Runaway Jury
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: October 17, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews
Positive:
26
Mixed:
11
Negative:
1
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
83
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The already heavy-footed clomp of Grisham's declamatory storytelling style has been given an extra-thick-soled, wing-tipped, liberal-leaning, reality-tampering kick thanks to a screenplay credited to four writers. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
Like a juicy steak served to a man suffering on a diet of micro-greens and tofu, Runaway Jury will be devoured by fans of movie melodramas. Read full review
80
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
A taut, escapist legal thriller. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
This bracing courtroom thriller is the most entertaining and satisfying John Grisham adaptation I've seen. Read full review
80
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
Efficient, precise, carefully calibrated and terrifically entertaining. Read full review
80
EmpireAnna Smith
It's the familiarity of it all that makes this a movie for movie-lovers: those who like good old-fashioned popcorn entertainment that reminds them of their favourite films. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
It's suspenseful. Fleder and his able cast deliver a brisk, entertaining story that, despite straining credulity at times, earns a positive verdict -- no undue audience-rigging required. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJami Bernard
Brisk pacing and a remarkable cast achieve the sleight-of-hand effect of making you forgive some implausible twists and a sanitized ending. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The movie hums along with a kind of sublime craftsmanship, fueled by the consistent performances of Hackman and Hoffman (in their first film together), the remarkable ease of John Cusack (the most relaxed and natural of actors since Robert Mitchum), and the juicy typecasting in the supporting roles. Read full review
75
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
The picture captures a contemporary mood-blend of cynicism, anger and woefully disappointed idealism. Runaway Jury may be just a classy potboiler, but Fleder spices up the stock and keeps it at full boil. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeTy Burr
The closest cinematic approximation to a beach novel that money and skill can buy. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
A courtroom drama with a compelling story and something peculiar about it, too: For most of its running time, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of a rooting interest. The audience isn't quite sure who it's for or against. Read full review
70
VarietyTodd McCarthy
With the standard Grisham formula having grown stale after so many books and film versions, Jury introduces ingredients that add zest to the old recipe and, in cinematic terms, open up increased possibilities for intrigue and narrative layering. Read full review
70
The New York TimesA.O. Scott
John Cusack gives one of his wiliest performances in some time, and one of his most mature, as Nick Easter, an aging slacker drafted into jury duty. He subverts his protracted-adolescent cheekiness and pours the melted charm into something far bleaker. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesManohla Dargis
The spirit of the law will be upheld (this being Hollywood), but only after everyone has had plenty of nasty fun (this being Hollywood). Read full review
70
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
This story of 12 manipulable -- or manipulative -- men and women rarely fails to hold your interest, even though much of it doesn't hold water.
70
SlateDavid Edelstein
Adds up to a nice little gotcha! courtroom melodrama. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaul West
The irony is that when the movie plays it safe, it succeeds admirably; when it attempts to be about something, it rings false. Read full review
67
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
There's little that will surprise anyone who's seen or read Grisham's work before, but it plays with slick competence, and there's that killer-diller showdown in the middle as a payoff. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleSteve Davis
A notch above the mediocre movies that are usually made from mediocre John Grisham bestsellers. That may sound like faint praise, but it’s an endorsement for this surprisingly entertaining film. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
The film has its share of high points, but the flaws are frustratingly obvious and impossible to overlook. Read full review
63
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
Grisham is an expert at hooking the audience, and he fills the edges with legal details that, realistic or not, are always fascinating. Runaway Jury is an adequate, unremarkable piece of work, but as they say in the book world, you won't be able to put it down. Read full review
63
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
Its themes and performances didn't stay with me, as did those in "Out of Time." I think this is because, with the exception of Hackman, the actors' performances illuminate strategy rather than character. Read full review
63
New York PostMegan Lehmann
Delivers one of those classic movie moments in which two screen legends go toe to toe, both barrels metaphorically blazing. Read full review
63
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
Entertaining and preposterous in nearly equal amounts. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Does not disappoint expectations: This is not a case of dumbing down literature; it's mediocrity aimed for and successfully achieved. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
It's a clever legal thriller, one that thankfully doesn't twist itself into a knots trying to keep audiences off guard. Read full review
60
Film ThreatRory L. Aronsky
It’s a crisp piece of entertainment that was worth waiting for, considering that I’ve been waiting quite a long time to see this ever since reading the book. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Though star-packed to the point of absurdity--juror Luis Guzmán has little to do but nod his head every once in a while--The Runaway Jury doesn't know what to do with its players. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMichael Atkinson
Not nearly enough time is spent in court--that is, on the movie's ostensible subject. (Besides, the down-to-the-wire deliberation scene is risibly unconvincing and abbreviated.) Read full review
50
PremiereSara Brady
Irritatingly, Fleder's flair for broadcasting plot twists treats the audience with the same patronizing indulgence as Hackman does his potential jurors. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
After arousing high expectations, Runaway Jury turns out to be a trial to sit through. Read full review
50
SalonCharles Taylor
Here's a real mystery: How can John Cusack, Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman, acting in a John Grisham thriller, be so dull? Read full review
50
USA TodayMike Clark
Only slightly more slick and slightly less edgy than past John Grisham adaptations. Read full review
50
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Hackman and Hoffman, old pals in their first film together, make a lively business of their one scene together -– in a toilet, no less. The rest you can flush. Read full review
50
New York Magazine (Vulture)Peter Rainer
The inevitable showdown between these two paragons is something of a fizzle; there's too much over/under-acting going on. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
As in all his films, there's a sense that honest human emotion bores Fleder, but he gets points for packing the trial with fine character actors. Read full review
30
Dallas ObserverLuke Y. Thompson
Hackman, playing it gleefully amoral, walks away with the film, for what that's worth...which is a video rental for fans of the actors involved. Yes, that's video, not DVD -- four bucks at Blockbuster is more than you ought to be paying. Read full review
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