John Grisham's The Rainmaker

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John Grisham's The Rainmaker

PG-13

1997

2h 15m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

82%

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60 Reviews

78%

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25,000+ Ratings

Struggling new attorney Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) resorts to working for a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke), where he meets paralegal Deck Shifflet (Danny DeVito). When the insurance company of Dot Black (Mary Kay Place) refuses her dying son coverage, Baylor and Shifflet team up to fight the corrupt corporation, taking on its callous lawyer (Jon Voight). Meanwhile, Baylor becomes involved with Kelly Riker (Claire Danes), an abused wife, whose husband complicates matters when he confronts Baylor.

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Critics Consensus

Invigorated by its talented cast and Francis Ford Coppola's strong direction, The Rainmaker is a satisfying legal drama -- and arguably the best of Hollywood's many John Grisham adaptations.

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Martin Hoyle

Financial Times

Jan 20, 2023

The Rainmaker is a formulaic potboiler, decently acted, notably by Mickey Rourke... and Jon Voight.

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Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

Jan 20, 2023

The style of direction is relatively impersonal, but Coppola gets the job done, making the most of the Memphis locations and letting humor and compassion flourish; the film's unforced sympathy for the underprivileged is one of its biggest pleasures.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Mar 5, 2018

A wonderfully quirky cast under Francis Ford Coppola's direction makes this one of the more enjoyable Grisham movies.

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Jason Caro

Radio Times

Apr 1, 2025

4/5

Grisham's scenarios often feel contrived and mechanical, but with Coppola forgoing the usual serpentine plotting in favour of emotional depth and well-rounded characters, this is courtroom cinema at its very best.

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Megan Fisher

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jan 11, 2025

The Rainmaker is a little slow to get started, and the Damon and Claire Danes relationship perhaps didn’t need to turn romantic, but once it gets to the courtroom and surprise witnesses are being called it’s hard not to be enthralled.

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Betsy Sherman

The Improper Bostonian

Aug 6, 2024

1.5/4

Happily this time people will discover our hometown boy Matt Damon, who gives a superb lead performance in an unfortunately mediocre property.

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Tim M

@tgmacman 17 hrs ago

The Rainmaker lacks the exact gravitas of Francis Ford Coppola's earlier works, but a solid script makes the question of its quality an open-and-shut case.

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Paul L

@harlyfife999 Aug 30, 2026

Best of the Grisham adaptations; the story feels relevant still today and solid acting all around makes this very good film.

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D P

@RT45936356 Jun 25, 2026

I have nothing against the story or the film quality, but I suppose I can't rate it any higher because it is just my cup of tea. I just have to say it is a film done very well, and that is all.

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shane O

@Shanes_DVD_Shack Apr 24, 2026

Engaging watch , DeVito and Damon are excellent in this. It has that 90’s charm . A very good watch

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 28, 2026

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Laurie E.

@Laurielye Mar 24, 2026

Talented cast, interesting plot, lacks passion. Good, but not as good as the book.

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Francis Ford Coppola

Director

Matt Damon

Rudy Baylor

Claire Danes

Kelly Riker

Jon Voight

Leo F. Drummond

Mary Kay Place

Dot Black

Mickey Rourke

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Synopsis

Struggling new attorney Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) resorts to working for a shady lawyer (Mickey Rourke), where he meets paralegal Deck Shifflet (Danny DeVito). When the insurance company of Dot Black (Mary Kay Place) refuses her dying son coverage, Baylor and Shifflet team up to fight the corrupt corporation, taking on its callous lawyer (Jon Voight). Meanwhile, Baylor becomes involved with Kelly Riker (Claire Danes), an abused wife, whose husband complicates matters when he confronts Baylor.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Producer: Michael Douglas, Fred Fuchs, Steven Reuther
Screenwriter: Francis Ford Coppola, John Grisham, Michael Herr
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: American Zoetrope
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 21, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 20, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $45.9M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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