The Client

Play trailer

The Client

PG-13

Released Jul 20, 1994

2h 0m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

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?

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

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

Rated: 1.5/5

Aug 16, 2017

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

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.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

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

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Jaylan Salah

InSession Film

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.

Rated: A-

Jul 25, 2024

Full Review

Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

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.

Apr 4, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...kicks off with an impressively riveting opening...

Rated: 3/4

Apr 13, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Sebastian L

It's a hard to get your head around what makes this movie the rough ride it is. Coming from Falling Down just the year before The Client is a big step down for Schumacher, despite a cast that should be able to make any directorial ambitions come to life. It is in fact Sarandon's effort that makes me put up with cartoonish mobsters and a script that doesn't know where it's going.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

Full Review

Johannes S

Great actors paired with an interesting story is always a great match for a crime drama. This movie is exciting to watch, but falls short of other courtroom movies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

Christina F

Started off decent got really stupid and really boring absolutely garbage of a movie wouldn't reccomend this movie to my worst enemy, seriously I'd rather watch paint dry..

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

Mitch B

Interaction between Reggie and Mark made the movie for me as well as Jones as Foltrigg.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/06/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são mais ou menos, o elenco é mais ou menos, mas ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é mais ou menos, os personagens sao mais ou menos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/10/25

Full Review

Joseph M

Compare this movie to anything in the theater today and it would win best picture...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/22/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

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

The Pelican Brief

55%

61%

The Pelican Brief

Watchlist

The Net

44%

44%

The Net

Watchlist

Deceived

38%

46%

Deceived

Watchlist

The Real McCoy

24%

40%

The Real McCoy

Watchlist

Firewall

19%

37%

Firewall

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now