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The Rainmaker

The Rainmaker

They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.

19977.02h 15m

Overview

Fresh out of law school and desperate for work, idealistic rookie Rudy Baylor takes on a powerful insurance company accused of denying a dying boy’s claim. Teaming up with a scrappy, unlicensed paralegal, he finds himself in a David-versus-Goliath courtroom battle that tests his ethics, courage, and belief in justice.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Written by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Herr, John Grisham
Produced by Michael Douglas, Fred Fuchs, Steven Reuther
Box OfficeBudget: $40.0MRevenue: $45.9M

Top Cast

Matt Damon

Matt Damon

Rudy Baylor

Claire Danes

Claire Danes

Kelly Riker

Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito

Deck Shifflet

Jon Voight

Jon Voight

Leo F. Drummond

Mary Kay Place

Mary Kay Place

Dot Black

Dean Stockwell

Dean Stockwell

Judge Harvey Hale

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke

Bruiser Stone

Danny Glover

Danny Glover

Richter Tyrone Kipler

Virginia Madsen

Virginia Madsen

Jackie Lemancyzk

Randy Travis

Randy Travis

Billy Porter

Themes & Keywords

court casejurorsproofleukemialawyercourtroomlegal thrillerinspirationaldramatic

About The Rainmaker

The Rainmaker is a drama, crime, thriller film released in 1997 exploring themes of court case, jurors, proof, leukemia, lawyer, courtroom. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it stars Matt Damon, Claire Danes, Danny DeVito. Fresh out of law school and desperate for work, idealistic rookie Rudy Baylor takes on a powerful insurance company accused of denying a dying boy’s claim. Teaming up with a scrappy, unlicensed paralegal, he finds himself in a David-versus-Goliath courtroom battle that tests his ethics, courage, and belief in justice.

Movies Similar to The Rainmaker

Discover titles like The Rainmaker — ranked by similarity and community votes

We found 15 movies similar to The Rainmaker

If you enjoyed The Rainmaker, you'll love these handpicked recommendations. Each title below shares similar themes, tone, and storytelling style. Our algorithm analyzes genres, keywords, director filmography, and cast connections to find the closest matches. Whether you're looking for the same emotional depth, narrative structure, or visual style, these picks are curated to deliver the best viewing experience for fans of The Rainmaker.

The Juror
37% Match

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Primal Fear
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Suspect
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Suspect(1987)

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Mick Haller is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.

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Runaway Jury
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After a workplace shooting in New Orleans, a trial against the gun manufacturer pits lawyer Wendell Rohr against shady jury consultant Rankin Fitch, who uses illegal means to stack the jury with people sympathetic to the defense. But when juror Nicholas Easter and his girlfriend Marlee reveal their ability to sway the jury into delivering any verdict they want, a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game begins.

The Godfather Part II
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The Godfather
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Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.

The Client
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A street-wise kid, Mark Sway, sees the suicide of Jerome Clifford, a prominent Louisiana lawyer, whose current client is Barry 'The Blade' Muldano, a Mafia hit-man. Before Jerome shoots himself, he tells Mark where the body of a Senator is buried. Clifford shoots himself and Mark is found at the scene, and both the FBI and the Mafia quickly realize that Mark probably knows more than he says.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.
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Hard-nosed liberal lawyer Roman J. Israel has been fighting the good fight forever while others take the credit. When his partner – the firm's frontman – has a heart attack, Israel suddenly takes on that role. He soon discovers some unsettling truths about the firm – truths that conflict with his values of helping the poor and dispossessed – and finds himself in an existential crisis that leads to extreme actions.

Sleepers
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Sleepers(1996)

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Two gangsters seek revenge on the state jail worker who during their stay at a youth prison sexually abused them. A sensational court hearing takes place to charge him for the crimes.