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Philadelphia

Philadelphia

No one would take on his case... until one man was willing to take on the system.

1993125 minPG-13Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Director
Jonathan Demme
Starring
Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen

Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops, their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Philadelphia?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Philadelphia on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Philadelphia?

Philadelphia earns 9 badges, led by Stood the test of time and Oscar Winner.

Show 1 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Philadelphia worth watching?

Philadelphia's Midcredits score is the 97th percentile of all films, from 527K ratings across 6 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

97th percentile

Better received than 97% of films

97th percentile among Drama97th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)94th
Approval (how many liked it)96th

77 /100

94th percentile of all films

95th percentile among Drama96th percentile among 1990s

Critics 66 · Audience 78

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

87% liked it

96th percentile of all films

97th percentile among Drama97th percentile among 1990s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Critics 81% · Audience 89%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

2 Oscars won · 3 Oscar noms · 20 wins / 22 noms overall

  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Actor in a Leading Role
  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Music, Original Song

97th percentile

527K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Drama96th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$26M
Opening weekend$143K
Domestic gross$77M
Worldwide gross$207M

Returned 7.9× its budget — 98th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

The film is a landmark mainstream Hollywood attempt to address AIDS and homophobia, carried by strong lead performances, but it simplifies characters and opts for sentiment over complexity.

Fans praised

  • Tom Hanks' committed physical transformation and deeply emotional performance
  • Groundbreaking mainstream depiction of AIDS discrimination and homophobia
  • Powerful courtroom drama with strong lead chemistry between Hanks and Washington

Detractors panned

  • One-dimensional saint/villain character writing—Andrew is too perfect, bosses are caricatures
  • Overly sentimental and preachy tone that undermines dramatic impact
  • Sanitized portrayal of gay relationship—no physical affection between Hanks and Banderas

What stands out

ActingDivisive88

Hanks' Oscar-winning physical and emotional commitment; Washington's nuanced homophobe-to-ally arc

Sound and musicDivisive82

Springsteen's 'Streets of Philadelphia' iconic; Howard Shore's score and Callas aria emotionally charged

Emotional impactDivisive78

Tearjerker for many; critics of sentiment call it manipulative

OriginalityDivisive70

First major Hollywood studio film to directly tackle AIDS and homophobia

EndingDivisive70

Triumphant verdict followed by peaceful death—satisfying but formulaic

Plot and storyDivisive65

Straightforward courtroom drama with predictable outcome—victim sues, wins, dies

PacingDivisive55

Slow in non-courtroom stretches; overlong opera scene divides opinion

CharactersDivisive45

Andrew Beckett as idealized saint; bosses as cardboard villains; Miller's arc predictable

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 2 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Philadelphia like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

No single mood: browse every movie of this kindNo one kind of watch fits it, so it is described by how heavy it is.

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something dark.

It is intense, takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings and patience.

What it feels like

Moods
TenseMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Tender · 13% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its material completely straight and earnest, treating the subject of AIDS and homophobia with solemn gravity and deep respect.
The rideThe film maintains a steady, somber tension throughout, with the emotional weight culminating in Beckett's death after the trial verdict.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological order, following Beckett from his firing through the trial and its aftermath.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe victory in court is overshadowed by Beckett's death, leaving a bittersweet feeling; the film's examination of prejudice and discrimination lingers and prompts reflection.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% (this title) · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Institutional injustice: A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe plot centers on Andrew Beckett's legal battle against the powerful law firm that fired him due to his AIDS diagnosis and homosexuality, with the firm's prejudice and institutional discrimination serving as the monster to be overcome.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% (this title) · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsPrejudice · 3% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the fight for legal and social justice in the face of rampant homophobia, racism, and AIDS discrimination.
StanceThe film interrogates societal and legal justice by confronting homophobia and AIDS discrimination through the courtroom battle and the personal transformation of Joe Miller.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalDomesticRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · Howard Shore
SettingPhiladelphia's legal and medical worlds in the early 1990s AIDS crisis
MusicBruce Springsteen's song 'Streets of Philadelphia' won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Content guide

Is Philadelphia okay for kids?

PG-13

Philadelphia is rated PG-13: “Rated PG-13 for some graphic language and thematic material” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (4/100), sexual content at mild (35/100), language at moderate (56/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (29/100) and frightening material at moderate (40/100). Overall it is heavier than 36% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 15 other countries
  • UK12
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland15
  • JapanG
  • South Korea12
  • Brazil12
  • Czechia15+
  • Greece13
  • Hungary12
  • Netherlands6
  • PortugalM/12
  • SK12
  • Sweden11
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 25% of all filmsHeavier than 36% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 3%
Sex & Nudity
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 63%
Profanity
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 82%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 37%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 42%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 82% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Philadelphia have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Philadelphia?

Cast

Tom Hanks
as Andrew Beckett
Denzel Washington
as Joe Miller
Jason Robards
as Charles Wheeler
Mary Steenburgen
as Belinda Conine
Antonio Banderas
as Miguel Alvarez
Ron Vawter
as Bob Seidman
Robert Ridgely
as Walter Kenton
Charles Napier
as Judge Garnett
Lisa Summerour
as Lisa Miller
Obba Babatundé
as Jerome Green

Crew

Directed by

Jonathan Demme

Written by

Ron Nyswaner

Cinematography

Tak Fujimoto

Edited by

Craig McKay

Music by

Howard Shore

Produced by

Edward SaxonJonathan Demme

More like this

What are movies like Philadelphia?

Movies like Philadelphia include Pink (2016), A Time to Kill (1996) and Just Mercy (2019). Of the 12 closest matches, all are courtroom dramas and films about the law.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

8 of these 12 share its story type: legal thriller. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Philadelphia?

237 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: legal thriller. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.