The Rainmaker

19971997
PG-13PG-13
2h 15min

Matt Damon and Danny DeVito in The Rainmaker (1997)

Trailer

Crime Drama Thriller

An underdog lawyer takes on a fraudulent insurance company.An underdog lawyer takes on a fraudulent insurance company.An underdog lawyer takes on a fraudulent insurance company.An underdog lawyer takes on a fraudulent insurance company.An underdog lawyer takes on a fraudulent insurance company.

Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
Writers
- John Grisham(novel)
- Francis Ford Coppola(screenplay)
- Michael Herr(narration)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

Awards
- 2 wins & 10 nominations

Videos1

The Rainmaker

Matt Damon in The Rainmaker (1997)

Matt Damon and Mary Kay Place in The Rainmaker (1997)

Matt Damon in The Rainmaker (1997)

Matt Damon in The Rainmaker (1997)

Matt Damon at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Matt Damon at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Claire Danes at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Andy Garcia and Marivi Lorido Garcia at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Dennis Hopper and Victoria Duffy at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Mickey Rourke at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Mickey Rourke at an event for The Rainmaker (1997)

Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
Writers
- John Grisham(novel)
- Francis Ford Coppola(screenplay)
- Michael Herr(narration)
All cast & crew

See production, box office, & company info

Runaway Jury

7.1

The Firm

6.8

The Client

6.7

The Talented Mr. Ripley

7.4

The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Pelican Brief

6.6

The Pelican Brief

Tetro

6.8

A Time to Kill

7.5

Distant Vision

6.0

Rounders

7.3

Twixt

4.8

Youth Without Youth

6.2

Youth Without Youth

Along Came a Spider

6.4

Along Came a Spider

Rudy Baylor is a young attorney out to make a difference in the justice system. He is also the only hope of an elderly couple after their corrupt insurance company refuses to pay out a claim that could save their child's life. In this judicial drama, Baylor rails against corporate lawyers, corrupt judges, and abusive husbands, all with the help of a fellow lawyer who hasn't even passed his bar exam. He is facing long odds in the courtroom - and this is only his first case. —Steve Richer <sricher@sympatico.ca>

lawyer insurance company courtroom courtroom drama underdog 133 more

Taglines
- They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated PG-13 for a strong beating and elements of domestic abuse
Parents guide

Trivia
The scene where Danny DeVito wakes up Matt Damon on the bench was filmed hurriedly, surprising Damon, who had actually fallen asleep after a scene.

Goofs
When Rudy is late for court, Deck takes his place briefly. Deck was not admitted as an attorney and hence could not have done this. All counsel enter their appearance at the start of a trial including those who may not even speak on the record. The judge should not have allowed Deck to utter one word at the trial but does so.

Quotes
Rudy Baylor: What's the difference between a lawyer and a hooker? A hooker'll stop screwing you when you're dead.

Crazy credits
There is a credit for "Poet in Residence".

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil/The Sweet Hereafter/John Grisham's the Rainmaker/Deep Crimson (1997)

Soundtracks
Woman You Must Be Crazy
Written by T-Bone Walker
Performed by Big Joe Turner
Courtesy of Fantasy, Inc.

Top review

8/10

Not always realistic, but a highly entertaining story

This film was sort of a comeback for Francis Ford Coppola, considering that he had not really made any films since "The Godfather Part 3", other than "Jack". In this film Matt Damon plays a young lawyer fresh out of law school, who by chance meets up with spitfire paralegal Danny DeVito, and takes on a huge and difficult case. Fully entertaining throughout, although the ending is almost completely unbeleivable, which is the only negative aspect of this film. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good courtroom drama, I thought it was one of the better ones that I have seen. I rate it *** out of ****, or maybe even a little higher.

helpful•26

6

Idocamstuf
Aug 12, 2004

Release date
- November 21, 1997 (United States)
Countries of origin
- United States
- Germany
Language
- English
Also known as
- John Grisham's The Rainmaker
Filming locations
- Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $40,000,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $45,916,769
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $10,626,507
- Nov 23, 1997
Gross worldwide
- $45,916,769

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
- 2h 15min
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby Digital
Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1

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