The Pelican Brief

The Pelican Brief is a 1993 American legal thriller film based on John Grisham's 1992 novel. Written and directed by Alan J. Pakula, the film stars Julia Roberts in the role of young law student Darby Shaw and Denzel Washington as Washington Herald reporter Gray Grantham. The film, which features music composed by James Horner, was the last film that featured Pakula as both writer and director before his death in 1998. The Pelican Brief was released by Warner Bros. on December 17, 1993. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $195 million against a $45 million budget.