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The Thin Blue Line

1988·Movie·15·103 min·7.6(417)

Erases the border between art and activism.

An unorthodox investigation into the wrongful conviction of Randall Dale Adams for the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. Using stylized reenactments and interviews with key figures, conflicting testimonies and evidence are presented to argue that Adams was framed by a corrupt justice system, ultimately leading to his exoneration.

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Where to watch The Thin Blue Line in United States

Can I watch The Thin Blue Line in United States? Yes — you can stream The Thin Blue Line in United States on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , and AMC+ Amazon Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Click a service to open The Thin Blue Line there. Availability last verified on July 31, 2026.

Where is The Thin Blue Line streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesPhilo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
CanadaCriterion ChannelGoogle Play Movies, YouTube
AustraliaAMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel Apple TV Store, Amazon Video

About The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line is a 1988 English-language crime and documentary film directed by Errol Morris. The cast is led by Randall Adams, David Harris, Gus Rose. It has a runtime of 1h 43m. Viewers rate it 7.6/10 across 400 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel.

The Thin Blue Line was produced by American Playhouse and Third Floor Productions and made in United States of America. It was released on August 28, 1988, and carries a 15 certification. At the box office it grossed around $1 million worldwide.

Director
Errol Morris
Writers
Errol Morris
Release date
August 28, 1988
Original language
English
Age rating
15
Status
Released
Country
United States of America
Box office
$1 million
Production
American Playhouse, Third Floor Productions
#death penalty#texas#investigation#dallas, texas#trial#murder#police officer#miscarriage of justice

The Thin Blue Line cast & crew

The Thin Blue Line was directed by Errol Morris and written by Errol Morris.

The cast features Randall Adams as Self, David Harris as Self, Gus Rose as Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas, Jackie Johnson as Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas, Marshall Touchton as Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas, and Dale Holt as Self - Internal Affairs Investigator in Dallas.

Behind the camera, cinematography is by Robert Chappell and it was produced by Mark Lipson and Lindsay Law.

Is The Thin Blue Line worth watching?

The Thin Blue Line holds an audience score of 7.6/10 from 417 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed crime films.

At 1h 43m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy crime and documentary, The Thin Blue Line is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch The Thin Blue Line

In United States, you can stream The Thin Blue Line on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, and YouTube TV, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

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.

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Cast of The Thin Blue Line

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Randall Adams

Self

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David Harris

Self

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Gus Rose

Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas

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Jackie Johnson

Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas

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Marshall Touchton

Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas

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Dale Holt

Self - Internal Affairs Investigator in Dallas

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Sam Kittrell

Self - Police Detective in Vidor

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Hootie Nelson

Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor

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Dennis Johnson

Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor

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Floyd Jackson

Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor

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Edith James

Self - Defense Attorney

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Dennis White

Self - Defense Attorney

The Thin Blue Line — FAQs

Where can I watch The Thin Blue Line in United States?

The Thin Blue Line is streaming on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ in United States.

Is The Thin Blue Line on Philo?

Yes — The Thin Blue Line is currently available on Philo in United States.

What language is The Thin Blue Line in?

The Thin Blue Line is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is The Thin Blue Line?

The Thin Blue Line runs 1 hours 43 minutes (103 minutes).

What is The Thin Blue Line rated?

The Thin Blue Line is rated 15. It holds a 7.6/10 audience score from 417 ratings.

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