John Grisham adaptations ranked: John Grisham has made a success of underdog stories. His heroes are common, average lawyers or students who accidentally become involved in conflicts against a big corporation, corrupt government or evil criminals. That formula has provided Hollywood with some taut films-and a few lame ducks. Since The Rainmaker is being revived into a new TV adaptation later this year, now is the right time to take a retrospective look at all of the Grisham stories that have been adapted to the screen. They can be compared in the following way.

John Grisham adaptations ranked

9. The Firm (TV, 2012)

Lawyers love lawyer shows and The Firm was nagging at people to watch. NBC did a weekly show based on the Grisham story and squeezed 22 episodes out of it. Josh Lucas was in the role of Mitch McDeere and this time he had another crooked law firm to deal with.

The problem? The stories in Grisham live with increasing tension and the show was stalling with case of the week. The sharp and fast things should have been changed into slow and forgettable.

Verdict: A brave attempt, but not built for TV’s pacing.

8. The Chamber (1996)

The set of main actors consists of Chris O Donnell and Gene Hackman in a black tale of a racist death row granddad who has to be defended by his grandson a lawyer. The movie plows the ground of family guilt and American racial history.

As aiming at serious drama it somehow did not coalesce around the mixture of courtroom suspense (and high moral debate). Nevertheless, it was carried by a raw performance of Hackman.

Verdict: Ambitious but uneven.

7. The Rainmaker (TV, 2025)

The new USA/Peacock series makes substantial deviations from Grisham classic. It does not have the rough underdog vibe and opts towards relationship drama and murder subplots.

John Slattery shines as the slick villain, but fans of the original may find the detours frustrating.

Verdict: Watchable, but far from Coppola’s movie magic.

6. Runaway Jury (2003)

John Cusack and Rachel Weisz act as plotters who carry out a jury in gun manufacturers case. It had everything to be a hit since Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman were clashing in court.

The performance however did not have the refined sharp moral edge which Grisham is known to bring to the scene. The resolution was too sudden and having less of an effect than the novel.

Verdict: Entertaining but flawed.

5. The Client (1994)

One of the finest Grisham movies features Susan Sarandon playing one of the lawyer-protecting a boy (Brad Renfro) who has secrets of the mob. Tommy Lee Jones spices it with his ambitions in the movie as the prosecutor.

Equal parts tense and heartfelt, the film balances legal thrills with genuine emotion.

Verdict: A classic ’90s courtroom thriller.

4. A Time to Kill (1996)

This was an adaptation of the debut novel by Grisham and Matthew McConaughey was a star in it. Jackson gives the movie its beating heart, playing a father who goes on trial as he is accused of murdering the men who raped his daughter.

It wrestles with tough racial themes, sometimes clumsily, but its intensity and performances keep it unforgettable.

Verdict: Powerful, emotional, and still relevant.

3. The Firm (1993)

This sleek actioner has Tom Cruise (running-along), a young lawyer who stumbles over his law firm connections to the mob. The tension is rendered sharp by the directing of Sydney Pollack, the additional support of the actors Gene Hackman and Ed Harris, creates weight.

The ending softens Grisham’s darker vision, but it remains one of his most iconic adaptations.

Verdict: Slick, suspenseful, and endlessly rewatchable.

2. The Rainmaker (1997)

The Rainmaker by Francis Ford Coppola is a perfect description of the underdog mentality. Matt Damon is perfect as Rudy Baylor, an inexperienced lawyer going up against an insurance behemoth aided by the accident-prone paralegal played by Danny DeVito.

Instead of gunfights or car chases, the drama comes from depositions and documents — and it works brilliantly.

Verdict: The most faithful Grisham courtroom story.

1. The Pelican Brief (1993)

In this political conspiracy thriller, Julia Roberta and Denzel Washington join efforts as a law student is investigating a lethal political conspiracy. Alan Pakula also has the same precision as to All the President Men.

It’s tightly paced, suspenseful, and elevated by two megastars at their peak.

Verdict: The gold standard of Grisham adaptations.

FAQs on John Grisham Movies and TV Shows

Which John Grisham movie is considered the best?
Most critics agree The Pelican Brief and The Rainmaker top the list for faithful and gripping adaptations.

Has John Grisham written TV shows?
Not directly. But his books inspired TV series like The Firm (2012) and The Rainmaker (2025).

Why do so many Grisham adaptations feel similar?
Grisham’s core story is usually the same: an ordinary lawyer battling powerful institutions, often with bittersweet victories.

Are there any upcoming John Grisham adaptations?
Yes, the latest is The Rainmaker TV series on USA/Peacock.