Marshall
A young Thurgood Marshall guides a reluctant white lawyer through a racially charged 1940 courtroom battle that tests both their convictions and their partnership.
Overview
A gripping courtroom drama that highlights the struggle for justice in a racially divided America.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- serious
- witty
- tense
- historical drama night
- social justice film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film illuminating and entertaining, with strong performances—especially Chadwick Boseman’s—though its characterizations and historical complexity were sometimes simplified.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Thurgood Marshall’s Bridgeport trial functions as the central dramatic lens on his early NAACP legal career.
The racist judge bars Marshall from speaking, requiring Sam Friedman to serve as lead counsel under Marshall’s direction.
Marshall and Friedman must collaborate across racial and professional boundaries while facing bigoted pressure during the trial.
The film combines racism and legal inequality with an old-fashioned, audience-friendly courtroom-drama approach.
Films like Marshall, and why
A Few Good Men
real-life legal advocacy, racial injustice, and an uplifting courtroom-drama framework
To Kill a Mockingbird
historical courtroom investigation shaped by prejudice, moral courage, and strong performances
Just Mercy
biographical legal drama centered on institutional racism and a determined Black advocate
Movie Details
- Director
- Reginald Hudlin
- Release Date
- 2017-10-13
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (707)
Cast
- Chadwick Boseman
- Josh Gad
- Kate Hudson
- Sterling K. Brown
- James Cromwell
- Dan Stevens
- Sophia Bush
- Jussie Smollett
- Marina Squerciati
- Keesha Sharp
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Marshall about?
- A young Thurgood Marshall guides a reluctant white lawyer through a racially charged 1940 courtroom battle that tests both their convictions and their partnership.
- What is Marshall like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Marshall as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Marshall violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Marshall as mild.
- What did critics think of Marshall?
- Critics broadly found the film illuminating and entertaining, with strong performances—especially Chadwick Boseman’s—though its characterizations and historical complexity were sometimes simplified.
- Which films are like Marshall?
- Films with a similar feel include A Few Good Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Just Mercy.
- How long is Marshall?
- Marshall runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Marshall?
- In United States, Marshall streams on fuboTV, Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
