The Changing Face of Capital Punishment Films: Just Mercy and Clemency

Abstract: After the Supreme Court reinstituted the death penalty in 1976, films about capital punishment were written and directed almost entirely by white men. The protagonists and those sentenced to death were largely white and, to avoid antagonizing audiences who might be offended if the films took positions on larger issues, the stories told were those of individuals rather than institutions. The 2019 films Just Mercy and Clemency featured actors, directors, and screenwriters of color. This article asks whether this made a substantive difference in the content of these films and what the likelihood of significant change in the future will be.