The Pelican Brief (1993): cast, story & where to watch
1993 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1993, The Pelican Brief is an action, thriller, drama and crime film directed by Alan J. Pakula, running about 141 minutes. “Two Supreme Court Justices have been assassinated. One lone law student has stumbled upon the truth. An investigative journalist wants her story. Everybody else wants her dead.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A law student's theory about the recent deaths of two Supreme Court justices embroils her in a far-reaching web of murder, corruption, and greed.
Who’s in it. The Pelican Brief stars Julia Roberts as Darby Shaw, Denzel Washington as Gray Grantham, Sam Shepard as Thomas Callahan and John Heard as Gavin Vereek, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, The Pelican Brief has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $195.3M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Pelican Brief page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Pelican Brief tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Pelican Brief (1993)?
- In US, The Pelican Brief is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Pelican Brief worth watching?
- The Pelican Brief holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Pelican Brief?
- The Pelican Brief stars Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard and Tony Goldwyn.
- When was The Pelican Brief released?
- The Pelican Brief was released in 1993, with a runtime of about 141 minutes.