Parents' Guide to

Just Mercy

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Effective, intense drama about racism and justice; swearing.

Movie PG-13 2019 136 minutes
Just Mercy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 13 parent reviews

Emily H.
Emily H. Parent of 10 and 13-year-old
November 28, 2020
age 12+

Real world story of racial injustices in the death penalty

This dramatized real-world story of a man unjustly put on death row and his young lawyer who gets his case overturned shines a bright light on the horrors of the death penalty and systemic racism. There is a scene with the electric chair that I could not let my 11-year old watch but otherwise the movie's strong messages and story line are important for all to see. Movies like this help all - including tweens and teens - understand big issues facing our society.
Joe R.
Joe R. Adult
February 9, 2024
age 14+

A Moving Film

This is a powerful story, plain and simple. I'd caution younger viewers about the language, but, otherwise, as one of my favorite reviews said, "Just Mercy is a beautiful example of the work, the courage and the faith it takes to push against the wrongs of this world: faith that a broken system can still be repaired enough to yield a semblance of justice. Faith that good people can stand up for a good reason. "
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In JUST MERCY, young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) decides, after completing an internship helping Death Row inmates, to devote himself to the cause full-time. He moves to Monroeville, Alabama (home of Harper Lee), teams up with Eva Ansley (Brie Larson), and starts focusing on the case of Walter "Johnny D." McMillian (Jamie Foxx). Johnny D. was accused and convicted of killing a teen girl based on the testimony of two unreliable witnesses. Bryan thinks it will be easy to prove that Johnny D. was nowhere near the crime scene at the time of the murder, but he quickly finds that the white establishment in Alabama isn't so eager to allow a convicted murderer back out on the street, no matter what the evidence says. Can Bryan find justice for his client?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13 ):
Kids say (19 ):

It follows a pretty traditional arc, but this prison/courtroom drama is still effectively tense and moving thanks to fine performances and the picture it presents of simmering racial injustice. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, Just Mercy almost always feels like a movie. All of the familiar beats, speeches, and plot turns happen just when they're supposed to, without the messiness of life coming into it (as it did so vividly in Cretton's remarkable breakthrough feature, Short Term 12). But the film quickly establishes a good sense of place, from Bryan suffering the indignities of being Black in Alabama to the large gathering of friends and neighbors at the home of Johnny D.'s family when Bryan goes to see them.

Just Mercy also offers a slate of solid supporting characters -- including a subtly menacing district attorney (Rafe Spall), a candy-munching convict (Tim Blake Nelson), and Johnny D.'s next-cell neighbors on Death Row (O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Rob Morgan) -- all of whom add to the movie's texture. Then, as the pieces of the puzzle come together, occasionally blocked by bigotry and corruption, the tension and excitement start to ramp up. The final piece is Foxx, who's very good as Johnny D., hardened and reluctant to hope anymore. In the moments he does actually find hope, his emotion is palpable.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Just Mercy's violence. Given that the movie chooses not to show its most violent acts, does that make the movie less violent?

  • Is Bryan Stevenson a role model? How does he demonstrate perseverance?

  • How does the movie portray racism? How about the relationship between racism and justice/the law?

  • How accurate do you think this movie is to events as they actually happened? Why might filmmakers choose to alter the facts in a movie that's based on a true story? Check out the documentary version of Bryan's story.

  • To Kill a Mockingbird is referenced many times in this movie. How does that story compare to this one?

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