There’s just something intrinsically riveting about a well-told courtroom drama. More than just a battle of jurisprudence, the courtroom becomes a stage upon which human nature, morality, and justice come together in most dramatic fashion. Be it through a gripping show or a compelling movie, a good courtroom drama tends to cross genres and often acts as a window to probe other issues like power, corruption, discrimination, and redemption. The stories range from the most serious of narratives that take down societal systems to sharp parodies exposing the absurdities of legal proceedings- each offering its unique perspective.

Engaging not only for their tense build-ups and emotional depth but also for the riveting dialogues, intense performances, and intricate storytelling, courtroom dramas are just that. They make you question your view of truth and justice by testing characters in charged situations. Above all, a well-executed courtroom drama promises an unforgettable narrative experience that leaves audiences both entertained and introspective. Platforms such as HBO Max always have this great lineup of such compelling stories, offering something for every viewer.

10. The Other Side (2024)

Directed by Daniel Posada, ‘The Other Side’ (‘Del Otro Lado Del Jardín’) is a Spanish legal drama wherein a middle-aged man named Carlos Framb is accused of killing his mother. What’s curious is that he wakes up chained to a hospital bed and reveals that his mother’s death wasn’t a murder but an act of love wherein he was also supposed to die with her. The legal battle that follows reveals how his 82-year-old mother was suffering from arthritis for over 5 years and even asked Carlos to end her life. However, now he must fight for his act and prove that it is right and avoid a murder conviction that can send him to prison for upto 30 years. With the highly sensitive theme of assisted death at its center, ‘The Other Side’ paints a poignant portrait of a mother-son relationship that culminates in what seems like the ultimate act of affection, underscored by the laws that run the world and judge our actions. You can watch the movie right here.

9. The Trial of Christine Keeler (2019)

‘The Trial of Christine Keeler’ is a miniseries based on the famous Profumo affair that sent shockwaves through Britain in the 1960s. BAFTA-winning screenwriter Amanda Coe has Christine Keeler, a young model who fell in with such powerful men as Secretary of State for War John Profumo and Soviet naval attaché Yevgeny Ivanov, squarely at the heart of this drama. This eventually led to explosive court cases that unraveled the hypocrisy of the time and led to a web of lies and power plays across several levels. The series masterfully handles everything in the courtroom and its effects on Keeler’s life as the judicial system becomes a stage for greater cultural reckoning. With the engrossing drama and layered performances, this is unmissable in every sense-a riveting look into justice, scandal, and societal transformation. Watch it here.

8. All Rise (2019-2023)

Created by Greg Spottiswood, this legal drama offers something new in a genre dominated by courtroom series. ‘All Rise’ explores the day-to-day chaos within Los Angeles’ court system as it follows Judge Lola Carmichael, a highly respected former prosecutor, now presiding over the bench. Keen to dismantle the status quo, Lola regularly pushes the boundaries beyond those her position demands of her to ensure real justice is served. Expertly mixing courtroom drama with personal tales, the show sheds insight into the lives of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks juggling their unenviable jobs with their own personal turmoil. That’s what makes it gripping and profound: tackling timely social issues like systemic racism, immigration, and gender equality. In addition, the show fills the screen with a multi-ethnic cast, famous for compelling storytelling and vividly accurate depictions of how the legal system touches regular people’s lives. This courtroom drama will be required viewing for anybody looking for some emotional depth behind the procedural elements. If the show interests you, you can try it here.

7. Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995)

Helmed by Mick Jackson, ‘Indictment: The McMartin Trial’ narrates the disquieting tale of one of the most notorious court cases in American history — the McMartin preschool trial. In the film, members of the McMartin family, running a preschool in California, are accused of heinous child molestation, which quickly snowballs into a chaotic case marked by allegations based on questionable testimony and several complications related to the experts. The case was among the longest-running and most expensive ever tried. Based on true events, this courtroom drama explores mass hysteria, flaws within the justice system, and devastating consequences on innocent lives. A riveting storyline and striking performances combine in this film as it tears through one of America’s darkest legal chapters. Watch here for a bleak witness to justice gone astray.

6. The Trial of Joan of Arc (1962)

In ‘The Trial of Joan of Arc,’ Robert Bresson gives one of the most minimalistic and simultaneously powerfully deep courtroom dramas ever made. Based on the trial that sent Joan of Arc to her death, the film boils down the iconic story into its bare essentials, eschewing excess for a raw, meditative look at one woman and her resolute determination in the face of doom. You can see Bresson’s distinctive filmmaking style in every frame-his use of non-lingering shots, simple camera work, and sparse dialogue builds up an austere

atmosphere in which emotional depth is not forced but instead comes out quietly. Bresson’s direction enforces extreme restraint on the actors, who act out their parts with little or no dramatization, a choice that allows the audience to project its emotions onto the characters. The actors are not so much performers but “human models,” as Bresson called them, and their restraint makes the intensity of Joan’s ordeal all the more striking. This is a strikingly powerful exploration of the human condition that speaks volumes through silence and omission. The film does not lean on conventional cinematic devices, yet it is deeply engaging. Focusing only on what is necessary both in narrative and visual style, Bresson universalizes the trial as reflection and meditation on faith, truth, and martyrdom. An emotional pilgrimage, ‘The Trial of Joan of Arc’ is unforgettable and continues to haunt long after the credits roll. You can watch it right now here.

5. The Staircase (2022)

‘The Staircase’ is a miniseries drawn from the infamous real-life case of Michael Peterson, whose wife was found dead at the foot of the staircase in 2001; he went to trial for murder. Antonio Campos’s creation, this eight-series piece boasts powerful performances by Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as Kathleen. With a crime novelist of great renown, Michael Peterson accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen, it will weave a deep dive into the web of circumstances that surround the case. The series excavates the volatile nature of this trial, not solely with regard to the legal but also relative to how the struggle

weighs on Peterson’s family. It touches on high media scrutiny, conflicting evidence, and the emotional turmoil of the people concerned, especially as the defense of Michael Peterson takes on the prosecution with claims regarding Kathleen’s death: whether it should have been pursued as a sad accident or an outright act of murder. Through mesmerizing performances and storytelling, ‘The Staircase’ probes issues of justice, family, and the public eye as it sits in judgment upon legal cases. Based on the same-name 2004 true crime docuseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, it is for anyone who is fixated on the intricacies of the American legal system and the humanness of high-profile cases. You can catch it here:

4. Perry Mason (2020-2023)

Developed by Ron Fitzgerald and Rolin Jones, ‘Perry Mason’ is a fresh reboot of the iconic detective series that first charmed viewers in 1957, adding a gritty neo-noir undertone to the classic courtroom drama. Set in Los Angeles during 1932, the show is based on the origin story of Perry Mason, an iconic defense attorney who was, at first, a private investigator down-and-out on his luck. When he becomes involved in a complex case of a high-profile kidnapping and murder, his dogged quest for justice makes him discover dark secrets threatening the powerful elite of the city. As Mason digs deeper, the line between right and wrong begins to blur, making for a tense and thrilling narrative. The show has

great depth in its deeply textured character development, especially the transformation of Mason himself from a disillusioned investigator to a driven legal defender. ‘Perry Mason’ uses heavy atmospheres of systemic corruption, social inequality, and moral ambiguity, working on the backdrop of an ever-changing city naturally consumed by corruption. The immaculate performances, most notably Matthew Rhys as Mason, bring this morally complex world to life, offering both a rich character study and a thrilling legal thriller. A must-watch, ‘Perry Mason’ offers some of the best of legal drama, tending to not only the courtroom confrontations but also to that often very intricate and murky journey toward justice. Based on a character by Erle Stanley Gardner, it’s a series of novels which later turned into a popular television show. You can watch it here.

3. Juror #2 (2024)

With ‘Juror #2,’ Clint Eastwood constructs a thrilling tale of a man with a heavy burden of his past, which shines brightly as a serious and thought-provoking courtroom drama. The story centers around an ordinary man who, after being given a second chance in life, finds himself walking on the thin line of the consequences that befall him regardless of what he does. The film follows him into a moral dilemma in the courtroom, where one man’s freedom means the death of another. Eastwood does not hold back in, where the camera

proves to be the inner conscience of his protagonist, showing his guilt and self-justification over a decision that might change his life forever. What really makes this film is how Eastwood does not let the protagonist off the hook easily and sidesteps the simplistic notion of a happy ending. Instead, Juror #2 evolves into a meditation about responsibility, the morality of choices, and what our decisions reap inside or outside the courtroom. It expertly plays with the tension of second chances, keeping viewers on the edge while forcing its lead character to face his past mistakes. A masterclass in suspense and ethical dilemma, ‘Juror #2’ is unflinching in the examination of guilt, justice, and the price of redemption. If it piques your interest, then you can see it here.

2. The Undoing (2020)

Starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant, ‘The Undoing’ is based on the novel ‘You Should Have Known’ by Jean Hanff Korelitz. The film revolves around the happily married elite couple Grace and Jonathan Fraser, who find themselves in the middle of a murder case after Grace’s new and much younger acquaintance, Elena, is found murdered. What’s curious for Grace is that ever since Elena’s body is discovered, Jonathan, who is away for a conference, is uncontactable. The trial that follows brings Grace and Jonathan to court along with Elena’s husband, Fernando (Ismael Cruz Cordova), as suspects, taking a toll on Grace. A gripping psychological thriller drama that became one of the most-viewed shows on HBO, ‘The Undoing’ brings to the table mystery, tension, and thrill, backed by Kidman and Grant’s masterful performances. You can stream the miniseries here.

1. The Night Of (2016)

Created by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian, ‘The Night Of’ is an elaborately comprehensive miniseries that focuses on the far-stretching repercussions of a case of homicide. Instead of going for a “whodunnit” type, this series focuses on the emotional, psychological, and social consequences of everyone involved, from the accused to the legal representatives. It deals with issues like racism, justice, and discrimination in society and gives a poignant look into the complexities of the crime and legal system. Their transformation is really so powerful with great performances from John Turturro and Riz Ahmed. With its intellectual storyline and deep character arcs, ‘The Night Of’ stands tall as an example of successful storytelling with raw emotions. You can try it out here. Read More: Best Crime Movies on HBO Max