# Witness for the Prosecution (1957) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/witness-for-the-prosecution-1957/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 84% |
| Critic Score | 86% |
| Audience Score | 88% |
| Metascore | 80/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4/5 |
| IMDb | 8.4/10 |
| Director | Billy Wilder |
| Genres | Drama, Mystery, Crime |
| Runtime | 116 min |

## Quick answer

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. IMDb Top 250 #65 (8.4/10) — Witness for the Prosecution remains one of the most highly rated films of all time. Metascore 80/100. Directed by Billy Wilder.

## Critics consensus

IMDb Top 250 #65 (8.4/10) — Witness for the Prosecution remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

## Synopsis

An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.

## Cast

Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams, Henry Daniell, Ian Wolfe, Torin Thatcher, Norma Varden, Una O'Connor

## Common questions

**Is Witness for the Prosecution worth watching?**
Witness for the Prosecution holds a 84% Celluloid Score. IMDb Top 250 #65 (8.4/10) — Witness for the Prosecution remains one of the most highly rated films of all time.

**What is Witness for the Prosecution about?**
An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.

**Who directed Witness for the Prosecution?**
Witness for the Prosecution (1957) was directed by Billy Wilder.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Witness for the Prosecution?**
84% — the average of five public sources: critics 86%, audience 88%, Metascore 80/100, Letterboxd 4/5, and IMDb 8.4/10.

**Where can I watch Witness for the Prosecution?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the Witness for the Prosecution page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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