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Presumed Innocent

1990 2h 7m
Mystery Crime Thriller
MOVIEVIBE Rating
6.8/10
850 reviews
Your Rating
Presumed Innocent

Rusty Sabich is a deputy prosecutor engaged in an obsessive affair with a coworker who is murdered. Soon after, he's accused of the crime. And his fight to clear his name becomes a whirlpool of lies and hidden passions.

"Some people would kill for love."

Top Billed Cast

Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford
Rusty Sabich
Brian Dennehy
Brian Dennehy
Raymond Horgan
Raúl Juliá
Raúl Juliá
Sandy Stern
Bonnie Bedelia
Bonnie Bedelia
Barbara Sabich
Paul Winfield
Paul Winfield
Judge Larren Lyttle
Greta Scacchi
Greta Scacchi
Carolyn Polhemus
John Spencer
John Spencer
Detective Dan Lipranzer
Joe Grifasi
Joe Grifasi
Tommy Molto

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

J John Chard Verified TMDB Critic
2019-07-07

Love - it's a killer.

Presumed Innocent is directed by Alan J. Pakula, who also co-adapts for the screen with Frank Pierson from the Scott Turow novel. It stars Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Bonnie Bedelia, Raúl Juliá, Paul Winfield, John Spencer and Greta Scacchi. Music is scored by John Williams and Richard Wolf, and cinematography is by Gordon Willis.

Prosecuting attorney Rusty Sabich (Ford) suddenly finds himself a murder suspect after his one time lover, Carolyn Polhemus (Scacchi), is found raped and murdered in her home. As the evidence piles up against him, and his marriage come...

J JPV852 Verified TMDB Critic
2020-08-09

Pretty good mystery-legal-drama features fine performances, especially from Ford and Raul Julia, though does rely a lot on coincidences (lucky draw to get that judge) but still finely directed and liked John Williams's score. **3.75/5**...

K kevin2019 Verified TMDB Critic
2026-01-30

"Presumed Innocent" is an incredible pedigree of film on every level which opens by painting a portrait of the main protagonist Rusty Sabich, although the picture which slowly emerges is a far from perfect one. His marriage isn't all it could be or appears to be and his past is blighted by an obsessive and torrid love affair with co-worker Carolyn Polhemus. He suddenly finds himself on trial for her murder and all these unsavoury and unseemly past misdemeanours gradually and inevitably rise to the surface once more to create a fresh strain on his already fragile marriage. This is one of the ma...