To Kill a Mockingbird

Set in the 1930s town of Maycomb, Alabama, Scout Finch recalls her childhood days with her brother Jem and their friend Dill. Their world centers on games and watching Boo Radley, along with a growing sense that grownups see more than they tell. When Atticus Finch, their father and a respected lawyer, defends Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of a grave crime, the family is pulled into heated discussions and rumor. Through courtroom scenes and town reactions, the children learn that fairness is fragile and prejudice can blind even the best intentions. As adults voice loyalties and doubt, they witness how courage can surface in acts. The experience reshapes Scout's view of adults, justice, and moral courage.

Directed by Robert Mulligan, the film adapts Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize winning novel published in 1960 and released in 1962. The cast features Mary Badham as Scout and Gregory Peck as Atticus, with Horton Foote adapting the screenplay. The production emphasized period detail and quiet moral drama.

With a budget of $2,000,000, it grossed about $13,129,846 worldwide, a strong return that helped establish serious drama as a mainstream success during its era and beyond. Its release also boosted interest in literary adaptations. It remains a staple in film education.

It earned three Academy Awards including Best Actor for Gregory Peck and Best Adapted Screenplay for Horton Foote, with a third win for Art Direction. The film's restrained, principled approach to tough moral questions earned it lasting respect and broad recognition.

Gregory Peck's Atticus Finch became a cultural touchstone and Scout's narration helped generations discuss racism and justice in schools and on screen. The film's courtroom drama and its moral clarity continue to influence American cinema, educators and filmmakers alike. It remains a benchmark for how cinema can teach empathy and spark conversations about fairness.