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Biographical drama

Just Mercy (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Just Mercy (2019) movie poster

Just Mercy is a 2019 biographical drama directed by Destin Cretton, starring Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson, Jacinte Blankenship and Brad Sanders. It is based on Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. It runs 2 hours 17 minutes and earned $50.9 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the Actor Awards (SAG) 2020. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating
7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
worldwide gross
$50.9M
award nomination
1
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Just Mercy (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 17m (137 min)
Director
Destin Cretton
Genres
Biography , Drama , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$25M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Just Mercy About?

The premise of Just Mercy without spoilers, adapted from Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A gifted lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, forsakes a promising career to champion the rights of those wrongly accused or denied justice in Alabama. Partnering with local advocate Eva Ansley, he takes on the case of Walter McMillian, a man sentenced to death despite compelling evidence proving his innocence. Stevenson and Ansley face significant challenges as they fight to overturn the conviction and expose the flaws in the justice system, determined to secure Walter’s freedom and reveal the truth.

Just Mercy Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • death penalty
  • injustice
  • humiliation
  • intimidation
  • concealing the truth
  • racial bias
  • wrongful conviction of murder
  • based on true story
  • prison
  • execution
  • electric chair
  • race relations
+38 more
  • husband wife relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • father son relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • father daughter relationship
  • telephone call
  • telephone
  • pay phone
  • mobile phone
  • typewriter
  • alabama
  • monroeville alabama
  • reference to harper lee
  • guilt
  • innocence
  • extramarital affair
  • adultery
  • murder
  • sussex county delaware
  • judge
  • female judge
  • courtroom
  • police
  • sheriff
  • policeman
  • police car
  • prison cell
  • prison visit
  • equal justice initiative
  • crying man
  • civil rights
  • defense attorney
  • 18 year old
  • perjury
  • boy
  • equal justice
  • convict
  • reference to the vietnam war
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Cast & crew

Just Mercy Cast & Characters

Michael B. Jordan leads the cast as Bryan Stevenson, with Jacinte Blankenship as Christy Stevenson and Brad Sanders as Howard Stevenson, Sr.. Directed by Destin Cretton; 27 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Destin Cretton

More films directed by Destin Cretton, best-rated first: Short Term 12, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, The Glass Castle and I Am Not a Hipster.

Full filmography
Ratings

Just Mercy Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Just Mercy 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 75/100, strongest in character & emotion (88) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).

75 /100

Just Mercy Echo Score Breakdown

While Just Mercy benefits from strong performances and solid direction, it occasionally struggles with pacing and cinematic ambition. The film’s focus on courtroom restraint and emotional depth resonates through disciplined editing and character work, though moments of narrative momentum feel uneven. Viewers appreciate the thoughtful portrayal of injustice and nuanced chemistry between leads. Although its conventional approach limits originality, the movie’s compelling message and grounded craft create an effective and affecting drama.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, Just Mercy delivers solid direction and restrained cinematography that underscore its courtroom drama. The editing emphasizes narrative clarity, while production design evokes period authenticity without drawing excess attention. Some reviewers note a lack of visual ambition and moments of lethargy hinder cinematic momentum. Overall, the film’s understated aesthetic supports its message but seldom reaches striking visual heights.

  • Character & Emotion 88

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film stands out with powerful and nuanced performances from its leads. The central chemistry creates a credible bond that conveys empathy and moral conviction. Depth varies among supporting roles, with a few characters lacking development. Ultimately, disciplined acting and emotional restraint deliver moments of genuine resonance that underline the story’s human stakes.

  • Story & Flow 68

    In terms of story and flow, Just Mercy offers a compelling narrative grounded in real events but occasionally suffers from uneven pacing. The courtroom structure provides clear progression, yet some segments feel formulaic and delay dramatic engagement. The script balances factual detail with emotional moments, though originality is modest. Overall, the film communicates its social justice themes effectively despite intermittent narrative sluggishness.

  • Sensory Experience 65

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film employs an understated soundtrack and clean sound design that support its dramatic tone without standing out. Visual style is functional, with muted palettes reinforcing the period setting, though it rarely ventures into distinctive imagery. The production elements are cohesive yet conservative, delivering emotional clarity but seldom offering sensory thrills or memorable stylistic flourishes.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    In terms of rewatch potential, Just Mercy’s strength lies in its important message and strong lead performances, which may reward subsequent viewings for thematic discussion. Some viewers may find limited novelty upon repeated watches due to its conventional structure and steady pacing. While certain courtroom scenes and emotional beats retain impact, the film’s modest stylistic ambitions and linear progression reduce its long-term replay value.

Plot

Just Mercy Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Just Mercy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1989, an idealistic young Harvard law graduate, Bryan Stevenson, journeys to Alabama with the noble intention of providing legal assistance to those unable to afford proper representation. His mission involves confronting social injustices prevalent in the criminal justice system, particularly those that have led to the disproportionate incarceration of African Americans across the state and the country. Many individuals find themselves wrongfully convicted, not due to any actual evidence, but rather because they either lack legal representation or receive inadequate counsel. This grim reality has allowed prosecutors to pursue capital punishment, even in cases lacking grievous offenses.

Full summary

The whole story of Just Mercy, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Just Mercy Box Office & Budget

Just Mercy grossed $50.9 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 2.0 times what it cost. $36 million came from the US and Canada and $14.9 million (29%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$50.9M

2.0× its budget

US & Canada
$36M
International
$14.9M
Budget
$25M
US & Canada 71% Rest of the world 29%
Awards

Just Mercy Awards & Nominations

Just Mercy earned 1 award nomination, including Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the Actor Awards (SAG) 2020.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Just Mercy Trailers & Videos

22 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser, 8 clips, 10 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 22 videos
Official Trailer
  • Trailer Just Mercy | 4K Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment
  • Teaser Official Trailer Tease
  • Clip Just Mercy | "Equal Justice" Clip | Warner Bros. Entertainment
  • Clip Just Mercy | "I Was In Before He Offered Me The Job" Clip | Warner Bros. Entertainment
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Just Mercy?

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

What year does Bryan Stevenson establish the Equal Justice Initiative?

Cars

Cars in Just Mercy

35 cars on screen, including the 1979 Toyota Corona Liftback and the Chevrolet C-Series.

All 35 cars
  • 1979 Toyota Corona Liftback in Just Mercy 1979 Toyota Corona Liftback Main role
  • Chevrolet C-Series in Just Mercy Chevrolet C-Series Important role
  • 1987 Chevrolet Caprice in Just Mercy 1987 Chevrolet Caprice Important role
  • 1985 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer in Just Mercy 1985 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer Important role
Details

Just Mercy Also Known As

32 alternative titles, including “不完美的正義” and “Luta por Justiça”.

Also known as
  • 不完美的正義
  • Luta por Justiça
  • La Voie de la Justice
  • Buscando Justicia
  • צדק ורחמים
  • Il diritto di opporsi
  • În Slujba Dreptății
  • 以公義之名
  • Просто помиловать
  • צדק תרדוף
  • למען הצדק
  • Doar Dreptate
+20 more
  • Милост
  • Судити по совісті
  • Obhájce nevinných
  • Αγώνας για Δικαιοσύνη
  • Tylko Sprawiedliwość
  • Cuestión de justicia
  • Tudo Pela Justiça
  • 저스트 머시
  • 正义的慈悲
  • Право на приговор
  • Vien žēlsirdība
  • Obhajca nevinných
  • A kegyelem ára
  • Siekiant gailestingumo
  • Công Lý và Nhân Từ
  • 黒い司法 0%からの奇跡
  • Samo milost
  • ยุติธรรมบริสุทธิ์
  • فقط رحمت
  • Tražeći pravdu

Seen Just Mercy?

FAQ

Just Mercy FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Just Mercy, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Just Mercy?

Just Mercy runs 2 hours 17 minutes (137 minutes).

When was Just Mercy released?

Just Mercy was released on December 25, 2019.

Who directed Just Mercy?

Just Mercy was directed by Destin Cretton.

More films by Destin Cretton

Who is in the cast of Just Mercy?

Just Mercy stars Michael B. Jordan as Bryan Stevenson, Jacinte Blankenship as Christy Stevenson and Brad Sanders as Howard Stevenson, Sr., among 27 credited actors.

How much did Just Mercy make at the box office?

Just Mercy grossed $50.9 million worldwide ($36 million domestic, $14.9 million international) on a budget of $25 million.

How is Just Mercy rated?

Just Mercy has 7.6/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic and 79% on TMDB.

Is Just Mercy based on a book?

Yes. Just Mercy is adapted from Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson.

Was Just Mercy nominated for any awards?

Just Mercy received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

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