A Time to Kill

Set in a small Mississippi town, A Time to Kill follows a young defense attorney as he takes on a controversial case that divides a community. Jake Brigance, aided by Ellen Roark, defends Carl Lee Hailey, a Black man accused of killing two white men who attacked his young daughter. The case ignites a fever pitch of racial resentment and courtroom spectacle, testing the lawyer’s resolve and his clients’ hope for justice. As the trial unfolds, threats and intimidation echo through the streets, and loyalties are pulled in every direction. The film intensifies as lawyers push the limits of evidence, jury sentiment, and the legal system in a high stake drama about courage, duty, and the price of truth. Ultimately.

Directed by Joel Schumacher, the 1996 crime drama adapts John Grisham's novel for the screen with a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman. Matthew McConaughey stars as Jake Brigance, alongside Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey and Ashley Judd as well.

Box office details are not provided in the data, so there is no official worldwide gross to report here. It found audiences beyond the United States, helping international distribution and shaping courtroom thrillers for many markets worldwide, later in release.

Even years later the film is remembered for its moral debates about justice and race in the Deep South. It helped launch McConaughey and Bullock into bigger stardom, and it remains a benchmark for courtroom tension in mainstream thrillers. Its courtroom vibe influenced later legal thrillers and even TV shows.

Critics praised its performances and urgent mood, even as some noted melodramatic flourishes. The story centers on moral responsibility, the limits of the legal system, and a community torn by fear and prejudice, inviting audiences to weigh intent against outcome. It remains a talking point about fairness in the courts.