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Trailer

Anatomy of a Murder

1959Movie2 h 41 minNR

CrimeDrama
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Metacritic958.3Rotten Tomatoes100%91%

A gripping, slow-burning crime movie about crime and mystery, with standout dialogue and direction.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or brutality.

Movies with

Story

Last year's No. 1 best-seller...This year's No. 1 motion picture.

Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.

Feels like

  • Courtroom Drama
  • Legal Thriller
  • Intelligent & Witty
  • Classic Film Noir Elements
  • Moral Dilemmas
  • Character Driven Mystery
  • Exceptional Dialogue
  • Suspenseful & Engaging
  • Pivotal Performances

Cast

21 of 21

Crew

Directed by
Otto Preminger
Written by
Wendell Mayes, John D. Voelker
Produced by
Otto Preminger
Music by
Duke Ellington

Everyone

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

Facts

July 1, 1959 · 2 h 41 min · NR

Released
July 1, 1959
Runtime
2 h 41 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Sexual Content
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$8 million
Available in
87 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

The Ace, Slut-Shaming, Author Avatar +9

  • The Ace
  • Slut-Shaming
  • Author Avatar
  • Have a Gay Old Time
  • Roman à Clef
  • Older Than They Look
  • Really Gets Around
  • Licked by the Dog
  • Crazy Jealous Guy
  • Asshole Victim
  • Idiot Ball
  • Karma Houdini

12 of 57 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream Anatomy of a Murder?"

Questions about Anatomy of a Murder

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Anatomy of a Murder?

PrimeThe RokuKanopyTCMFawesome

In the United States, Anatomy of a Murder streams on Prime and TCM, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Kanopy, and Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, YouTube, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 36 other countries.

Is Anatomy of a Murder worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 8, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 95). Critics rate it higher (98 out of 100) than audiences (85).

Was Anatomy of a Murder a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$8 million

Yes: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $8 million worldwide, 4.0 times its budget.

What tropes does Anatomy of a Murder use?

The AceSlut-ShamingAuthor AvatarHave a Gay Old TimeRoman à ClefOlder Than They LookReally Gets AroundLicked by the DogCrazy Jealous GuyAsshole VictimIdiot BallKarma Houdiniand 45 more

TV Tropes lists 57 tropes for it, including The Ace, Slut-Shaming, and Author Avatar.