The Client

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The Client

PG-13,

1994,

2h 0m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

78%

40 Reviews

Tomatometer

68%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

68%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Fast-paced thriller, based on the John Grisham bestseller, about a boy whose life is endangered after he stumbles across vital information about a politician's murder. His lawyer is the only person offering protection from the unwanted attentions of the Mob and the FBI - but is she capable of saving his life?

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Critics Consensus

The Client may not reinvent the tenets of the legal drama, but Joel Schumacher's sturdy directorial hand and a high-caliber cast bring John Grisham's page-turner to life with engrossing suspense.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Aug 16, 2017

1.5/5

You know, there are more exciting trials on free TV.

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Feb 9, 2006

Slick, solid and saddled throughout with hackneyed motivation and implausible moments, Schumacher's film is both the best adaptation of a John Grisham novel to date, and a surprisingly suspenseful slice of escapist entertainment.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

May 20, 2003

As for Mr. Jones, he's just irresistible. In a smaller but still commanding role that loosely recalls his performance in The Fugitive, his coiled-cobra gaze and that smart, steely delivery remain in perfect form

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Apr 21, 2026

5/10

The film as a whole reverts from decent to mediocre, and a lot of time, effort, and talent is wasted in the process.

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Jaylan Salah

InSession Film

Jul 25, 2024

A-

A film like that means nothing without its main protagonist and no, that’s not Jones as a sleaze-ball, slick-style, pompous, Bible-quoting US attorney named Reverend Roy Foltrigg. It’s Sarandon as the down-on-her-luck hero of this journey.

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

Apr 4, 2022

The film is hideously colored. The mere look of it sets the mood. It only gets darker as danger increases, and everyone becomes more deliciously beastly. I loved every minute of it.

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Jan 27, 2019

The best courtroom movie ever made!

Poe W

Aug 18, 2018

A decent film elevated by good performances, especially from Brad Renfro and Susan Saranden. The plot mostly holds together till the end when it takes a silly leap into predictable thriller territory. It would also have benefitted from less comic book villains. I know the mob has killed kids before, but to do so because he MIGHT have heard something from a two-minute encounter with a lawyer who had no reason to talk and who MIGHT tell the police despite repeatedly refusing to do so seems ridiculous, particularly when the whole situation could just be solved by moving the body. It would take all of ten minutes and the boy's minor piece of knowledge would cease to be a threat. Even if he had been told anything else it would only be hearsay. So why all the worry?

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Albus S

Mar 10, 2018

One of my favorites. I love to watch the brilliant acting in this intelligent, sharp and funny story over and over again.

Theodore S

Feb 23, 2018

Brilliant film which still holds up well today, why don't they make more films like this today???

Finn M

Feb 17, 2018

Even after all this time, this remains a great family movie.

Abraham L

Dec 6, 2017

Like pretty much all the mid-90s Grisham movies, this is enjoyable trash that really lets the actors sink their teeth into campy courtroom drama.

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Joel Schumacher

Director

Susan Sarandon

Regina "Reggie" Love

Tommy Lee Jones

"Reverend" Roy Foltrigg

Mary-Louise Parker

Dianne Sway

Anthony LaPaglia

Barry "The Blade" Muldano

Anthony Edwards

Clint Von Hooser

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Synopsis

Fast-paced thriller, based on the John Grisham bestseller, about a boy whose life is endangered after he stumbles across vital information about a politician's murder. His lawyer is the only person offering protection from the unwanted attentions of the Mob and the FBI - but is she capable of saving his life?

Director: Joel Schumacher
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Steven Reuther
Screenwriter: John Grisham, Akiva Goldsman, Robert Getchell
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros., Regency Enterprises, Alcor Films
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 20, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 13, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $90.8M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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