Perry Mason Movies in Order & How Many Are There?
Perry Mason become famous through a TV show, but what made his worldwide popularity were movies. NBC aired from 1985 to 1995 a series of Perry Mason movies and in this article, we will let you know exactly how many movies are there and what is the best way to watch Perry Mason movies in order.
After a hiatus of nearly 20 years, Raymond Burr reprised his role as Los Angeles defense attorney Mason in a lot of television movies. Following Burr’s death in 1993, Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook starred in the remaining four television films that aired from 1993 to 1995, with Sorvino playing lawyer Anthony Caruso in the first of these and Holbrook playing “Wild Bill” McKenzie in the last three.
Let’s now find out exactly how many movies are there.
How many Perry Mason movies are there?
A total of 30 Perry Mason movies were made between 1985 and 1995, with Burr starring in 26. After Burr died in 1993, Paul Sorvino and Hal Holbrook starred in the final four telefilms from 1993 to 1995. These four films were presented as A Perry Mason Mystery, with Sorvino starring as Anthony Caruso in the first film and Holbrook starring as Bill “Wild Bill” McKenzie in the remaining three.
Now let’s see what these movies look like in order by the release date, we will also include the TV show which started it all.
- Perry Mason (1957–1966) – TV Show
- Perry Mason Returns (1985)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun (1986)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star (1986)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel (1987)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace (1988)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder (1989)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin (1989)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter (1990)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion (1991)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo (1992)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride (1992)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal (1993)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host (1993)
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives (1993)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (1994)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor (1994)
- A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester (1995)
- Perry Mason (2020– ) – TV Show
As you can see, there are a lot of Perry Mason movies and now even a new show is airing. So, let’s now see what is the best way to watch Perry Mason movies in order and what are they about.
Perry Mason movies in order
The best way to watch Perry Mason movies in order is by their release date. So, this list will be the same as above, only we will let you know what is every movie about. After that, we will let you know do you need to watch Perry Mason movies in order and if can we expect more Perry Mason movies in the future.
Perry Mason Returns (1985)
Della Street, who is now the secretary of a wealthy businessman, is framed for her boss’ murder. To defend her, Perry Mason resigns from his position as an appellate judge and becomes a defense attorney again. First appearance of William Katt as Paul Drake, Jr.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun (1986)
A young priest, brought in by the archbishop to look for signs of embezzlement in the archdiocese, is found stabbed in his hotel room. Sister Margaret, a young nun who has been assisting him, is accused of the murder.
The archbishop asks old friend, Perry Mason, already secretly assisting in the financial investigation, to defend Sister Margaret.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star (1986)
Actor/Director Robert McCay is jealous of the time actress Kate Huntley is spending with talk-show host Steve Carr. He decides to “prank” Carr by shooting at him on his show on live television with a gun loaded with blanks.
However, the gun is loaded with live ammo and he unwittingly kills Carr. Producer Sidney (the last name not given) recruits old law school friend Perry Mason to defend McCay, but Mason, a personal friend of Carr’s wife, is worried about a conflict of interest.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love (1987)
An old flame of Mason’s is to fill a vacated government position. Her husband is approached by a man who says he knows his wife had a nervous breakdown seven years prior.
The husband, believing mental illness is something to be stigmatized, foolishly allows himself to be blackmailed, believing if his wife’s former medical condition should ever be released, her appointment will not go through. When the husband goes to the man with the blackmail money, the husband finds him dead, and he is arrested for the crime and tried.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (1987)
Perry’s publisher friend Jordan White is called to a hotel that famous horror writer David Hall has cleared out for a weekend and called his “friends”–his private assistant, an actress, a fortune-teller, and the two remaining hotel staffers, to discuss business. All of them want to sue David over his new book “The Resort,” whose characters are obviously based on Jordan and the guests.
Practical joker David plays tricks on them until he’s thrown from the hotel’s high tower. Susan Warrenfield, owner and manager of the hotel, witnesses the fall and sees Jordan at the tower, and Jordan is arrested. While Perry and Della try to solve the main mystery, Paul tries to learn who’s trying to scare Susan away from her hotel: a ghost, or a more earthly visitor.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987)
Della meets up with an old friend, a child that she used to babysit, and she and Perry are invited to meet the friend’s new wife, Suzanne. Meanwhile, Suzanne rents out her house to four gentlemen, who are having a meeting about a plan that could get them all rich, little realizing that Suzanne is taping the whole conversation.
Suzanne holds out for more money from her “client” before giving up the tape, and is found murdered, and the tape gone. As Perry, Della, and Paul start to help the friend (who discovered the body, and hence is the prime suspect), they discover that Suzanne used to be a Madam of a “certain kind of house”, that the four “meeting” takes great pains to cover up their business, and that Suzanne’s past may have caught up with her.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel (1987)
Perry is suing a gutter-trash newspaper that is running a story about a love affair between him and Della. The editor also has “dirt” files on an Army General, his banker, and other “clients”. All of them make little-concealed verbal threats to him at a party, but the person who hated him most is a female reporter the editor had just fired from the paper for attempting to write a serious story.
Soon after she threatens him, he’s found floating in his pool, shot. The reporter is arrested for the crime and Perry, who has a personal stake in the matter, sets out with Della and Paul to solve the mystery. But the other suspects just want the case to be over and will go to any lengths to protect their secrets.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace (1988)
Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Parks was arrested and convicted for a murder of a woman and is trying to appeal for the second time when one of the first appeal lawyers, Perry, finds a new witness for the defense. The witness is threatened and then murdered to stop him from giving his evidence and Perry, Della and Paul started to investigate.
The main victim was very popular with the Airmen and was employed by a real estate company that was conducting a deal with the Base over a plot of land and this causes the number of suspects and motives to rise. Paul tries to find the witness’s killer and he and Capt. O’Malley are a threat to its future…
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988)
A tennis player is accused of having killed his wife, a rich heiress. The facts are against him as he was seen in the arms of his former girlfriend on the night before the murder. This is the case for Perry Mason.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989)
Ken Malinsky is a law student attending a class taught by Perry Mason. When a friend tells him that his girlfriend was assaulted by a fellow student, Ken rushes to the university’s mock courtroom to confront him and finds him dead.
The murder weapon was Ken’s own knife. Perry is reluctant to take on his case, especially since the victim was the son of a close friend.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder (1989)
In this episode, Perry Mason defends a young theatre director who is accused to have killed a famous director of a Broadway musical.
Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin (1989)
Thatcher Horton is the owner of a Denver sports arena and a couple of sports teams. Bobby Spencer a friend of Ken was one of his hockey players. It seems that Horton verbally promised him that he would take care of him if he gets injured, which happened. Now it seems that Horton is reneging and he has asked Ken to represent him in his suit against Horton.
Bobby threatened Horton and not long after that Horton was killed and the murder weapon was found in Bobby’s possession. So Perry comes to help defend Bobby. It seems that Horton was not liked by other people including his wife and son, and it also seems that the killer was a professional assassin, so did one of them hire him?
Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen (1990)
The chief suspects in the murder of an author are the numerous colleagues whom he continuously plagiarized.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception (1990)
Perry Mason must defend the son of an old friend who is accused of killing an ex-officer of the Nazi SS.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer (1990)
Perry Mason defends the husband of a famous pop singer who was found shot to death after having had an argument with her husband who was also her manager.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Defiant Daughter (1990)
A teenager from Las Vegas asks Perry Mason to defend her father who is accused of killing a notorious blackmailer who drove her uncle to suicide.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Ruthless Reporter (1991)
Perry is at the TV station “KGGY” to be interviewed but thanks to the interference of the main anchor-person Brett Huston the interview is pulled. Mostly everybody hates Brett as Brett knows all the station workers’ secrets. He has also written a memo insulting all of the main station players – Vic St. John – the station manager, Twyla Cooper – the producer, Chuck Gilmore – the sports reporter, Gary Slate – the weatherman, Cassie Woodfield – the reporter and Gillian Pope.
Brett is shot dead with Gillian’s gun and therefore she is arrested for the crime. Gillian calls in Perry, Della and Ken to investigate. As Della and Perry set out to solve the mystery, Ken gets close to Cassie but she is a suspect and when it appears that somebody is trying to kill her, the mystery deepens…
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991)
A gangster who has committed all kinds of crimes is accused to have killed his wife. As he was not the murderer in this case Perry Mason intents to find the killer…
Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin (1991)
David Katz is a world-famous magician who comes to Denver with his troupe to perform in a charity benefitting disabled children. Also, there are Perry and Della, as all three are supporters of the charity. Kate Ford, an assistant with an arrogant attitude, tells David that she is, from now on, going to be the star of an illusion in which an assistant is raised in a glass coffin only to disappear when the coffin is opened up in mid-air (while the assistant climbs out before the coffin is raised).
After a one-night stand with David, Kate is pregnant and decides to blackmail David. Katz and his wife Judy can’t have children so this comes as a double blow to them. However, Kate’s attitude creates much animosity from the rest of the troupe. At the gala, the glass coffin is raised but when it opens Kate’s dead body falls to the ground – strangled. While Perry and Della set out to find the killer, Ken and PI Terry Weidner set out to find out more about Kate. and discover that, for some reason, nobody in Kate’s hometown is willing to talk about her…
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion (1991)
An editor of a fashion magazine writes a column that destroys careers. She is also a brutal employer. An editor of a rival magazine visits, asking she not to be the next victim. The first is found dead and the rival is charged with murder.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992)
A painter fakes his death, in order to gain some additional money, because his works would revaluate with his death. But, unfortunately, he is killed a few hours after having “returned to life”.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo (1992)
Sleazy talk show host Ted Mayne has a tell-all book that enrages prominent women. One, actress Roxanne Shield, makes a televised death threat. Ted is murdered and she is charged. Witnesses say they saw her outside his apartment that night.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Heartbroken Bride (1992)
Perry Mason is invited to the marriage of the daughter of an old friend of his. But before the end of the ceremony, the uncle of the groom is found dead. Certainly, this is the case for Perry Mason.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Skin-Deep Scandal (1993)
Alana, a maverick owner of a cosmetics company, reveals she’s 60. She’s kept her age a secret and credits the cream for her youthful appearance. She’s murdered and the formula is missing. Her husband is arrested and Perry defends him.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host (1993)
Dr. Sheila Carlin is good friends with Della who calls Perry in when she is being pestered by someone. On the theory that it could be somebody that she works with at radio stations, she arranges for Perry to be interviewed by Winslow Keene who is also the station’s owner. Winslow enrages the rest of the talk show hosts on the station by informing them of changes that he is making to their time slots.
That night, Winslow is shot by a hitman hired by someone at the station, and Sheila is set up for the murder. She calls in Perry and as usual Perry, Della and Ken swing into action to find out who really did it…
Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993)
When a popular soap opera actor dies from an on-camera kiss, Mason finds he must not save his client but also solve the mystery of a 28-year-old murder mystery.
Note: This was the last to be filmed with Raymond Burr prior to his death; it was aired posthumously two and a half months after his passing. An in-memory note for Raymond Burr appeared at the end of the film.
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives (1993)
After a photo shoot featuring his exes, a fashion photographer Eric Braeden is blinded by camera flashes and stabbed with a sword. Past secrets of his marriages make the exes all prime suspects.
Note: To address the death of Raymond Burr, Perry Mason is addressed as being out of town for the remaining films.
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle (1994)
Bill McKenzie is a retired lawyer who prefers to spend time working on his ranch. But he occasionally takes on a case wherein the defendant is wrongfully convicted or falsely accused, and he’s a friend of Perry Mason. Mason asks him to fill in for him at something wherein he is supposed to give a speech. At the thing are some important people including a chess master whom McKenzie knows.
Also, there is a sleazy interviewer who is forcing the chess player to be on his show when he refused, and when the interviewer is found dead, the chess player is arrested, and McKenzie defends him. Della Street and Ken Malansky offer their assistance, and McKenzie tries to find out who had the motive to kill the man.
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Grimacing Governor (1994)
When gubernatorial candidate Harlan Richards is murdered, the suspicions fall on the incumbent Governor Ryan Allison but when he, too, is murdered the plot thickens.
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester (1995)
Bill McKenzie’s niece works as a production assistant for controversial television personality Josie Joplin, who publicly accuses her of having an affair with her husband.
One night McKenzie’s niece receives a message which she believes is from Josie to go to her hotel room, when she gets there someone knocks her out and when she wakes up, Josie is dead and she’s the number one suspect, so McKenzie defends her.
Do you need to watch Perry Mason movies in order?
You don’t really need to watch Perry Mason movies in order as more or less every story is standalone. That said, there are a few movies with connected character developments, like from Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss, the last movie with the late Raymond Burr, to A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Wicked Wives, where they address the death of Raymond Burr, Perry Mason is said to be out of town for the remaining films.
Will there be more Perry Mason movies in the future?
There are currently no announcements for a new Perry Mason movie. That said, the Perry Mason TV show is currently airing, with the second season coming in 2022.
