“The Judge,” a legal drama released a decade ago and starring Robert Downey Jr., has surged up the Netflix charts in the U.S. since its addition to the platform last week.
The film has accumulated over 5.3 million views and currently ranks as the third most-watched movie on Netflix, trailing only “Shrek” and Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy “Unfrosted.” In “The Judge,” Downey Jr. plays Hank Palmer, a Chicago lawyer who returns to his hometown following his mother’s passing. His visit takes a turn when his estranged father, the local judge played by Robert Duvall, becomes embroiled in a murder case, prompting Hank to seek the truth. The ensemble cast includes notable actors like Vincent D’Onofrio, Jeremy Strong, Vera Farmiga, and Billy Bob Thornton.
Directed by David Dobkin, known for his work on comedies such as “Wedding Crashers” and the Netflix original “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga,” “The Judge” represents a distinct shift in his filmmaking path.
Released in 2014, “The Judge” received mixed reviews, though Robert Duvall earned both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role. Despite these accolades, the film has a critics’ score of just 49% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Total Film criticized it as “manipulative middlebrow awards bait without the substance to land any prizes,” and The Observer dismissed it for its “sentimental silliness and courtroom cliches.” Rolling Stone described the movie as an “overstuffed, overlong slog.”
Yet, the performances received praise, with Time Out lauding Robert Downey Jr.’s “charismatic performance” and The Hollywood Reporter commending the cast’s ability to evoke “raw emotion” despite the film’s contrived scenarios. “The Judge” is currently available for streaming on Netflix in the US. For more film recommendations, check out our list of top Netflix movies.