Elmore Leonard is one of the most prolific and acclaimed American authors of all time. Leonard is known for his pulpy and entertaining stories, usually set in the Western genre or the crime genre. Though the world sadly lost this great writing talent in 2013, he left behind a stunning body of work to enjoy.
Given his skill at crafting unique and thrilling stories, it's not surprising that many of Leonard's novels and short stories have been adapted for the big and small screen. While not all of those adaptions are worthy of the author, some capture the magic of his prose wonderfully. Here are the best Elmore Leonard adaptations, ranked.
10 Life Of Crime
Life of Crime is based on Leonard's 1973 novel The Switch. The story revolves around two criminals who kidnap the wife of a corrupt real-estate mogul and demand ransom. They find themselves in an unusual predicament when the husband shows no interest in her safe return.
Mos Def and John Hawkes make for a fun duo as the would-be criminals (and these characters appear again in another Leonard adaptation, Jackie Brown). They are joined by Jennifer Anniston, Tim Robbins and Isla Fisher who all give fun performances in this dark comedic romp
9 The Tall T
The Tall T was Leonard's very first Hollywood adaption and stands the test of time as a fun and exciting Western adventure. Based on Leonard's story The Captive, this film follows a rancher who, along with a pair of newlyweds, is taken hostage by a gang of outlaws looking to rob a stagecoach.
The simple story makes for a tense and gripping story without ever feeling dull. Leonard's ability to great exciting scenarios from small ideas makes this a Western gem worth seeking out.
8 Get Shorty (TV Series)
Leonard seems to enjoy showing criminal and violent characters in an environment where they seemingly do not belong. That is the basic premise for the series Get Shorty, which is based on Leonard's novel of the same name.
Chris O'Dowd stars as a mob enforcer who attempts to change his life around by partnering with a washed-up Hollywood producer (Ray Romano) to get into the movie-making business. Though it changes a lot about the source material, the series still captures that magic of violence and comedy Leonard does so well.
7 3:10 To Yuma (1957)
3:10 to Yuma is another classic Western from 1957 based on a short story of the same name by Leonard. The expanded story follows a struggling small-town rancher who takes a job helping to transport a dangerous outlaw to a train that will deliver him to prison.
The movie is a suspenseful and rich Western adventure made more interesting by the two central characters. The interplay between the family man trying to provide for his family and the complex outlaw are as interesting as the gunfights.
6 Hombre
Leonard's writing helped deliver another fantastic Western adventure featuring one of Paul Newman's most entertaining performances. Newman plays a man who was raised by Native Americans which has made him an outsider among the rest of the community. But when a stagecoach filled with passengers becomes threatened by outlaws, he becomes their only hope for survival.
Once again, Leonard's story provides as much excitement in its quieter moments as it does in the action sequences. Newman makes for a complex and unique hero which helps separate the film from other Western adventures.
5 3:10 To Yuma (2007)
Leonard's short story got an updated retelling with this 2007 version of 3:10 to Yuma. This James Mangold-directed film stars Christian Bale as the down-on-his-luck rancher who joins a posse to deliver an outlaw (Russell Crowe) to justice.
Though it is a remake of the 1957 version, this film maintains much of the spirit of Leonard's story. The increased action and colorful ensemble make for a more exciting adventure that is still more clever than the average Western action film. Bale and Crowe also prove to be a solid duo.
4 Get Shorty (Film)
Though his stories can be known for their violence and intensity, you can also always expect a lot of humor in Leonard's stories. Get Shorty is one of his funniest novels and this 1995 adaptation maintains a lot of that great humor.
John Travolta plays Chilli Palmer, a movie-loving wise guy who decides to get into the movie-making business. Along with Travolta's charismatic lead performance, the movie features Rene Russo, Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, and Danny DeVito all doing great work with their entertaining characters. It is a wonderful clashing of organized crime and the mayhem of Hollywood.
3 Jackie Brown
Quentin Tarantino is a filmmaker known for creating his own original scripts, but even he could not resist tackling some of Leonard's material. Jackie Brown is an electrifying crime comedy based on Leonard's novel Rum Punch.
Pam Grier stars as the titular flight attendant who, after getting busted by the DEA, is tasked with selling out her gun-running boss (Samuel L. Jackson). Grier is pitch-perfect as the badass lead and Jackson gives one of his funniest performances. Along with great work from Robert De Niro and Robert Forrester, this is a perfect blend of Leonard and Tarantino.
2 Out Of Sight
Leonard has the unique talent of creating ultra-cool stories that just put a smile on your face. That talent was on full display with his novel Out of Sight which was adapted into one of the coolest movies of all time.
Steven Soderberg directs this crime comedy which stars George Clooney as a bank robber who escapes from prison and forms a bond with the U.S. Marshal who is pursuing him, played by Jennifer Lopez. The movie is funny, sexy, exciting and clever with terrific performances from the cast and is endless re-watchable.
1 Justified (TV Series)
The character of Raylan Givens is one of the coolest characters Leonard has ever created. Along with starring in a could of his novel, Givens is the center of his short story "Fire in the Hole", which served as the basis for the first episode of Justified.
Timothy Olyphant stars as Given, a U.S. Marshal sent to rural Kentucky where he must contend with the local criminal element, including former family and friends. Though only the first episode directly draws from Leonard's work, the entire series is alive with his style. From the humor to the characters to the storylines, it all feels right at home in one of Leonard's wonderful stories.
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