Just Mercy (2019)
Kernel Score: 87% · 2,454 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Drama, Crime, History
Released: 2019-12-25
Runtime: 137 minutes
Is Just Mercy worth watching?
Must-watch. A young lawyer fights to free a man on death row in Alabama. Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx give strong, controlled performances, and the true story is infuriating and inspiring. Viewers rate it very highly.
Watch it if you
- like true-story legal dramas
- want a film that makes you think about justice
- enjoy strong acting
Skip it if you
- don't want to be angry about real injustice
- expect courtroom twists rather than a slow fight
Best for: Serious night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Just Mercy
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
The powerful true story of Harvard-educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who goes to Alabama to defend the disenfranchised and wrongly condemned — including Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death despite evidence proving his innocence. Bryan fights tirelessly for Walter with the system stacked against them.
Just Mercy parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Just Mercy is a PG-13 true-story legal drama about a lawyer fighting to free a wrongly condemned death-row inmate in 1980s Alabama.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes depictions of the death penalty, execution by electric chair, and racism within the justice system.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Just Mercy
If you liked Just Mercy, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Till (2022) — 82%: True story of racial injustice told with heart and restraint.
- The Green Mile (1999) — 92%: Death-row drama about humanity and fairness.
- 12 Angry Men (1957) — 96%: The classic courtroom drama about reasonable doubt.
- On the Basis of Sex (2018) — 83%: Real-life lawyer challenging an unfair system.
- Richard Jewell (2019) — 83%: True story of an innocent man caught in a rush to judgment.
- The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) — 88%: Legal-system drama about justice that refuses to move on.
Director
Cast
- Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson
- Brie Larson as Eva Ansley
- Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian
- O'Shea Jackson Jr. as Anthony Ray Hinton
- Rafe Spall as Tommy Champan
- Rob Morgan as Herbert Richardson
- Tim Blake Nelson as Ralph Myers
- Rhoda Griffis as Judge Pamela Bachab
- J. Alphonse Nicholson as Henry Davis
- Karan Kendrick as Minnie McMillian
Just Mercy FAQ
Is Just Mercy worth watching?
Must-watch. A young lawyer fights to free a man on death row in Alabama. Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx give strong, controlled performances, and the true story is infuriating and inspiring. Viewers rate it very highly.
Where can I watch Just Mercy?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Just Mercy OK for kids?
Just Mercy is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Just Mercy is a PG-13 true-story legal drama about a lawyer fighting to free a wrongly condemned death-row inmate in 1980s Alabama.
What movies are like Just Mercy?
If you liked Just Mercy, try Till, The Green Mile, 12 Angry Men and On the Basis of Sex.