IMDb 7.7 1982 HD

The Verdict

The Verdict

1982
Drama
129 min R USA
7.4 / 10
7.7 IMDB

Frank Galvin is a down-on-his-luck lawyer and reduced to drinking and ambulance chasing, when a former associate reminds him of his obligations in a medical malpractice suit by…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Sidney Lumet / Burtt Harris / Ken Ornstein / Robert E. Warren / Kay Chapin
Starring
Paul Newman / Charlotte Rampling / Jack Warden / James Mason / Milo O'Shea / Lindsay Crouse / Edward Binns / Julie Bovasso

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

gritty compelling realistic character-driven somber intense well-acted flawed hopeful legal drama redemption mature

Reviews

G
Genevieve Moreau
May 23, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A masterclass in understated power, 'The Verdict' is a film that lingers. Paul Newman delivers a performance of remarkable depth as Frank Galvin, a lawyer whose life has unravelled. His confrontation with a powerful medical establishment in a…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 23, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'The Verdict' offers a stark portrait of a lawyer at his lowest ebb, played with gruff conviction by Paul Newman. He’s tasked with a medical malpractice case that becomes his unexpected path back from professional obscurity. While the…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 23, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that understands the slow burn of consequence. Paul Newman anchors 'The Verdict' with a performance that is both weary and fiercely determined. He plays Frank Galvin, a lawyer whose personal failings mirror the legal…

M
Marcus Bellwether
May 23, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

In 'The Verdict', the weight of a compromised career and the pursuit of justice collide with potent effect. Paul Newman is exceptional as Frank Galvin, a lawyer teetering on the edge, whose last chance at significance lies in…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 23, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Sidney Lumet, though uncredited here, crafts a compelling legal drama that hinges on a career-defining performance from Paul Newman. As Frank Galvin, Newman embodies a fallen lawyer seeking a sliver of redemption. The film eschews easy answers, instead…

FAQs

'The Verdict' approaches its legal narrative with a grounded realism. Rather than focusing on flashy courtroom theatrics, the film depicts the painstaking, often frustrating, process of building a case. It highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by lawyers and the inherent challenges in seeking justice within the system. The legal proceedings serve as a crucible for the characters, revealing their strengths, weaknesses, and moral compasses under pressure.