← Back to results
Philadelphia
1993 126 min United States of America PG-13 18+
★8.2
Drama
Director: Jonathan Demme
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
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.
Budget:
$26M
US Gross:
$77.45M
Worldwide:
$206.68M
Starring
Tom Hanks
Actor
Denzel Washington
Actor
Roberta Maxwell
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 1994
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 1994
— Best Actor (Drama)
Golden Globe 1994
— Best Original Song
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1994
— Best Original Song
Academy Awards 1994
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Academy Awards 1994
— Best Original Song
Golden Globe 1994
— Best Actor (Drama)
Golden Globe 1994
— Best Original Song
Golden Globe 1994
— Best Screenplay
Berlin International Film Festival 1994
— Silver Bear – Best Actor
Berlin International Film Festival 1994
— Golden Bear
BAFTA 1995
— Best Original Screenplay
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1994
— Best Picture
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1994
— Best Actor
Key opinion
Philadelphia is widely recognized as a landmark social drama that successfully brought the AIDS crisis and workplace discrimination into the mainstream consciousness. While the performances of Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington are frequently cited as the film's core strength, critical reception remains divided over whether the script achieves a nuanced portrayal or relies on formulaic, sentimental storytelling.
| Acting | Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington deliver powerful, career-defining performances that provide the film with its emotional anchor. | |
| Culture | The film serves as a historically significant and culturally vital tool for demystifying AIDS and addressing systemic homophobia. | |
| Theme | The narrative strikes a balance between a compelling courtroom drama and a poignant human tragedy. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: some praise its justice-driven narrative, while others criticize it as a formulaic, overly sentimental 'Oscar-bait' product. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is a subject of debate; some find the deliberate, contemplative tempo rewarding, while others perceive it as uneven and lacking sufficient energy. |