Law films have not been unspared by comedies, which have brought occasional, necessary humor to the legal system—at its own expense. My Cousin Vinny, Animal House, Legal Eagles, Adam’s Rib, Bananas and even Duck Soup offer fitting examples of funny, madcap trial scenes.

Locating the various strands and subgenres of legal cinema does not make these movies any less riveting or important. What it does is reinforce the statement they make about the legal system’s connection, and disconnection, from the citizens it purports to serve. The artistic tropes of the law resonate widely because they express a longing for the kind of justice we would all like to see—a raising of the bar among members of the bar, a metaphorical challenge to all jurists who sit on high and forget that those below should not be treated like lowly men and women.

It is the mystery of art that movies about the law offer snapshots and film stills of a calling sorely in need of the projection of more humanity. Perhaps because human beings come before the law dressed in finery yet drenched in vulnerability, the box office matters less than the jury box. Regardless of Oscar nominations, these films linger in memory because they address fundamental truths about justice and injustice, fairness and fraud. Given the longing and wisdom they impart, these films can’t be casually dismissed as mere movies.

Quiz: Which movie lawyer are you?