The Rainmaker (1997): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The Rainmaker is a 1997 drama thriller directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito. It is based on The Rainmaker by John Grisham. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes and earned $45.9 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) at the Golden Globes 1998. Critics gave it 72 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 15m (135 min)
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Based on
- The Rainmaker by John Grisham
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Rainmaker About?
The premise of The Rainmaker without spoilers, adapted from The Rainmaker by John Grisham. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the devastating drought of 1930s Kansas, a charismatic con man named Bill Starbuck offers a solution – rain – for a price. As he seeks to win the affections of Lizzie, a reserved spinster, he faces challenges from the townspeople, particularly Curry, who doubts his abilities. Bill must find a way to deliver on his promise and confront his own flaws, all while navigating a community desperate for hope and redemption.
The Rainmaker Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- lawyer
- insurance company
- lawsuit
- domestic violence
- love
- testimony
- terminal illness
- courtroom drama
- underdog
- leukemia
- investigation
- cancer
+38 more Show fewer
- corruption
- voice over narration
- death of son
- based on novel
- court
- memphis tennessee
- judge
- jury
- bone marrow transplant
- hospital patient
- deposition
- telephone booth
- company vice president
- tapped telephone
- employer employee relationship
- psychopath
- listening device
- affection
- courtroom
- oath
- justice
- friendship
- alcoholic
- mother son relationship
- montage
- beaten to death
- beating
- hit with a baseball bat
- attempted murder
- corporate crime
- sabotage
- newspaper headline
- fistfight
- blood splatter
- southern accent
- righteous rage
- abused wife
- wheelchair
The Rainmaker Cast
Matt Damon leads the cast, with Danny DeVito. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
-
Director Francis Ford Coppola
More from Francis Ford Coppola
More films directed by Francis Ford Coppola, best-rated first: The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, Apocalypse Now and The Conversation.
The Rainmaker Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Rainmaker 72 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 72 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB
The Rainmaker Plot Summary
What happens in The Rainmaker from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Rudy Baylor, portrayed by Matt Damon, emerges from the University of Memphis Law School with high hopes but faces a harsh reality. Unlike most of his peers, who effortlessly land lucrative positions through family connections, Rudy finds himself struggling to secure even part-time work while he serves drinks at a local bar in Memphis. The legal landscape is saturated with attorneys, leaving him at a crossroads with limited options.
Full summary
The whole story of The Rainmaker, scene by scene
The Rainmaker Box Office
The Rainmaker grossed $45.9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$45.9M
- US & Canada
- $45.9M
The Rainmaker Awards & Nominations
The Rainmaker earned 1 award nomination, including Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) at the Golden Globes 1998.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Golden Globes 1998 1 nomination- Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy (Supporting Actor) – Jon Voight
The Rainmaker Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Rainmaker.
How Well Do You Know The Rainmaker?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the role of Rudy Baylor in 'The Rainmaker'?
Cars in The Rainmaker
32 cars on screen, including the 1982 Toyota Starlet and the 1983 Volvo DL.
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1982 Toyota Starlet Important role -
1983 Volvo DL Important role -
1995 Cadillac Fleetwood Minor role -
1995 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role
The Rainmaker Also Known As
31 alternative titles, including “John Grisham's The Rainmaker” and “John Grishams Regnmakaren”.
- Also known as
-
- John Grisham's The Rainmaker
- John Grishams Regnmakaren
- 播雨者
- El Poder de la Justicia
- Der Regenmacher
- L'uomo della pioggia - The Rainmaker
- L'Idéaliste
- O Poder da Justiça
- Legítima defensa, de John Grisham
- Ударът
- Благодетель
- Az esőcsináló
+19 more Show fewer
- Vyvolávač deště
- 造雨人
- Ο Βροχοποιός
- レインメーカー
- מוריד הגשם
- O Homem Que Fazia Chover
- Yağmurcu
- Omul care aduce ploaia
- 레인메이커
- Čarodejník
- Zaklinacz deszczu
- Благодійник
- Mojster za dež
- Legítima Defensa
- Regnmakaren
- หักเขี้ยวเสือ
- 約翰葛里遜之造雨人
- Sateentekijä
- Luật Sư Tài Ba
Seen The Rainmaker?
Movies Like The Rainmaker
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Rainmaker, The Rainmaker and The Rain People.
The Rainmaker FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The Rainmaker, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Rainmaker?
The Rainmaker runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).
When was The Rainmaker released?
The Rainmaker was released on November 21, 1997.
Who directed The Rainmaker?
The Rainmaker was directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
More films by Francis Ford Coppola Who is in the cast of The Rainmaker?
The Rainmaker stars Matt Damon and Danny DeVito.
How much did The Rainmaker make at the box office?
The Rainmaker grossed $45.9 million worldwide.
How is The Rainmaker rated?
The Rainmaker has 72 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
Is The Rainmaker based on a book?
Yes. The Rainmaker is adapted from The Rainmaker by John Grisham.
Was The Rainmaker nominated for any awards?
The Rainmaker received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
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