Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for A Civil Action

A Civil Action

Seen it?

1998 | 115 min | Drama

Weeknight Watch

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With a box office loss, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved Erin Brockovich or Reversal of Fortune, start here.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 55 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.

Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to 'get rid of' a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything—including his career and his clients' goals—in order to continue the case against all odds.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    62% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.5 out of 10

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 2 Oscars.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $57 million worldwide on a $70 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 127K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Steven Zaillian

  • John TravoltaJan Schlichtmann
  • Robert DuvallJerome Facher
  • Tony ShalhoubKevin Conway
  • William H. MacyJames Gordon
  • Željko IvanekBill Crowley
  • Bruce NorrisWilliam Cheeseman
  • John LithgowJudge Walter J. Skinner
  • Kathleen QuinlanAnne Anderson
  • Peter JacobsonNeil Jacobs
  • Mary MaraKathy Boyer