

The Pelican Brief
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- Common Sense Age 14+
- Critics Consensus 53%
- HD
- CC
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- Thriller
- 2 Hours 21 Minutes
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4.2 • 255 Ratings
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(Academy Award-winner Julia Roberts - "Ocean's Eleven," "Erin Brockovich") who finds herself embroiled in a terrifying web of intrigue extending to the highest levels of government after she writes a speculative legal brief exposing the illegal activities of a powerful oil magnate. When those close to her are killed by assassins, the young woman embarks on a desperate flight with a Washington, D.C., investigative reporter (Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Denzel Washington -- "Training Day," "Malcolm X") her only confidant and ally. Co-starring Academy Award-nominee Sam Shepard ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "The Right Stuff") and Tony Goldwyn ("The Last Samurai," "Ghost"). With Emmy and Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow ("The World According to Garp," TV's "3rd Rock from the Sun"). Directed by Alan J. Pakula ("Sophie's Choice," "All the President's Men"). "Superb! Fantastic suspense! A major thriller! Fast and exciting" (WNBC-TV). "An exhilarating, breathless, first-class thriller" (CBS-TV). "Perfect casting and stellar work by writer-producer-director Alan Pakula" (Variety).
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- Rent $3.99
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(Academy Award-winner Julia Roberts - "Ocean's Eleven," "Erin Brockovich") who finds herself embroiled in a terrifying web of intrigue extending to the highest levels of government after she writes a speculative legal brief exposing the illegal activities of a powerful oil magnate. When those close to her are killed by assassins, the young woman embarks on a desperate flight with a Washington, D.C., investigative reporter (Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner Denzel Washington -- "Training Day," "Malcolm X") her only confidant and ally. Co-starring Academy Award-nominee Sam Shepard ("The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "The Right Stuff") and Tony Goldwyn ("The Last Samurai," "Ghost"). With Emmy and Golden Globe-winner John Lithgow ("The World According to Garp," TV's "3rd Rock from the Sun"). Directed by Alan J. Pakula ("Sophie's Choice," "All the President's Men"). "Superb! Fantastic suspense! A major thriller! Fast and exciting" (WNBC-TV). "An exhilarating, breathless, first-class thriller" (CBS-TV). "Perfect casting and stellar work by writer-producer-director Alan Pakula" (Variety).
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- Rent $3.99
- Buy $12.99
Trailers

Ratings and Reviews
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.
Tense Grisham-based thriller is well cast but talky.
Cast & Crew
- Cast
- Julia Roberts
- Denzel Washington
- Sam Shepard
- John Heard
- Tony Goldwyn
- James Sikking
- William Atherton
- Robert Culp
- Stanley Tucci
- Hume Cronyn
- John Lithgow
- Anthony Heald
- Nicholas Woodeson
- Stanley Anderson
- John Finn
- Cynthia Nixon
- Jake Weber
- Casey Biggs
- Christopher Murray
- Sonny Jim Gaines
- Kevin Geer
- Joe Chrest
- Richard Bauer
- Michelle O'Neill
- Peter Carlin
- Ralph Cosham
- Terrence Currier
- Edwin Newman
- Helen Carey
- Howard Shalwitz
- Kyle Prue
- Jewell Robinson
- Kim Peter Kovac
- Norman Aronovic
- Carl Palmer
- Carol Sutton
- Scott Jefferson
- Danny Kamin
- Mark McLaughlin
- Robert Pavlovich
- Magee Hickey
- Director
- Alan J. Pakula
- Producers
- Pieter Jan Brugge
- Donald Laventhall
Information
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
- Genre
- Thriller
- Released
- Copyright
- © 1993 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.
Languages
- Primary
- English (Stereo, Dolby 5.1)
- Additional
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German (Subtitles)
Accessibility
- CC
- Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.