Michael Clayton

Play trailer

Michael Clayton

R

2007

2h 0m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

202 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton 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 has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

David Fear

Blender

09/08/2023

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

Go to Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/23/2018

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.

Go to Full Review

Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

05/01/2008

4/5

Michael Clayton definitely has its heart in the '70s.

Go to Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

10/10/2023

3/4

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

Go to Full Review

Joanne Laurier

World Socialist Web Site

03/05/2021

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

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/26/2020

7/10

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 3

nice drama. worth viewing. i've watched it 3 times...i love it. don't pass it by. it's under-rated

See more

Jonathan B

@RT43918092 Jul 9

One of the best films of the 2000s, and probably Clooney’s best acting performance. Shades of 70s/80s thrillers such as Absence of Malice and Network. Those who enjoy such conspiracy movies will like this one, and can take multiple viewings to put all the pieces together. The plot only becomes more topical with every story of corporate malfeasance and corruption that plagues our news headlines.

See more

W.L. C.

@WayneCampbell Jun 27

"Michael Clayton" is one of the films I missed while working two jobs to keep my family out of destitution 20 years ago. I finally got around to it; I probably could've waited another 20. I'm all for a slow burn, but this is a pot that never boils. A stacked cast in a tepid film. The score is reminiscent of a lullaby and the color palette is so beige it may as well be wallpaper in a vacant hospital. Tony Gilroy is a gifted writer, but this one is a wet fart at best.

See more

Costantino D.

@CosMovies May 28

Masterpiece in every way.

See more

Jeff C

@Popsstargell79 May 8

A perfect film. The writing is superb and the performances from Clooney, Wilkinson, Swinton, Pollack are sublime.

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Mar 1

Success in 2 hours. Rated R for Some Sexual Dialogue and Language. Academy Award winner in 2008 for Best Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton).

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Tony Gilroy

Director

George Clooney

Michael Clayton

Tom Wilkinson

Arthur Edens

Tilda Swinton

Karen Crowder

Sydney Pollack

Marty Bach

Ken Howard

Don Jeffries

Keane

82%

70%

Keane

Watchlist

The Good German

34%

33%

The Good German

Watchlist

Breaking and Entering

34%

52%

Breaking and Entering

Watchlist

The Quiet American

87%

72%

The Quiet American

Watchlist

The Walker

55%

28%

The Walker

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Former prosecutor Michael Clayton 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 has a breakdown during a huge class-action lawsuit.

Director: Tony Gilroy
Producer: Sydney Pollack, Steve Samuels, Jennifer Fox, Kerry Orent
Screenwriter: Tony Gilroy
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Mirage Enterprises, Section Eight Ltd.
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
Runtime: 2h 0m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings