Movie Knight
A Civil Action
PG-13

A Civil Action

Justice has its price.

1998 • 115 min • Drama

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Synopsis

Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to 'get rid of' a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything—including his career and his clients' goals—in order to continue the case against all odds.

Our family guide

Best from age 13
65
Movie Knight Score
509 reviews
  • 65 Audience · 509 · 100%

A cynical lawyer takes on a major pollution case against powerful corporations, which becomes his obsession. He risks everything, including his career and his clients' futures, in a long and arduous legal battle for justice.

Violence & peril
2/10
Language
3/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
2/10
Romance & sensuality
1/10
Scary moments
2/10

Heads up

  • Discussions of serious illnesses, including childhood leukemia
  • Characters experience significant stress and financial hardship
  • Some legal and scientific jargon might be complex

What it models well

  • The pursuit of justice
  • Perseverance in the face of adversity
  • Standing up for the vulnerable
  • Environmental protection

Talk about it after

  • The true cost of corporate negligence
  • The complexities of the legal system
  • What constitutes "success" beyond financial gain
  • The impact of environmental pollution on communities

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for A Civil Action. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: Steven Zaillian • Crew: Steven Zaillian

Trailers & clips

Trailer

Reviewer notes

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Gallery

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Details

TMDB audience
6.5/10 (509)
Age rating
PG-13
Status
Released
Budget
$70,000,000
Box office
$56,709,981
IMDb
tt0120633

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