By the way, they are not ranked in any specific order.MPAA: Rated R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language. These 20 movies should do that whether you agree or disagree with the choices. In defense of both, movies should get us to think and reflect about where we are as a society. There are lighthearted scenes in the list and there are many serious ones that affected the future of America.

In the end, the final verdict of which courtroom scene is the greatest will never be reached. It is likely that the most popular choices have been made by a set criteria against which all others are compared. The list will most assuredly be criticized for some of its choices, yet many of the characters in the classic choices of the greatest courtroom scenes are people who themselves chose to swim against the current in hopes of finding a new perspective to life. The scene has us asking more questions about the legal system than we get answers to, which actually is directly connected to the overall theme of the movie. But the courtroom scene has an almost inevitable ending to it regardless of Hunting’s defense. It is not clear that Hunting understands the procedures of the court, muddying the water about his decision making to represent himself. In this courtroom scene, he is being charged with assaulting a police officer (which he is clearly guilty of) but chooses to represent himself based on his knowledge of the law. Hunting, the character played by Damon, is a well-read mathematical genius who has a near photographic memory.

Wanting to end the list on a less serious but more controversial note, Good Will Hunting, like many smart writers, contains a courtroom scene that should make you wonder whether or not knowing the law makes any real difference. Here are 20 of the best courtroom scenes, some which go back more than 50 years. Just remember that real life courtrooms usually don’t function like those in the movies. It’s safe to say that movies with courtroom scenes are so popular because there is something for everyone. Who can forget Reese Witherspoon’s journey through Harvard Law School in Legally Blonde where she ends up defending a client before she even graduates? My Cousin Vinny opened the door for Marisa Tomei’s career by being a key expert witness as an auto mechanic turned hairdresser. What is interesting is that movies, unlike most TV shows about courtroom dramas, give us a single line or two that will stick out in minds for the rest of our lives.īut not all courtroom scenes are dramatic and deadly serious. Everyone knows the famous Jack Nicholson line from A Few Good Men, “You can’t handle the truth!” The classic Judgment at Nuremburg is both engaging and a reminder of how world history affects us even today. Movies that have courtroom scenes in them are among the most popular for moviegoers.

Law abiding citizen court scene