Top 10 Courtroom Monologues in Movies
#10: Daniel Hillard Pleads For Custody “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
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Robin Williams delivered a rousing speech as the titular character in 1998’s “Patch Adams.” In that film, he plays a medical student passionately defending his use of humor in front of the state medical board. But the late actor’s most memorable appeal takes place in the 1993 blockbuster comedy-drama. After his disguise as the titular nanny is revealed, Daniel explains his motivations for the ruse at a custody hearing. His testimony is both poetic and raw, and it’s expertly delivered by Williams. The father who could never be serious is now as candid and sincere as we’ve ever seen — and we can’t help but root for him.
#9: Becoming a Schnook “Goodfellas” (1990)
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This biographical crime film adapts the life of Henry Hill, a one-time New York City Mafia member. In 1950s, Hill begins working with local mobsters and rises through the ranks of a crime organization. Some 25 years later, he decides to rat on two powerful associates and join the witness protection program. With the film switching in and out of his voiceover during courtroom proceedings, we hear of Henry’s conflicted feelings about moving on. The sequence is immediately memorable for breaking the fourth wall. But the monologue is most fascinating for its matter-of-fact perspective on transitioning from a gangster to an average joe.
#8: The Perm “Legally Blonde” (2001)
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This beloved comedy follows Elle Woods, a fashion merchandising student who takes on Harvard Law School after being dumped by her boyfriend. She lands an internship with a professor and ends up taking over one of his clients in a murder trial. In the film’s climactic scene, Elle seems to have reached a dead-end while cross-examining the accused’s step-daughter. But with a truly impressive line of reasoning about the witness’s hair care habits, Elle solves the case on the spot. It might not be the most realistic scene, given the protagonist’s status as a first-year law student. But it’s a massive triumph that cemented the main character’s iconic status.
#7: A Climate of Hatred & Fear “Philadelphia” (1993)
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This legal drama follows Andrew Beckett, a lawyer who believes he was fired for his sexuality and his AIDS diagnosis. Although initially unsympathetic to Beckett’s situation, attorney Joe Miller eventually decides to take on his case. At trial, the latter’s opening statement is captivating for its clarity and his direct gaze into the camera. But it’s not quite his most memorable speech. Later, he delivers a searing argument for why the trial isn’t only about illness, but also about pervasive bigotry. It’s a rousing moment that captures Miller’s way with words — but it also reveals his own attitudes changing for the better.
#6: Mona Lisa Vito’s Testimony “My Cousin Vinny” (1992)
In a movie full of kooky characters, Marisa Tomei’s has to be one of the most iconic. And, as it turns out, the film’s central trial hinges on her testimony. The comedy focuses on Vinny Gambini, an inexperienced lawyer representing his cousin charged with murder. Vinny’s fiancée isn’t trusted by the opposing counsel as a car expert, but she schools him in truly epic fashion. She then rattles off an analysis of car tracks that manages to exonerate the accused. There’s much to love about this courtroom classic, but Lisa’s intelligence and attitude make her starring moment a definite highlight.
#5: A Painful Story “A Time to Kill” (1996)
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In this film, Carl Lee Hailey, a Black resident of Canton, Mississippi, takes revenge against two white men who brutally assaulted his daughter. The devastated father selects lawyer Jake Brigance to represent him in the high-profile murder trial. Before long, the two must reckon with an all-white jury and the threats of a rallying Ku Klux Klan. After a soul-baring conversation with his client, Brigance takes a unique approach to his closing argument. Telling the painful story of Tonya Hailey’s victimization, the attorney begins to break down. With just four words, his final line calls out the jurors’ bias and demands that they act with integrity. In a film full of powerful moments from Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey, this one is unforgettable.
#4: Just Getting Warmed Up “Scent of a Woman” (1992)
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This scene may not actually take place in a court of law, but it simply can’t be forgotten. The film focuses on ex-Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade and his temporary caretaker Charlie, a prep school student. During the drama’s climactic disciplinary hearing, the teen is reluctant to testify as an eyewitness regarding a campus prank. When the embittered headmaster suggests that Charlie be expelled, Frank launches into a defense of his assistant. The impassioned and profanity-laced speech perfectly captures the Army vet’s brazen personality, while also revealing his emotional growth. Plus, it’s downright satisfying to see the smarmy principal be taken down in such a bombastic way.
#3: “I’m His Mother” “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
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When it comes to divorce movies, few cut quite as deep as this legal drama. Joanna Kramer suddenly departs for California, leaving her work-focused husband Ted to take care of their son alone. Upon her return, the two parents begin a custody battle that gets ugly in court. In one particularly memorable scene, Joanna makes her case in front of the judge. It’s an uphill battle, and her conflicted emotions are palpable. As the character explains her flight from an unhappy marriage, Meryl Streep imbues the testimony with both regret and hope. It’s a thoroughly convincing performance, and a hugely memorable scene.
#2: Closing Arguments “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
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This drama is based on the celebrated novel of the same name by Harper Lee. Set in the early 1930s, the film follows lawyer Atticus Finch as he attempts to defend a local Black man. With a culture of prejudice pervading the town and an all-white jury presiding over the trial, defendant Tom Robinson’s chances of acquittal seem tragically slim. In his final address to the jurors, Finch pleads that they recognize his client’s clear innocence. The attorney’s lengthy speech is, of course, a methodical analysis of the case. But more importantly, Finch’s monologue reveals how bigotry and oppression affect the legal system, and it still rings true today. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. The Bullet, “JFK” (1991) The New Orleans District Attorney Explains the Notorious “Single-Bullet Theory” You Are the Law, “The Verdict” (1982) A Down-On-His-Luck Lawyer Delivers a Stirring Final Statement About the Nature of Justice Out of Order, “...And Justice for All” (1979) A Lawyer Is Blackmailed Into Defending a Nefarious Judge, But Turns On His Client Do What You Think Is Right, “The Rainmaker” (1997) An Underdog Law School Grad Condemns the Actions of an Insurance Company Fanaticism & Ignorance, “Inherit the Wind” (1960) Spencer Tracy Defends Teaching Evolution in This Fictionalized Version of a Real-Life Trial
#1: The Truth “A Few Good Men” (1992)
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This legal drama contains one scene that has become particularly iconic, and for good reason. In the film, two U.S. Marines are brought to military trial over the murder of their colleague William Santiago. Rookie lawyer Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee takes on the case, and questions whether the execution was ordered by a high-ranking official. When Kaffee is forced to call the Colonel in question to the stand, he has no idea what he’s in for. In a fiery rant, Jack Nicholson’s Nathan Jessup shockingly admits to ordering the hit. But aside from the moment’s narrative significance, it’s incredibly emotional. The veteran actor delivers a series of memorable lines with rage and passion, and it’s truly captivating to watch.
