SummaryA veteran British barrister must defend his client in a murder trial that has surprise after surprise.
Directed By:Billy Wilder
Written By:Agatha Christie, Billy Wilder, Harry Kurnitz, Lawrence B. Marcus
Witness for the Prosecution
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.5
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
83% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
17% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Dietrich steals it. WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION is a witty, terse adaptation of the Agatha Christie hit play brought to the screen with ingenuity and vitality by Billy Wilder.
88
The courtroom scenes are terrific, with brittle dialogue expertly delivered. And Wilder milks Christie's surprise denouement for all it's worth. [21 Nov 1986, p.92]
User score
Universal Acclaim
95% Positive
39 Ratings
39 Ratings
5% Mixed
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Aug 10, 2025
10
A very good movie, just tense enough, just enough plot twists, good acting and unexpected development for the genre. Very thrilled to follow the entire plot unfold as the story advance.
Jul 27, 2024
10
Dietrich rouba a cena. WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION é uma adaptação espirituosa e concisa da peça de sucesso de Agatha Christie, levada às telas com engenhosidade e vitalidade por Billy Wilder.
80
This illustrious courtroom drama, adapted from an Agatha Christie play, is directed by Billy Wilder, who wisely stands back and allows Charles Laughton to give one of his gloriously hammy performances as a barrister hired to defend Tyrone Power on a murder charge. Marlene Dietrich is also excellent as the accused's wife.
80
Marlene Dietrich tries not to give anything away as usual while Agatha Christie's whodunit plot whirs tidily about her expressionless beauty.
80
While not amongst the greater, more celebrated titles in Billy Wilder’s acclaimed filmography, his big screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution boasts a fine, scenery-chewing performance by Charles Laughton, here playing a cantankerous barrister defending a murder suspect.
70
A courtroom meller played engagingly and building evenly to a surprising and arousing, albeit tricked-up, climax, Witness for the Prosecution has been transferred to the screen (from the Agatha Christie click play) with competence.
50
Billy Wilder's inane yet moderately entertaining version of an Agatha Christie courtroom thriller, with Charles Laughton wiggling his wattles.
Feb 11, 2025
9
Carried all the way by the Laughton performance. The story is a fairly tight courtroom drama with enough classic twists and turns in its final act to wrap it all up very nicely.
Jul 24, 2023
7
Movie is an entertaining courtroom drama, murder mystery with lots of comedic banter. Stellar performances from Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and especially Charles Laughton, who commands this film with his sharp wit. I admit, alot of the twists and turns I did not see coming, which added to the viewing fun.
