The Judge

R

Released Oct 10, 2014

2 hr. 21 min.

Drama

TRAILER

for The Judge: Trailer 1

List

49%

200 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.), a brilliant but shady attorney, returns to his Indiana hometown after learning that his mother has passed away. His arrival triggers renewed tension between himself and his father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), who makes no secret of his disapproval of Hank's morally ambiguous career. As the lawyer prepares to depart, his father is arrested for a hit-and-run death. Hank takes on his father's defense, despite the objections of the resentful old man.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered May 07

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent The Judge on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Solidly cast and beautifully filmed but thoroughly clichéd, The Judge seems destined to preside over a large jurisdiction of the basic cable afternoon-viewing circuit.

Read Critics Reviews

Blake E

Great movie with a great story and awesome acting. Robert Downey jr and Robert Duvall so good together. Love this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Banke d

Loved it! Great story line and acting. Big fan of both Roberts.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

Taylor K

Best movie of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

Full Review

Kadeem J

This is hands down one of the best movies I have ever watched.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/05/23

Full Review

Selvakumar S

Good film. Court scenes should be focused and sharp in arguments. The Judge hit the convict is slightly embarrassed to see for silly reasons.But The Judge acted well.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/09/23

Full Review

Michel M

awesome movie, the history show us details about relashioship between father and son, the rebuild of relashionship in the middle of hurt and suffering. The best movie!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

David Dobkin

Director

Robert Downey Jr.

Hank Palmer

Robert Duvall

Judge Joseph Palmer

Vera Farmiga

Samantha Powell

Billy Bob Thornton

Dwight Dickham

Vincent D'Onofrio

Glen Palmer

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

95%

93%

Hundreds of Beavers

TRAILER

for Hundreds of Beavers

67%

29%

The Stranger

TRAILER

for The Stranger

50%

92%

The Stolen Valley

TRAILER

for The Stolen Valley

93%

95%

Dune: Part Two

TRAILER

for Dune: Part Two

71%

60%

Immaculate

TRAILER

for Immaculate

82%

75%

In the Land of Saints and Sinners

TRAILER

for In the Land of Saints and Sinners

69%

85%

Sweet Dreams

TRAILER

for Sweet Dreams

56%

85%

DogMan

TRAILER

for DogMan

%

33%

Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer

%

%

An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

TRAILER

for An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

SAG Awards 2015 Winners

Conversations With 2015 Oscar Nominees

2015 Oscar Nominations

The Judge: Trailer 1

2:14

View more videos

View more photos

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Objection! Meretricious sentimentality! Objection! Badgering the audience! Where is this leading, your honour?

Rated: 2/5

Oct 20, 2014

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

As the verdict draws closer, the sentimental silliness and courtroom cliches pile up ...

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2014

Full Review

Kate Muir

Times (UK)

Unfortunately, when Downey is not centre-stage the drama becomes leaden, sentimental and utterly improbable.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 17, 2014

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The familiarity of the story hurts what is Dobkin's otherwise pleasantly sincere and straightforward direction, and a number of fine performances.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 18, 2022

Full Review

Dan Brightmore

NME (New Musical Express)

Robert Duvall gives a startlingly visceral performance in Robert Downey Jr's courtroom drama.

Rated: 4/5

May 26, 2021

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

The hardest working movie in show business. It's a film that wants to check all the boxes and tries just a little too hard.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 2, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.), a brilliant but shady attorney, returns to his Indiana hometown after learning that his mother has passed away. His arrival triggers renewed tension between himself and his father, Judge Joseph Palmer (Robert Duvall), who makes no secret of his disapproval of Hank's morally ambiguous career. As the lawyer prepares to depart, his father is arrested for a hit-and-run death. Hank takes on his father's defense, despite the objections of the resentful old man.

Director: David Dobkin
Executive Producer: Bruce Berman, Steven Mnuchin, Herb Gains, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Kleeman
Screenwriter: Nick Schenk, Bill Dubuque
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Big Kid Pictures, Team Downey
Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.7M
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now