The Pelican Brief

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The Pelican Brief

PG-13

1993

2h 21m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

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52 Reviews

61%

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50,000+ Ratings

Taut thriller about a young law student whose legal brief about the assassination of two Supreme Court justices causes her to be targeted by killers. She realizes just how accurate her accusations have been when her lover and mentor is murdered. Forced to go on the run in New Orleans, she is aided by a journalist who helps her unravel a conspiracy involving senior government figures.

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Critics Consensus

Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington are a compelling team in the overlong Pelican Brief, a pulpy thriller that doesn't quite justify the intellectual remove of Alan J. Pakula's direction.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Pakula's always had a cool style, tending toward solemnity, but let's face it, All the President's Men this movie is not. You wish he'd have a little more fun with the pulpy material.

May 3, 2018

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

It's too bad that Pakula allows this 1993 movie to dawdle after its climax, but prior to that he's adept at suggesting unseen menace and keeping things in motion.

Mar 30, 2009

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Brian Lowry

Variety

Pakula has improved on Grisham's book by excising much of the detritus, crafting a taut, intelligent thriller that succeeds on almost every level.

Nov 5, 2008

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John Ferguson

Radio Times

The two leads are fine, but the real coup is the depth of talent in the supporting cast - Sam Shepard and John Heard are among those delivering killer cameos, but everyone is eclipsed by Robert Culp's witty portrayal of a shifty president.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 25, 2024

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Quentin Crisp

Christopher Street

The movie has a foolish ending, but it is worth seeing.

May 26, 2022

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Not on par with Alan J. Pakula's preeminent paranoid cinema. But depicting a POTUS at odds with his FBI director and creating obstruction of justice concerns aligns it with Pakula's other preternaturally predictive potboilers.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 24, 2019

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Darren C

Old school government 'conspiracy thriller movie 101'. - Exploding cars. Check - Chase scene through a hotel kitchen tipping over serving trays to slow down the bad guys. Check - Panic scene with crowds of people in famous landmark area. Check - Dodgy US President (how relevant!). Check - Awkwardly weird romantic style ending. Check - Great actors being a bit average and overly dramatic. Check check check!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

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Matteo G

Amazing movie, fantastic actors, great plot..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/25

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Nisha Y

I just wrote a thoughtful and long review but the page lost it :( This is a rich film, still relevant today and with a masterly pacing that is lacking in current films and unfortunately is why so many people dismiss this one. Real change happens with dedicated resolve, that's what the Pelican Brief illustrates. The half star missing is for a couple of moments of clunky dialogue delivery from Roberts and Shepard. Despite that, the film hits greatness on many levels. In particular, the main female character is treated in a way that is scarce in films, especially in films set in male dominated arenas such as politics. It's worth watching just for that.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

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Eye C

The couple of Roberts/Washington is amazing. The story is so entertaining. One of my favorite of my long gone youth.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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Garry A

I started watching this passively while I was looking at my phone. It has It's moments but it's too long and a little hard to follow sometimes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

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Guillaume D

What a dud. I was waiting for something to happen in this movie... 'till the end. None of it makes much sense, this thing cannot make a choice between a non-functioning chase movie, and a non-functioning thriller.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

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Alan J. Pakula

Director

Julia Roberts

Darby Shaw

Denzel Washington

Gray Grantham

Sam Shepard

Thomas Callahan

John Heard

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Tony Goldwyn

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Synopsis

Taut thriller about a young law student whose legal brief about the assassination of two Supreme Court justices causes her to be targeted by killers. She realizes just how accurate her accusations have been when her lover and mentor is murdered. Forced to go on the run in New Orleans, she is aided by a journalist who helps her unravel a conspiracy involving senior government figures.

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Producer: Alan J. Pakula, Pieter Jan Brugge
Screenwriter: Alan J. Pakula
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 28, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $100.7M
Runtime: 2h 21m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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