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The Pelican Brief

Play trailer Poster for The Pelican Brief PG-13 Released Dec 17, 1993 2h 21m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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55% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 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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The Pelican Brief

The Pelican Brief

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Quentin Crisp Christopher Street The movie has a foolish ending, but it is worth seeing. May 26, 2022 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Darren C Old school government conspiracy thriller movie 101. Exploding cars. Check. Chase scene through hotel kitchen. Check. Chase scene through crowds of people in famous landmark area. Check. Dodgy President. Check. Weird romantic style ending. Check. Great actors being a bit average. Check check check! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Matteo G Amazing movie, fantastic actors, great plot.. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/19/25 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
The Pelican Brief

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Cast & Crew

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Alan J. Pakula

Director

Julia Roberts

Darby Shaw

Denzel Washington

Gray Grantham

Sam Shepard

Thomas Callahan

John Heard

Gavin Vereek

Tony Goldwyn

Fletcher Coal

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The Pelican Brief

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Movie Info

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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