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The Pelican Brief
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Alan J. Pakula. With Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard.
6.6/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT 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.
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6.6/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTA 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.
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for The Pelican Brief.
MoviHero lists September 17, 1993 as the release date for The Pelican Brief. Alan J. Pakula is the listed director. The listed cast includes Julia Roberts as Darby Shaw, Denzel Washington as Gray Grantham, Sam Shepard as Thomas Callahan, John Heard as Gavin Vereek. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateSeptember 17, 1993
GenresDrama · Thriller
Runtime2h 21m
DirectorAlan J. Pakula
CastJulia Roberts as Darby Shaw, Denzel Washington as Gray Grantham, Sam Shepard as Thomas Callahan, John Heard as Gavin Vereek
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is The Pelican Brief right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
The Pelican Brief runs 2h 21m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 6/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 8/10. Consider saving this for a night when you can concentrate.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 5/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with The Pelican Brief. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 6.6/10 from 1,866 votes. Updated Nov 13, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing6/10
Emotional Impact5/10
Mind-Bending2/10
Scary2/10
Violence5/10
Rewatchability5/10
Attention Required8/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about The Pelican Brief
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington team-up in this crime thriller RELEASED IN 1993 and directed by Alan J.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Darby Shaw, you take my breath away.”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherDarby ShawDarby Shaw in The Pelican Brief (1993), played by Julia Roberts.Open character guide otherGray GranthamGray Grantham in The Pelican Brief (1993), played by Denzel Washington.Open character guide otherThomas CallahanThomas Callahan in The Pelican Brief (1993), played by Sam Shepard.Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
7.3/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEAUL: The Forgotten Wolf
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MOVIHERO ESTIMATESobre las olas
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MOVIHERO RATINGThe Marksman
2021·Drama · Thriller · Action