The Verdict
A fallen Boston attorney risks his last chance at redemption by taking a powerful hospital and its lawyers to trial over a patient’s catastrophic medical negligence.
Overview
A washed-up lawyer seeks redemption in a high-stakes medical malpractice case that could change his life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- serious
- morally tense
- gritty
- serious movie night
- classic film evening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful courtroom drama elevated by Paul Newman's commanding performance, David Mamet's crackling screenplay, and Sidney Lumet's assured direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Frank Galvin turns away from a lucrative settlement and pursues the negligence case despite his damaged career and alcoholism.
The Archdiocese, hospital, doctors, opposing counsel, and judge create an uphill environment for Frank and the injured patient’s family.
Nearly every operating-room witness supports the defense while nurse Maureen Rooney remains the crucial holdout.
The film’s Boston offices, hospital spaces, courtrooms, and modest personal environments support its grounded procedural atmosphere.
Films like The Verdict, and why
A Few Good Men
shared courtroom drama, institutional power struggle, moral stakes, and determined attorney protagonist
Erin Brockovich
shared legal drama, flawed professional protagonist, systemic injustice, and redemptive emotional arc
Anatomy of a Murder
shared courtroom tension, ethical conflict, alcoholism, and intense character-centered realism
The Insider
shared procedural courtroom structure, institutional corruption, and morally serious social drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Release Date
- 1982-12-08
- Runtime
- 129 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (770)
Cast
- Paul Newman
- Charlotte Rampling
- Jack Warden
- James Mason
- Milo O'Shea
- Lindsay Crouse
- Edward Binns
- Julie Bovasso
- Roxanne Hart
- James Handy
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Verdict about?
- A fallen Boston attorney risks his last chance at redemption by taking a powerful hospital and its lawyers to trial over a patient’s catastrophic medical negligence.
- What is The Verdict like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Verdict as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Verdict violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Verdict.
- What did critics think of The Verdict?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful courtroom drama elevated by Paul Newman's commanding performance, David Mamet's crackling screenplay, and Sidney Lumet's assured direction.
- Which films are like The Verdict?
- Films with a similar feel include A Few Good Men, Erin Brockovich, Anatomy of a Murder, and The Insider.
- How long is The Verdict?
- The Verdict runs 129 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Verdict?
- In United States, The Verdict is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
