Semi-Tough was made into a very successful film starring Burt Reynolds as Billy Clyde, Kris Kristofferson as Shake Tiller, and Jill Clayburgh as Barbara Jane Bookman. It was released in 1977 to generally favorable reviews.

The only reservation that critics expressed was that the film was less an adaptation of the novel and more a vehicle for Burt Reynolds's brand of arch comedy. There was a television situation comedy adaptation of SemiTough that did not last a full season.