult drama that certainly captures the spirit of Turow's padded-out book. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 17, 2019 Full Review Hilary Mantel The Spectator It is intelligent and absorbing, but it is an entertainment. Apr 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (493)
Rohan H Presumed Innocent (1990) is a smart, tense, and elegantly crafted courtroom drama that keeps its audience hooked from beginning to end. Directed by Alan J. Pakula and based on Scott Turow’s bestselling novel, the film is a masterclass in slow-burn suspense — a story filled with moral complexity, emotional depth, and an ending that lingers long after the credits roll. Harrison Ford delivers one of his finest dramatic performances as Rusty Sabich, a respected prosecutor whose life unravels when he is accused of murdering his colleague and former lover, Carolyn Polhemus. Ford plays the role with remarkable restraint and nuance, perfectly capturing Rusty’s inner conflict, vulnerability, and quiet desperation. His performance draws the viewer in, making us question his innocence — and our own assumptions — at every turn. The supporting cast adds tremendous depth to the story. Raul Julia is magnetic as defense attorney Sandy Stern, bringing wit and charisma to every scene. Bonnie Bedelia gives a layered performance as Rusty’s wife Barbara, whose quiet strength and emotional honesty provide the film with its moral centre. Greta Scacchi, as Carolyn, embodies the mysterious allure that drives the story’s central obsession. Pakula’s direction is superb — controlled, deliberate, and deeply atmospheric. The film’s moody cinematography and haunting score create a palpable sense of unease, reflecting both the legal tension and the emotional turmoil beneath the surface. Every scene is carefully constructed, balancing procedural detail with psychological depth. What makes Presumed Innocent stand out from other thrillers is its intelligence. It’s not driven by action or spectacle, but by character, motive, and moral ambiguity. It explores themes of truth, loyalty, justice, and the fallibility of human desire — all through the lens of a legal system meant to protect the innocent. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/31/25 Full Review thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/05/25 Full Review Per S One of those TV movies where even good actors obviously don't feel comfortable finding their right mode. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/25 Full Review Oren C Had to binge this show. Fascinating. Well done. Great actors. Full of twists and suspense. A must watch! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/19/25 Full Review Barbara D Love the movie more than the series. The series ended dismally, but we were all about to go into lockdown (remember Covid?) and Kelly needed to end the series if it were to air when it did. A subplot with the wife in the series didn't work for me eitiher. The ending of the movie is different from the book, which is among my most favorite novels ever, but i like them both. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/18/25 Full Review Yash B After watching the new version of "Presumed Innocent" I decided to check out the original movie adaptation. I don't know if that made me biased, but I preferred the series over this movie. I think the story is still interesting but this version is very focused on the legal side of the story and feels very talky at times. I still think Harrison Ford is great in this and I liked how the two versions have slightly different conclusions which makes them both feel unique. Overall, this is an okay movie, but I feel if you had to choose one to watch for the first time the Apple TV series surpasses this one in every way. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/16/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Presumed Innocent

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Final Analysis 56% 44% Final Analysis Watchlist Flesh and Bone 73% 42% Flesh and Bone Watchlist Everybody Wins 13% 34% Everybody Wins Watchlist Blue Steel 75% 36% Blue Steel Watchlist TRAILER for Blue Steel Night Moves 78% 72% Night Moves Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

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)
Most Popular at Home Now