6 Best Civil Lawsuit and Legal Justice Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 2, 2026

The grinding, high-stakes pursuit of justice through civil litigation has powered some of cinema’s most compelling legal dramas. In Erin Brockovich (2000): An unemployed single mother uncovers a devastating corporate cover-up while working as a legal assistant. Also notable is On the Basis of Sex (2018): A young Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes on a groundbreaking gender discrimination case early in her legal career.

On the Basis of Sex (2018)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A young Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes on a groundbreaking gender discrimination case early in her legal career.

Directed by Mimi Leder · 2h 00m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Marshall (2017)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A young Thurgood Marshall defends a Black chauffeur wrongly accused of a crime in a racially charged trial.

Directed by Reginald Hudlin · 1h 58m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Erin Brockovich (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.4

An unemployed single mother uncovers a devastating corporate cover-up while working as a legal assistant.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh · 2h 11m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Rainmaker (1997)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A newly minted lawyer takes on a powerful insurance company that denied a dying young man's medical claim.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 2h 15m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

A Civil Action (1998)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A personal injury lawyer takes on a case against two corporations accused of poisoning a town's water supply.

Directed by Steven Zaillian · 1h 55m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Class Action (1991)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A father and daughter, both attorneys, find themselves on opposing sides of a dangerous corporate lawsuit.

Directed by Michael Apted · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Civil Lawsuit and Legal Justice Movies

On the Basis of Sex (2018)

Marshall (2017)

Erin Brockovich (2000)

The Rainmaker (1997)

A Civil Action (1998)

Class Action (1991)

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