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Murder in the First

1995·Movie
2h 2min·R
65
GoodGoodWatch score

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Murder in the First fingerprint

Strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace6
  • Violence6

Heart

Moving and cathartic

  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis7
  • Melancholy6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor4
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy1

World

History, crime, and the mind

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8
  • Intrigue8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The trial that brought down Alcatraz.

A young, inexperienced public defender is assigned to defend an inmate accused of committing murder while behind bars.
Prison DramaLegal ThrillerHistorical DramaTrue StoryInjusticePsychological DepthCharacter-DrivenSocial Commentary

Crew

Directed by:
Written by:
Composed by:

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Murder in the First

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Murder in the First legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Murder in the First worth watching?

65
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 65/100 (IMDb 7.3 and Rotten Tomatoes 56%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Murder in the First rated?

RViolence

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is Murder in the First?

2 h 2 min

Murder in the First runs 2 h 2 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Murder in the First?

Critics56
Audiences76

Not quite. Audiences rate Murder in the First higher (76) than critics (56). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Murder in the First a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$30 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $20 million to make and earned $30 million worldwide, 1.5 times its budget.

What language is Murder in the First in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in France, United States.

In how many countries can I watch Murder in the First?

25ATAUBECACHDEDKESFIFRGBGGIEIT+11

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Murder in the First in 25 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Murder in the First use?

Maximum Fun ChamberCut His Heart Out with a SpoonThe Loins Sleep TonightArtistic License – HistoryHistorical Hero UpgradeDeath SeekerDriven to SuicideThe AlcatrazThe JailerUnintentionally Notorious CrimeHair-Trigger TemperVery Loosely Based on a True Storyand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 storytelling tropes for Murder in the First, including Maximum Fun Chamber, Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon, The Loins Sleep Tonight.