Overview
A gripping tale of justice and resilience in the face of brutality.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- harrowing
- serious
- urgent
- serious movie night
- social justice discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film engrossing and socially forceful, with Jodie Foster's devastating performance standing out despite its conventional melodramatic framework.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kathryn Murphy must confront assumptions about Sarah Tobias's behavior, intoxication, and clothing while building a case against the attackers.
The barroom gang rape is presented as devastating, harrowing, and central to the film's emotional impact.
Kathryn Murphy moves from concern about winning to pursuing justice for Sarah through criminal prosecution.
The prosecution addresses not only the attackers but also the surrounding conduct and social environment that allowed the assault to occur.
Films like The Accused, and why
A Time to Kill
Shares a courtroom-centered crime drama structure, institutional injustice, and an emotionally forceful female lead confronting a hostile legal system.
Anatomy of a Murder
Comparable for its rape trial narrative, moral urgency, courtroom tension, and focus on how legal institutions treat sexual violence survivors.
Philadelphia
Shares a socially conscious legal drama mode, an embattled protagonist, and a critique of prejudice shaping criminal justice.
Movie Details
- Director
- Jonathan Kaplan
- Release Date
- 1988-10-14
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (707)
Cast
- Jodie Foster
- Kelly McGillis
- Bernie Coulson
- Leo Rossi
- Ann Hearn
- Carmen Argenziano
- Steve Antin
- Tom O'Brien
- Peter Van Norden
- Terry David Mulligan
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 Accused about?
- After a brutal gang rape, a traumatized woman and a determined prosecutor challenge the assumptions that let sexual violence disappear inside the justice system.
- What is The Accused like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Accused as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Accused violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Accused as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Accused?
- Critics broadly found the film engrossing and socially forceful, with Jodie Foster's devastating performance standing out despite its conventional melodramatic framework.
- Which films are like The Accused?
- Films with a similar feel include A Time to Kill, Anatomy of a Murder, and Philadelphia.
- How long is The Accused?
- The Accused runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Accused?
- In United States, The Accused is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
