The Judge

R

Released Oct 10, 2014

2h 21m

Drama

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The Judge: Trailer 1

2:14

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49%

Tomatometer

200 Reviews

72%

Audience Score

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

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

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

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2014

Full Review

Kate Muir

Times (UK)

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

Rated: 2/5

Oct 17, 2014

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

The hardest working movie in show business. It's a film that wants to check all the boxes and tries just a little too hard.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 2, 2021

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Sarah D

I won’t say this movie is stellar because it’s not. I do think the audience score is a bit more fair than the critics’ reviews.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/16/24

Full Review

Charles H

Great movie! Writing, acting, directing is top notch!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/24

Full Review

Karen S

I think it’s an amazing movie- sentimental for sure but so what? It wasn’t corny - had a great soundtrack that HOLDS UP! And acting is pitch perfect. What actors! How can the reviews suck this badly?!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

Full Review

Tanya M

This a great dramatic movie that tells the story of a son (Robert Downey Jr.) who lost the favor and love of his father when he was a teenager, and his aging father (Robert Duvall) who has less time on the clock of life, but is keeping it a secret. I don't want to give away the story, go watch it; it's heart warming. It's an excellent film, excellent acting and filming. I recommend this film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/04/24

Full Review

Ellen W

Ignore the critics. Cliché? Maybe but this movie has everything an audience loves, portrayed by an absolutely outstanding cast of actors. Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall never disappoint.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

Full Review

Alexandra H

I considered turning this movie off towards the beginning but am glad that I didn't. The beginning of this movie, and, actually, a good deal of it is difficult watching—a lot of family conflict. But the acting is superb, especially, by Robert Duval (as always). So, I hung in there. The plot is engaging. And the characters are engaging. Robert Duval was nominated (for the 7th time!) for an Academy Award and should have won it. The screenplay, also, is spectacular, though challenging to the audience. I highly recommend it unless you like feeling comfortable throughout a movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/31/24

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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