The Pelican Brief
“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.”
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.
Where to watch The Pelican Brief in United States
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On DemandClick a service to open The Pelican Brief there. Availability last verified on June 25, 2026.
Where is The Pelican Brief streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| United Kingdom | HBO Max Amazon Channel | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Stan | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD |
| Spain | Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, rtve, Tivify | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Brazil | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Japan | U-NEXT, HBO Max on U-Next | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About The Pelican Brief
The Pelican Brief is a 1993 English-language thriller, crime and drama film directed by Alan J. Pakula. The cast is led by Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard. It has a runtime of 2h 21m. Viewers rate it 6.6/10 across 1800 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
The Pelican Brief was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on September 17, 1993, and carries a PG-13 certification. Made on a budget of about $45 million, it went on to gross $195 million worldwide.
- Director
- Alan J. Pakula
- Writers
- Alan J. Pakula
- Release date
- September 17, 1993
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $45 million
- Box office
- $195 million
- Production
- Warner Bros. Pictures
The Pelican Brief cast & crew
The Pelican Brief was directed by Alan J. Pakula and written by Alan J. Pakula.
The cast features Julia Roberts as Darby Shaw, Denzel Washington as Gray Grantham, Sam Shepard as Thomas Callahan, John Heard as Gavin Vereek, Tony Goldwyn as Fletcher Coal, and James B. Sikking as Denton Voyles.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by James Horner, cinematography is by Stephen Goldblatt, and it was produced by Alan J. Pakula and Pieter Jan Brugge.
Is The Pelican Brief worth watching?
The Pelican Brief holds an audience score of 6.6/10 from 1,780 ratings, a solidly received thriller films.
At 2h 21m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy thriller, crime, and drama, The Pelican Brief is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Pelican Brief
The Pelican Brief isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
Your rating and review are saved privately in this browser — no account needed.
Cast of The Pelican Brief
Julia Roberts
Darby Shaw
Denzel Washington
Gray Grantham
Sam Shepard
Thomas Callahan
John Heard
Gavin Vereek
Tony Goldwyn
Fletcher Coal
James B. Sikking
Denton Voyles
William Atherton
Bob Gminski
Robert Culp
The President
Stanley Tucci
Khamel
Hume Cronyn
Justice Rosenberg
John Lithgow
Smith Keen
Anthony Heald
Marty Velmano
The Pelican Brief — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Pelican Brief in United States?
The Pelican Brief is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is The Pelican Brief in?
The Pelican Brief is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Pelican Brief?
The Pelican Brief runs 2 hours 21 minutes (141 minutes).
▸What is The Pelican Brief rated?
The Pelican Brief is rated PG-13. It holds a 6.6/10 audience score from 1,780 ratings.
More like The Pelican Brief
