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Trailer

A Time to Kill

1996Movie2 h 29 minR

CrimeDrama
67
GoodGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic537.1Rotten Tomatoes66%85%

A nerve-racking, violent crime movie about crime and everyday modern life, with standout performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, warmth or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Experience a time you'll never forget.

A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK.

Feels like

  • Legal Drama
  • Racial Justice Thriller
  • Moral Ambiguity
  • Southern Gothic Atmosphere
  • Courtroom Intensity
  • Vigilante Justice Debate
  • Powerful Ensemble Cast
  • Social Commentary
  • High-Stakes Suspense

Cast

24 of 41

Crew

Directed by
Joel Schumacher
Written by
John Grisham, Akiva Goldsman
Produced by
John Grisham, Arnon Milchan, Hunt Lowry
Music by
Elliot Goldenthal

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 24, 1996 · 2 h 29 min · R

Released
July 24, 1996
Runtime
2 h 29 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$40 million
Box office
$152 million
Available in
130 countries

Tropes

I Want My Mommy!, My God, What Have I Done?, Backfire on the Witness Stand +9

  • I Want My Mommy!
  • My God, What Have I Done?
  • Backfire on the Witness Stand
  • Jerkass Has a Point
  • Fan Disservice
  • Smug Snake
  • Spared by the Adaptation
  • December–December Romance
  • Penultimate Outburst
  • Karmic Death
  • Papa Wolf
  • Sex for Solace

12 of 70 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream A Time to Kill?"

Questions about A Time to Kill

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Time to Kill?

In the United States, you can rent or buy A Time to Kill from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 126 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is A Time to Kill worth watching?

67
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 67 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 66%, and Metacritic 53). Audiences rate it higher (77 out of 100) than critics (60).

Is A Time to Kill plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (8 of 10) and dialogue centrality (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was A Time to Kill a box office hit?

Budget$40 million
Box office$152 million

Yes: it cost about $40 million to make and earned $152 million worldwide, 3.8 times its budget.

What tropes does A Time to Kill use?

I Want My Mommy!My God, What Have I Done?Backfire on the Witness StandJerkass Has a PointFan DisserviceSmug SnakeSpared by the AdaptationDecember–December RomancePenultimate OutburstKarmic DeathPapa WolfSex for Solaceand 58 more

TV Tropes lists 70 tropes for it, including I Want My Mommy!, My God, What Have I Done?, and Backfire on the Witness Stand.