The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
Kernel Score: 82% · 3,565 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 2011-03-17
Runtime: 119 minutes
Is The Lincoln Lawyer worth watching?
Worth watching. Matthew McConaughey plays a slick defence lawyer who runs his practice from a car and lands a case that gets dangerous. It's a smart, entertaining legal thriller with good twists and a strong supporting cast.
Watch it if you
- like courtroom thrillers with twists
- enjoy McConaughey's charm
- want a solid, mid-budget crime drama
Skip it if you
- want courtroom realism over thrills
- dislike dark crime themes
Best for: Thriller night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Lincoln Lawyer
- Rent: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy: Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Mick Haller is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.
The Lincoln Lawyer parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Lincoln Lawyer is an R-rated legal thriller involving an attempted murder case.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes an attempted murder case and references to crime scenes and a motorcycle gang.
- Sex, romance & nudity: A little — Includes a prostitute character and playboy defendant as plot elements.
- Language: Some — R-rated crime-thriller dialogue.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Lincoln Lawyer
If you liked The Lincoln Lawyer, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Verdict (1982) — 83%: Classic legal drama about a lawyer facing a defining case.
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959) — 86%: Courtroom classic with sharp lawyering and moral grey areas.
- A Time to Kill (1996) — 82%: Legal thriller where the trial is only part of the fight.
- My Cousin Vinny (1992) — 85%: Funny, well-built courtroom comedy.
- The Rainmaker (1997) — 78%: Legal drama about a young lawyer fighting a corrupt system.
- Marshall (2017) — 81%: True-story courtroom drama with a strong lead.
Director
Brad Furman
Cast
- Matthew McConaughey as Mickey Haller
- Ryan Phillippe as Louis Roulet
- William H. Macy as Frank Levin
- Marisa Tomei as Maggie McPherson
- Josh Lucas as Ted Minton
- John Leguizamo as Val Valenzuela
- Michael Peña as Jesus Martinez
- Bob Gunton as Cecil Dobbs
- Frances Fisher as Mary Windsor
- Trace Adkins as Eddie Vogel
The Lincoln Lawyer FAQ
Is The Lincoln Lawyer worth watching?
Worth watching. Matthew McConaughey plays a slick defence lawyer who runs his practice from a car and lands a case that gets dangerous. It's a smart, entertaining legal thriller with good twists and a strong supporting cast.
Where can I watch The Lincoln Lawyer?
In the US you can rent it from Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Is The Lincoln Lawyer OK for kids?
The Lincoln Lawyer is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Lincoln Lawyer is an R-rated legal thriller involving an attempted murder case.
What movies are like The Lincoln Lawyer?
If you liked The Lincoln Lawyer, try The Verdict, Anatomy of a Murder, A Time to Kill and My Cousin Vinny.