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Drama thriller

A Time to Kill (1996): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

A Time to Kill (1996) movie poster

A Time to Kill is a 1996 drama thriller directed by Joel Schumacher, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey and Matthew McConaughey. It runs 2 hours 29 minutes and earned $152.3 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) at the Golden Globes 1997. Critics gave it 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

IMDb rating
7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
67%
worldwide gross
$152.3M
award nomination
1
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A Time to Kill (1996) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 29m (149 min)
Director
Joel Schumacher
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is A Time to Kill About?

The premise of A Time to Kill without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In a racially charged Southern town, Carl Lee Hailey takes the law into his own hands after his daughter is brutally attacked. He shoots the two white men responsible, setting off a fierce legal battle. A young, idealistic lawyer defends him, facing intense prejudice and deeply ingrained secrets within the community. The trial exposes the complexities of justice, morality, and the weight of a town's history.

A Time to Kill Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • vigilante justice
  • vigilantism
  • lawyer
  • law student
  • district attorney
  • intimidation
  • african american
  • trial
  • court
  • murder
  • justice
  • violence
+38 more
  • fire
  • brutality
  • injustice
  • racism
  • small town
  • self justice
  • vigilante
  • based on novel
  • revenge
  • rape
  • ku klux klan
  • righteous rage
  • murder of a rapist
  • father daughter relationship
  • husband wife relationship
  • criminal defense attorney
  • legal research
  • female law student
  • judge
  • death penalty
  • insanity plea
  • redneck
  • harassment campaign
  • threatening telephone call
  • burning cross
  • lawyer as protagonist
  • insanity defense
  • psychiatrist
  • assault rifle
  • shot in the leg
  • bomb
  • beating
  • kidnapping
  • tied to a tree
  • rescue
  • jury
  • rural setting
  • american south
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Cast & crew

A Time to Kill Cast

Samuel L. Jackson leads the cast, with Kevin Spacey and Matthew McConaughey. Directed by Joel Schumacher; 4 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Joel Schumacher

More films directed by Joel Schumacher, best-rated first: Falling Down, The Lost Boys, The Client and Tigerland.

Full filmography
Ratings

A Time to Kill Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave A Time to Kill 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 53 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.5/10.

Plot

A Time to Kill Plot Summary

What happens in A Time to Kill from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Two white racists, Billy Ray Cobb (Nicky Katt) and Pete Willard (Doug Hutchison), encounter a young black girl named Tonya Hailey (Rae’Ven Larrymore Kelly) in rural Mississippi, subjecting her to a brutal attack before discarding her in a nearby river after a failed attempt to hang her. Thankfully, Tonya survives, leading to the arrest of her attackers.

Full summary

The whole story of A Time to Kill, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

A Time to Kill Box Office

A Time to Kill grossed $152.3 million worldwide. $108.8 million came from the US and Canada and $43.5 million (29%) from the rest of the world.

1996 box office

Worldwide gross

$152.3M

US & Canada
$108.8M
International
$43.5M
US & Canada 71% Rest of the world 29%
Awards

A Time to Kill Awards & Nominations

A Time to Kill earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) at the Golden Globes 1997.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

A Time to Kill Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Trailer
  • Clip Carl Lee Hailey Gets His Revenge
Quiz

How Well Do You Know A Time to Kill?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of Carl Lee Hailey in 'A Time to Kill'?

Cars

Cars in A Time to Kill

34 cars on screen, including the 1985 Chevrolet C-10 and the 1990 SAAB 900 Cabrio.

All 34 cars
  • 1985 Chevrolet C-10 in A Time to Kill 1985 Chevrolet C-10 Important role
  • 1990 SAAB 900 Cabrio in A Time to Kill 1990 SAAB 900 Cabrio Important role
  • Vintage Speedsters 356 A Speedster in A Time to Kill Vintage Speedsters 356 A Speedster Important role
  • AM General HMMWV M1025 in A Time to Kill AM General HMMWV M1025 Minor role
Details

A Time to Kill Also Known As

40 alternative titles, including “Aeg tappa” and “Vrijeme ubijanja”.

Also known as
  • Aeg tappa
  • Vrijeme ubijanja
  • Metas zudyti
  • Tid for hevn
  • Vremea razbunarii
  • Cas za ubijanje
  • Čas zabiť
  • Время убивать
  • Tiempo de matar
  • Tempo de Matar
  • Il momento di uccidere
  • On aika tappaa
+28 more
  • Juryn
  • Juryn - A Time to Kill
  • 타임 투 킬
  • Die Jury
  • Czas zabijania
  • Le Droit de tuer ?
  • Ha ölni kell
  • Čas zabíjet
  • Време да убиваш
  • Öldürme Zamanı
  • 評決のとき
  • Η ετυμηγορία
  • Non coupable
  • Un temps pour tuer
  • 殺戮時刻
  • Tiempo para matar
  • Một Thời Để Giết
  • Metas žudyti
  • Време за убијање
  • עת להרוג
  • 杀戮时刻
  • Час убивати
  • Čas za ubijanje
  • Vremea răzbunării
  • ยุติธรรมอํามหิต
  • Một Thời Giết Chóc, მკვლელობის დროა
  • وقت للقتل
  • Temps de matar

Seen A Time to Kill?

FAQ

A Time to Kill FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of A Time to Kill, each answered in a sentence.

How long is A Time to Kill?

A Time to Kill runs 2 hours 29 minutes (149 minutes).

When was A Time to Kill released?

A Time to Kill was released on July 24, 1996.

Who directed A Time to Kill?

A Time to Kill was directed by Joel Schumacher.

More films by Joel Schumacher

Who is in the cast of A Time to Kill?

A Time to Kill stars Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey and Matthew McConaughey, among 4 credited actors.

How much did A Time to Kill make at the box office?

A Time to Kill grossed $152.3 million worldwide ($108.8 million domestic, $43.5 million international).

How is A Time to Kill rated?

A Time to Kill has 7.5/10 on IMDb, 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic and 74% on TMDB.

Was A Time to Kill nominated for any awards?

A Time to Kill received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does A Time to Kill have a post-credit scene?

No. A Time to Kill has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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