Claim: Donald Sutherland is in A Time to Kill as an actor.

A Time to Kill is a 1996 American crime drama film adaptation of John Grisham 's 1989 novel of the same name , directed by Joel Schumacher . Sandra Bullock , Samuel L. Jackson , Matthew McConaughey , and Kevin Spacey star , with Oliver Platt , Ashley Judd , Kiefer and Donald Sutherland , and Patrick McGoohan appearing in supporting roles . Set in Canton , Mississippi , the film involves the rape of a young girl , the arrest of the rapists , their subsequent murder by the girl 's father , and the father 's trial for murder . The film was a critical and commercial success , making $ 152 million at the worldwide box office .