Ranking Every TV Show Adaptation of John Grisham’s Bestselling Novels!

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John Grisham stands as an exemplary figure of literary success. Primarily known for his gripping legal thrillers, he has enjoyed an astounding career, authoring 37 consecutive number-one bestsellers. In total, his books have been snapped up by readers worldwide to the tune of 300 million copies. Today, Grisham joins the ranks of only three English authors – Tom Clancy and J.K. Rowling among them – who have sold two million copies in their initial publishing rounds.

It’s logical that Grisham writes about law, given his background as a former lawyer. He spent a significant portion of the 1970s practicing law, and later, he was elected as a Democrat to the Mississippi House of Representatives, serving from 1983 until 1990.

As recounted in the book titled “Mississippi Politics: The Struggle for Power” by Jerry Nash and Andy Target, it was after Grisham’s chosen candidate for House speakership failed that he chose to focus on writing books instead. With the new speaker assigning him only minor committee positions, Grishman found himself with ample spare time. Later, Grisham admitted that if his candidate had been elected speaker, he may have received more significant committee assignments and, as a result, would not have had the opportunity to write.

The author not only consistently sees strong book sales but is often approached by Hollywood as well. From “The Pelican Brief” to “The Rainmaker,” many of his works have been successfully adapted for film. Some of his stories have also made their way to television, and here’s how the adaptations compare with each other.

3
‘The Client’ (1995 – 1996)

Regardless of the obstacles that come her way, attorney Reggie Love (JoBeth Williams) is always seen with a smile. However, the situations she finds herself in during ‘The Client’ test her natural cheerfulness, particularly when she must shield a young boy from those intent on his harm. The show’s character Mark Sway (John Heard), who faces elimination after witnessing a lawyer’s suicide linked to the mob and discovering the location of a senator’s remains, becomes Reggie’s charge. She tirelessly works to protect him as he navigates these dangerous circumstances.

A Decent Show, Eclipsed by a Better Big-Screen Adaptation

Moving, startling, and just as life-affirming, “The Client” offers a thoughtful glimpse into everyday thriller life. As always, Reggie shows compassion by attempting to shield Mark, but will she manage? Notably, JoBeth Williams delivers a career-enhancing performance in this role, and even in the most unappealing part, John Heard gives an outstanding performance.

“The Client” is a moving, surprising, and inspiring thriller that makes you think about everyday life. Reggie tries to protect Mark as she always does, but it’s uncertain if she can succeed. JoBeth Williams delivers an impressive career-boosting performance in this film, while John Heard gives a top-notch performance in an unlikable role.

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The program additionally functions as a criticism of the justice system, expressing concern over the mishandling of young witnesses. Ideally, the state should safeguard Mark, but it falls upon Reggie to do so. Moral quandaries are also posed as we witness Reggie performing numerous actions beyond what’s typically acceptable, all in the name of righteousness.

Instead, a more engaging retelling of this tale can be found in Joel Schumacher’s 1994 film with the same title, featuring Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon. This movie adaptation earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress (Susan Sarandon), and grossed an impressive $114 million at the box office. In contrast, the television version failed to reach the heights of the ratings chart.

2
‘The Firm’ (2011 – 2012)

The TV adaptation of “The Firm” continues the story from both the book and the film featuring Tom Cruise. Ten years have passed since Mitchell Y. McDeere (played by Josh Lucas) assisted in bringing down the Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert & Locke, which was protecting a Chicago mafia organization. Now, McDeere is trying to start anew after leaving witness protection and establishing his own law firm, Kinross & Clark. However, another suspicious law firm seeks to take over his company, while at the same time, the son of the deceased mob boss plans to exact revenge on Mitch.

An Intriguing Bonus Tale

The NBC series, while not meant to surpass the movie, aimed to deliver an equally engaging experience. Interestingly, Grisham himself contributed to the scriptwriting for the first four episodes, ensuring a seamless narrative flow – something that comes as no surprise. All in all, the show was skillfully managed. Lukas Reiter, the showrunner, brought a wealth of experience to the table, having previously worked on shows like Law & Order, The Practice, and Boston Legal, which deal with similar material.

The television series was terminated following its first season, while the movie earned an impressive $270 million worldwide, marking it as the most successful John Grisham adaptation. It’s possible that the show might have attracted more viewers if a more renowned actor had been cast as the Harvard-educated lawyer. Josh Lucas delivers an outstanding performance, but his fame might not be sufficient to entice casual viewers to this type of series.

It might have been more engaging if the book had a higher emphasis on suspense rather than legal proceedings, making “The Firm” seem like an extended episode of “Law & Order”. The frustrating cliffhanger ending could leave you annoyed, but consider how John Grisham envisioned the story’s conclusion.

Even though it might be beneficial to watch the Tom Cruise movie prior, don’t let that deter any potential viewers. The show can stand on its own, as the first episode provides a summary of past events, and the storyline flows smoothly from thereon.

1
‘The Innocent Man’ (2018)

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I’ve always been drawn to John Grisham’s captivating fiction works. However, amidst his impressive literary career, he’s also penned some engrossing true-crime books. One such masterpiece, “The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town,” was brought to life on the small screen as a documentary series in 2018.

The story “The Innocent Man” details the unfortunate case of Ronald ‘Ron’ Keith Williamson from Ada, Oklahoma, a previous Major League Baseball player who was mistakenly convicted in 1988 for the sexual assault and murder of Debra Sue Carter. He was handed down a death sentence but eventually won his freedom upon being cleared by DNA evidence following over a decade behind bars.

The Netflix series emphasizes the errors committed by the police and district attorney’s office through stories about the courtroom drama, wrongful conviction, and sentencing of Karl Fontenot and Tommy Ward in connection with the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Denice Haraway, and also the case of Greg Wilhoit who was wrongfully accused of raping and killing his estranged wife, Kathy.

Targeting the System

There’s no crime series quite like “The Innocent Man“. It exposes flaws within the justice system in an engaging manner without coming off as overly didactic. Readers of John Grisham will appreciate its faithful adaptation of his work. With spine-tingling sound effects and meticulous storytelling, it’s a show that might just make you forget about dinner altogether.

The documentary series strikes a chord with everyone who watches due to its focus on everyday people – friends, relatives, even ex-convicts. Their difficult journeys could happen to anyone. It’s challenging to find anything wrong with it, and any minor issues would hardly matter compared to the valuable insights you gain.

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2025-01-30 05:02