Michael Clayton
2007 · Movie · R · 120 min · ★ 6.8 · 86% critics
A major law firm hires its longtime "fixer" to handle a crisis after a senior lawyer suffers a breakdown during a high-stakes class action tied to a chemical company’s wrongdoing. As the case escalates and secrets surface, the fixer must navigate danger, pressure, and conflicting loyalties.
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Details
- Years
- 2007
- Release date
- 2007-09-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Critic score
- 86/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.8/10 (1,986 votes)
- Box office
- $92,991,835
- Budget
- $21,500,000
About
If you want a bleak, suspenseful legal thriller with mounting pressure and sharp dialogue, Michael Clayton fits, but Not for you if you dislike slow-burn courtroom stories like Syriana or Traffic.
Pros: gripping legal tension; sharp script; standout performances | Cons: slow/confusing start; heavy side plots; divisive approach
Themes
- new york city
- killing
- chambers of a barrister
- restaurant
- fake suicide
- lawsuit
- business ethics
- scandal
- crooked lawyer
- cover-up
- corporate world
- law firm
- +5 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2008 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2008 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 2008 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 2008 · nominated
Show all 21 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2008 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2008 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Actor in a Supporting Role · 2008 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Actor in a Leading Role · 2008 · nominated
- BAFTA Award — Best Original Screenplay · 2008 · nominated
- Producers Guild of America Award — Best Theatrical Motion Picture · 2008 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role · 2008 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role · 2008 · nominated
- Screen Actors Guild Award — Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role · 2008 · nominated
- Directors Guild of America Award — Outstanding Directing – Feature Film · 2007 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama · 2007 · nominated
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 2007 · nominated
- National Society of Film Critics Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2007 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture · 2007 · nominated
- Satellite Award — Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · 2007 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · nominated
Cast & crew
George Clooney
as Michael Clayton
Tom Wilkinson
as Arthur Edens
Tilda Swinton
as Karen Crowder
Sydney Pollack
as Marty Bach
Michael O'Keefe
as Barry Grissom
Ken Howard
as Don Jeffries
Sean Cullen
as Gene Clayton
Merritt Wever
as Anna
- AW
Austin Williams
as Henry Clayton
Robert Prescott
as Mr. Verne
Directed by Tony Gilroy