Michael Clayton | Rotten Tomatoes

Michael Clayton

R

Released Oct 12, 2007

2 hr. 0 min.

Drama

List

90%

206 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton (George Clooney) works as a "fixer" at the corporate law firm of Kenner, Bach and Ledeen, and takes care of his employer's dirty work. Burned out and deep in debt, he is bound tightly to the firm. Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

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Critics Consensus

Michael Clayton is one of the most sharply scripted films of 2007, with an engrossing premise and faultless acting. Director Tony Gilroy succeeds not only in capturing the audience's attention, but holding it until the credits roll.

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donnie m

i really loved this movie-especially the little boy-michaels son-what a great actor he is

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Yoosik Ethan O

Excellent performances, and a well written legal thriller. The more I watch it, the more it grows on me.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Jonathan L

Great acting, great beginning, great ending, but the middle was a tad dry. Soundtrack was good, fit the style very well. The performances from Clooney and Swinton were really awesome, but the oscar goes to Wilkinson, I mean that oppening monolouge sent chills up my spine, especially paired with the stellar cinematography. If you like long build-up Godfather type drama, it's great, if not, it's good. 77/100

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

ira m

Totally keeps you engaged with little inkling to the out come. Great acting from Clooney .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/07/24

Full Review

David H

Excellent movie for intelligent adults. It brings into sharp relief the truth about lawyers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Julie M

Having seen "Michael Clayton" in 2023 (long after it was made), the depraved corruption exposed in the film seems par for the course today. So the shock value was blunted as a result. But it's a good story with very good acting and held my attention throughout -- I recommend it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/03/23

Full Review

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Tony Gilroy

Director

George Clooney

Michael Clayton

Tom Wilkinson

Arthur Edens

Tilda Swinton

Karen Crowder

Sydney Pollack

Marty Bach

Ken Howard

Don Jeffries

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David Fear

Blender

There is a lot to admire in [Michael Clayton] regarding corruption and personal responsibility. You may, however, want to cut out before [the end].

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

The storytelling is so good I simply got caught up, and, as for George, he is seriously, seriously good... Here, his performance is passionate, subtle and right on the money.

Aug 23, 2018

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Michael Clayton has an important story to tell, but is sometimes overly stifling in its stuffy pretenses.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 10, 2023

Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

The multifaceted pieces of the film are well orchestrated and the performances strong, although the movie's beginning is somewhat chaotic.

Mar 5, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

This is Clooney at his brooding best, in a solid drama with an ending as explosive as its beginning.

Rated: 7/10

Nov 26, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton (George Clooney) works as a "fixer" at the corporate law firm of Kenner, Bach and Ledeen, and takes care of his employer's dirty work. Burned out and deep in debt, he is bound tightly to the firm. Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career when a guilt-ridden attorney (Tom Wilkinson) has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

Director: Tony Gilroy
Executive Producer: Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, James Holt, Anthony Minghella
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Section Eight Ltd., Mirage Enterprises
Rating: R (Some Sexual Dialogue|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2007, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 2008
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 2, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.0M

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