The Best Episodes of the Old ‘Matlock’ with Andy Griffith, Ranked

As far as courtroom procedurals go, the original Matlock is one of the most beloved of all time. It has generations of fans who either watched it as it aired in the late ’80s and early ’90s, or watched it in syndication over the past three decades. Following the resounding success of CBS’ 2024 version of Matlock starring Kathy Bates, which has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, many new viewers have taken an interest in the classic show that inspired her character’s name.

Taking many of its cues from the 1957 legal drama Perry Mason (which got its own remake), the original Matlock stars Andy Griffith as the titular Atlanta-based defense attorney with a curmudgeonly personality, a penchant for hot dogs, and an uncanny ability to expose guilty persons on the witness stand. With his $100,000 fee (over $275,000 in 2025) and iconic gray Ford Crown Victoria, Ben Matlock is known for his thriftiness and is even willing to take on some pro bono cases when the circumstances fall for it.

Ben works alongside his daughter Charlene (Linda Purl), associates like Tyler Hudson (Kene Holliday), and others who rotate in throughout the seasons. Ben manages to defend the innocent — or at the very least create reasonable doubt — through his own investigations and often reveals the true perpetrators in dramatic courtroom fashion. Created by Dean Hargrove, who also worked on the 1970s police procedural Columbo, Matlock aired for nine seasons from 1986 to 1995, with a total of 193 episodes. Its success is obvious not only due to its lengthy run, but because of its enduring legacy. These are the best episodes of Matlock.

10. The Getaway

Season 9, Episode 9

In “The Getaway,” Ben defends an ex-con who is accused of robbing a bank he had once stolen from in the past. However, the only way to prove his client’s innocence is through the eyewitness testimony of a 12-year-old boy, Matt Ahern (Adam LaVorgna), who saw the person that really committed the crime. The problem? Matt won’t agree to appear at the trial unless Matlock agrees to represent his father, Joe Ahern (Jay Acovone), who is accused of murder.

While Ben often runs circles around criminals, witnesses, and his colleagues, “The Getaway” is particularly fun because his usual ease is disrupted by none other than a little boy. Because Ben needs the kid’s testimony to win his case, Matt has all the leverage and he knows it — and knows how to use it to his advantage. It’s just delightful to watch Matlock deal with the kid.

9. The Foursome

Season 6, Episode 11

Ben represents a golfer named Ellis Blake (Mitchell Ryan) in “The Foursome,” a wealthy and unlikable man who is accused of killing his blackmailing caddy (who also happens to be his daughter’s fiance, whom he greatly disapproves of). Proving Blake’s innocence is complicated by the fact that the murder victim was killed with Blake’s gun and was found with the $10,000 Blake had offered him.

To make matters worse, there is a new Deputy D.A. in town, Lauren Richmond (Amy Stoch), who is determined to win her first case and defeat the seemingly infallible Ben Matlock all in one fell swoop. The overwhelming evidence against Blake and Richmond’s tenacity make Matlock’s job more difficult than he could have prepared for. He even accuses the D.A. of misconduct in the case despite the risk that he might get disbarred. It’s an especially feisty and tense episode of the show.

8. The Capital Offense

Season 8, Episode 7

“The Capital Offense” sees Ben take on the case of Adam Spangler (Rob Roy Fitzgerald), a man who has been sentenced to death after being convicted of murder. He swears to his innocence, and there are enough inconsistencies in the case that Ben is willing to represent him. The investigation becomes more and more tense as the date of Adam’s execution nears, though Ben does uncover evidence to suggest the man was set up — he and the team just have to prove it before time runs out.

The ticking clock in this episode adds an extra layer of tension. Viewers are used to Ben solving cases and successfully defending the innocent, but the question here is how fast he can do it. In a show’s eighth season, it can be difficult to find new aspects to explore, but Matlock achieves it in “The Capital Offense.”

7. The Confession

Season 9, Episode 7

In this episode, Ben’s friend (and one-time love interest), Prosecutor Julie March (Julie Sommars), returns to town for a law seminar and finds herself in need of help. While reconnecting with Ben, Julie receives a phone call from someone who once testified for her in a murder trial where a robber was accused of killing a woman while burglarizing her home. The man on the phone reveals that he lied on the witness stand and the person she convicted is innocent. Julie convinces Ben to take on the case and defend the man that she mistakenly sent to prison.

“The Confession” is an episode of note because it marks the return of a popular character. Julie left the show in Season 6 after Matlock switched networks from NBC to ABC and the actress opted not to continue. However, viewers were never given a good explanation for the character’s abrupt exit, and here we get a bit of closure. Ben also gets the unique opportunity to right a wrong and free an innocent man while helping out a friend.

6. The D.A.

Season 4, Episode 22

“The D.A.” is another episode that revolves around Julie March, though it’s much earlier in the series. After she successfully convicts a man accused of killing his wife’s lover, the man’s brother begins threatening her and not long afterward she becomes the target of stalking. Ben and his associate Conrad McMasters (Clarence Gilyard) begin investigating and discover that the stalker is someone else entirely — and someone they all know.

Episodes that focus on characters that viewers know and love are always especially exciting because the stakes are higher and the audience is more invested in the outcome than they would be in a typical run-of-the-mill case. Plus, the creepiness factor is at an all-time high with Julie’s stalker, lending the episode a darker feel than most.

5. The Outcast: Parts 1 & 2

Season 6, Episode 14 & 15

“The Outcast” is one of several two-part episodes throughout Matlock, which already indicates that it’s a more in-depth story than a usual episode. Ben uncharacteristically fumbled one of his cases — forgetting his client’s name in court — and has decided to retire from law. He goes on a spontaneous fishing trip to get some space. However, not long after his arrival, a man whom Ben offered a ride to ends up dead in a suspicious accident and he can’t help himself but to investigate.

The stakes get even higher when the locals that Ben is investigating begin conspiring against him, which nearly results in his death. Later, his loyal associate Conrad goes undercover to assist and Ben is framed for shooting him. “The Outcast” is especially exciting for viewers on several levels: Ben has uncharacteristically failed a client, threatened to leave the job everyone knows he’s meant to do, and is himself accused of a crime he didn’t commit.

4. The Dare

Season 9, Episode 4

In an especially intriguing episode of Matlock, “The Outside,” a cocky (and creepy) millionaire named Malcolm Engle, played by Terry O’Quinn, who would go on to win an Emmy for his role on Lost decades later, calls Ben and dares him that he can’t solve the perfect murder. Soon after, Ben’s friend, Lt. Bob Brooks (David Froman), is killed and it’s up to Matlock to prove that Malcolm is responsible. An extra special guest star — a gray tabby cat named Mo — is at the center of Malcolm’s alibi.

In this situation, not only must Ben rise to Malcolm’s challenge to prove that he’s as good as he seems to be, but he’s also trying to get justice for his friend and take a dangerous killer off the streets. The pressure is on in this high-stakes game of cat and mouse — pun intended — as Ben is put to the ultimate test.

3. The Judge

Season 1, Episode 2

In “The Judge,” Ben’s daughter Charlene wants him to take on a pro bono case of a man accused of killing his girlfriend, Joanne Leigh (Bobbie Eakes), but claims he returned from a shower to find her stabbed to death. Despite the evidence against him, including being found holding the murder weapon, Kevin Meredith (Brian Lane Green) swears he’s being framed. When the presiding judge (who also happens to be Matlock’s buddy) appears, it’s revealed to the audience that he is the real murderer. Matlock gets a strange feeling when Judge Carter Addison tries to get him to pass the case off to an up-and-coming defense attorney “as a favor.” When word comes out that the victim’s secret older lover favors the same drink and smoke as the judge, Matlock must prove his friend’s guilt.

Not only is it a fascinating twist to involve the judge on a case in the crime itself, but Ben’s determination to find the truth even if it destroys a longheld friendship is a great representation of his character and dedication to his job. Following the TV movie that kickstarted Matlock, “The Judge” is the very first regular episode of the show and sets the tone for the rest of the series. Additionally, Judge Addison is played by the legendary Dick Van Dyke, who later became the oldest ever Emmy winner at age 98. It is a treat for viewers who get to watch these two acting juggernauts and real-life friends play off each other in one of their rare appearances together.

2. The Heist

Season 9, Episode 14

In “The Heist,” Ben and his assistant Jerri Stone (Carol Huston) are invited on a trip with Ben’s associate Cliff Lewis (Daniel Roebuck) and his father, Ben’s longtime frenemy, Billy Lewis (Warren Frost). The group rents a beach house, and while Cliff is busy training for a triathlon and Billy is busy scoping out a woman, Ben happens to run into an old friend, Ed Wingate (J. Kenneth Campbell). Ed is an FBI agent on an undercover operation, but soon, one of the people he is investigating turns up dead and it’s up to Ben to defend his old friend.

The return of an old character gives “The Heist” a bit of pep and adds to the themes of friendship and family support that provide the backdrop of the episode. Rather than tying the story up with a bow as Matlock usually does at the end of a case, there is a bit of mystery left at the end of this story, giving it an extra level of intrigue.

1. The Kidnapping: Parts 1 & 2

Season 8, Episodes 12/13

In one of the most thrilling episodes of Matlock, abductors attempt to kidnap Ben’s oldest daughter Leanne McIntyre (Brynn Thayer), who joins his team in Season 7. The kidnappers mistakenly grab Billy Lewis instead of Leanne, but are intent on getting a hefty ransom from Ben Matlock. One of the people sent to handle the case is FBI agent Ed Wingate (who reappears in Season 9 in “The Heist,” as previously mentioned), and no one seems to be a fan of his ostentatious personality.

While Ed is busy trying to rescue Billy, one of his fellow agents (and rivals) is killed. Ed is set up to take the fall, forcing Ben and Leanne to defend him from a murder charge. Hiding from the police, Ed continuously dons various disguises so he can deliver evidence to Ben with evidence that he thinks will clear his name. As Ben investigates Ed’s case, he also finds a link between Billy’s kidnapping and an FBI agent who kidnapped a little boy.

The stakes are at their highest in “The Kidnapping.” Rather than watching Ben clean up the mess after a crime has been committed, audiences witness him use his cunning in an ongoing situation to help save well-known characters from danger. The infighting in the FBI, frame jobs, and cover-ups involved in this multi-layered case bring a new level of excitement to this expertly crafted two-part episode, earning it the title of Matlock‘s best.