The Judge

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2:14

The Judge

R

Released Oct 10, 2014

2h 21m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

49%

Tomatometer

197 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

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.

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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.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

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

Rated: 2/5

Oct 20, 2014

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

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

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2014

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Kate Muir

The Times (UK)

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

Rated: 2/5

Oct 17, 2014

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Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

[...] as predictable as it sounds, “The Judge” is anything but that. The film might be a family drama, but it’s refreshingly adult [...] and filled with surprising emotional honesty.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 9, 2024

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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

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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

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dave e

These kinds of films rarely gain a cult following or win an oscar, however some do like On golden pond. The acting is A-1, and the scenery will make you want to move to Indiana, lol. The story has like 10 different ones all packed into the film and I loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/15/25

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Nicolette M

This is one of my favourite movies with Robert Downey Jnr. He’s acting is wonderful to watch, the script is superior and the story flows wonderfully. And the depth of all the actors supporting is phenomenal.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/25

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Audience Member

This is a heavy movie. It is well done and interesting. RDJ really is one of the best and Duvall is a legend too. Good movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Niccoló S

Probably the best work of RDJ. This movie is touching and extremely well shot and directed. The love story/sub plot is pretty useless and steals time and rhythm to a movie otherwise very good

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

Full Review

Les K

Once again, the artsy fartsy pretentious critics blow more smoke up each others arses, and those that believe their arrogant opinions will miss watching a really entertaining flick. Good story, great acting, great cinematography. Just a really solid, very interesting and entertaining look at a semi-dysfunctional father son relationship. Don’t listen to the pinkie up pretentious critics. Watch this. You’ll be glad you did. I don’t even bother looking at the critics scores anymore. Just leave it to us common folk for some honest appraisals.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/15/25

Full Review

Gary W

Movie is a great family watch. Just because I think it may be cliche and predictable, I know the average is human and is like “wow, good flick.” Robeert Downey is in top 10 on conversalist if that’s a a word, but he kills it and it, I think it’s a flick worth throwing out to fams or couples that haven’t seen it. Just sayin

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/02/24

Full Review

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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

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The Judge: Trailer 1

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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
Producer: Susan Downey, David Dobkin, David Gambino
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
Runtime: 2h 21m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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