A Civil Action
Directed by Steven ZaillianAt the risk of bankrupting his firm and career, lawyer Jan Schlichtman takes on a case involving two companies responsible for causing children to be diagnosed with leukemia due to the town's contaminated water supply.
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A Civil Action Ratings & Reviews
- DavidBunnyDad5d agoA flawless example of the broadly entertaining, multiplex adult drama the studios don't really make anymore, ``A Civil Action'' is pure enjoyment from beginning to end, with no fat on the bones. John Travolta scores big by not overacting; he carries this thing as effortlessly as a half-packed overnight bag. Robert Duvall, on the other hand, DOES overact, and that proves a wise choice as well. Duvall doesn't have that much screen time, leaving us itching for that big showdown scene with Travolta. And when it comes, Duvall plays it for all it's worth. It's the ending, however, that elevates A Civil Action above the crowded field of courtroom dramas. It's based on a true story, which forces the screenwriters to elude the simple tropes that normally sink such films in a sea of maudlin sentimentality. This one ends just right ... not too cynical, not too bleak, but not too mindlessly pat either. A superb movie.
- Mister ArnFebruary 23, 2026“A Civil Action” is a courtroom drama starring John Travolta as an ambitious, ego-driven attorney who, despite confidence, ends in defeat. His adversary, played by Robert Duvall, is rendered with restrained authority; Duvall makes the legal system feel immovable simply by inhabiting it. Where the film succeeds is in its moral seriousness. It isn’t about flashy courtroom victories but about corporate power, environmental harm, and ego masquerading as righteousness.
- 0 1December 26, 2025Great performances by supporting Actors that played the parents of the victims.
- tellumAugust 21, 2025Very good legal drama, and I think it’s an underrated performance for Travolta.
A Civil Action Trivia
A Civil Action was released on December 25, 1998.
A Civil Action was directed by Steven Zaillian.
A Civil Action has a runtime of 1h 55m.
A Civil Action was produced by Robert Redford, Scott Rudin, Steven Zaillian, Rachel Pfeffer.
At the risk of bankrupting his firm and career, lawyer Jan Schlichtman takes on a case involving two companies responsible for causing children to be diagnosed with leukemia due to the town's contaminated water supply.
The key characters in A Civil Action are Jan Schlichtmann (John Travolta), Jerome Facher (Robert Duvall), Kevin Conway (Tony Shalhoub).
A Civil Action is rated PG-13.
A Civil Action is a Drama, Biography film.
A Civil Action has an audience rating of 5.5 out of 10.
A Civil Action had a budget of $70M.
A Civil Action has made $56.7M at the box office.