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IMDbPro

Trial by Fire

  • 2018
  • R
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,545
71
Laura Dern and Jack O'Connell in Trial by Fire (2018)
'Trial by Fire' stars Laura Dern and Jack O'Connell.
Play trailer2:25
11 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDrama

The tragic and controversial story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children even after scientific evidence and expert testimony bolstere... Read allThe tragic and controversial story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children even after scientific evidence and expert testimony bolstered his claims of innocence.The tragic and controversial story of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children even after scientific evidence and expert testimony bolstered his claims of innocence.

  • Director
    • Edward Zwick
  • Writers
    • Geoffrey Fletcher
    • David Grann
  • Stars
    • Jack O'Connell
    • Laura Dern
    • Emily Meade
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,545
    71
    • Director
      • Edward Zwick
    • Writers
      • Geoffrey Fletcher
      • David Grann
    • Stars
      • Jack O'Connell
      • Laura Dern
      • Emily Meade
    • 132User reviews
    • 38Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Videos11

    Trial by Fire Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Trial by Fire Official Trailer
    Trial by Fire
    Trailer 2:32
    Trial by Fire
    Trial by Fire
    Trailer 2:32
    Trial by Fire
    your job for you
    Clip 1:01
    your job for you
    is fair
    Clip 0:37
    is fair
    threatened you
    Clip 0:41
    threatened you
    Trial by Fire
    Clip 1:02
    Trial by Fire

    Photos116

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    + 110
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    Top cast77

    Edit
    Jack O'Connell
    Jack O'Connell
    • Todd
    Laura Dern
    Laura Dern
    • Elizabeth
    Emily Meade
    Emily Meade
    • Stacy
    Chris Coy
    Chris Coy
    • Daniels
    Jeff Perry
    Jeff Perry
    • Hurst
    McKinley Belcher III
    McKinley Belcher III
    • Ponchai
    David Wilson Barnes
    David Wilson Barnes
    • Reaves
    Darren Pettie
    Darren Pettie
    • Horton
    Blake Scott Lewis
    Blake Scott Lewis
    • Johnny Webb
    Jade Pettyjohn
    Jade Pettyjohn
    • Julie
    Noah Lomax
    Noah Lomax
    • Andrew
    Jason Douglas
    Jason Douglas
    • Jackson
    Carlos Gómez
    Carlos Gómez
    • Vasquez
    • (as Carlos Gómez)
    Anthony Reynolds
    Anthony Reynolds
    • Fogg
    Katie McClellan
    Katie McClellan
    • Margaret
    Lena Levings
    • Emily
    Catherine Carlen
    Catherine Carlen
    • Abigail
    Wayne Pére
    Wayne Pére
    • George
    • (as Wayne Pére)
    • Director
      • Edward Zwick
    • Writers
      • Geoffrey Fletcher
      • David Grann
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews132

    7.115.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7gallagherkellie

    Sad

    When compared to the true story they did quite good. There were a few things not explained properly like who was the woman who told Laura Dern to write to a prisoner? And they didn't show enough of the ex wife and her feelings. However it was an interesting movie with good acting that got me teary.
    7steveinadelaide

    Powerful and moving

    TRIAL BY FIRE (2019) is a powerful and moving film about the tragic case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was sentenced to death in Texas for killing his three children despite scientific evidence and expert testimony that supported his claims of innocence. The film explores the controversial issue of capital punishment in America through Willingham's story and raises important questions about the fairness of the death penalty. TRIAL BY FIRE is sure to provoke discussion and debate and is recommended viewing for anyone interested in this critical issue.
    7M7SH

    Really impactful movie, but unnecessary long.

    Good acting, good writing even though I believe it could've been shorter and so much better. Some characters and relationships are meaningless and do not serve the story, some are kinda weakly-written. A good and impactful movie overall.
    7mmcshane-08232

    A score of 51 for this is ridiculous

    Well acted and engaging. Don't let the ludicrous 51 fool you. This is a well made, engrossing film with solid performances all around.
    8stuff-44601

    I'm pleased I don't live under the US "justice" system

    A well acted film well paced and directed.

    There's far too many of these miscarriages of justice happening by people in a uniform or position of power.

    There's more than enough evidence on the news and what I wasn't aware of is sometimes surfaced like here in a movie.

    As shocking and depressing as these injustices are, it's compounded by failure of the system to acknowledge and correct it's mistakes, rooting out the corruption.

    So well done to the film makers for shaming those involved.

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    The Suck

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Despite undeniable proof provided by well-regarded scientists and experts - specifically Dr Hurst who is considered one of the foremost experts on arson in the world - Todd's ex-wife, Stacey (Willingham) Kuykendall, believes he is guilty of the murders of Amber, Karmon, and Kameron. As recently as 2018 she continues to deny the evidence and objects to her portrayal as a "villain" in this film.
    • Goofs
      When the detectives are at Todd's house and are taking pictures of the crime scene, there are two posters of metal albums on the wall. One is the cover of the album 'Prevail' by Canadian death metal band Kataklysm, released in 2008, and the other is the cover of the album 'Abrahadabra' by Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir, released in 2010, while the movie takes place in 1991.
    • Quotes

      Hurst: What's Your sign?

      Elizabeth Gilbert: Excuse Me?

      Hurst: Under what sign of the zodiac were you born?

      Elizabeth Gilbert: Aries

      Hurst: And your horoscope, do you read it?

      Elizabeth Gilbert: Sometimes, I guess.

      Hurst: Sometimes It's right and sometimes its wrong

      Elizabeth Gilbert: Well, all that stuff is just...

      Hurst: People have always been fascinated by the stars, they chartered their movements. They could tell when Mercury was retrograde or when Mars was aligned with Venus. They made predictions based on these observations. These people were called Astrologers. They were the experts on the Solar System. Until the science of Astronomy came along and proved their ideas to be nothing but bullpucky. I've studied the report their experts wrote.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Talking Dead: Do Not Send Us Astray (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      I Believe In Country Radio
      Written by Daniel Braunstein
      Administered by PFM, Inc.

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    FAQ

    • How long is Trial by Fire?
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 17, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thử Thách Bằng Lửa
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Flashlight Films
      • The Bedford Falls Company
      • The Domain Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $148,504
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $78,817
      • May 19, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $148,504
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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