Trailer+1 trailer

The Thin Blue Line

1988Movie1 h 43 minNR

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

A gripping, intricate crime movie about everyday modern life and crime, with standout editing and storytelling.

Good for date night · friends night · drop-in friendly

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Where to watch

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Not for laughs, comfort or warmth.

Movies with

Story

Erases the border between art and activism.

One night in November 1976, after his car breaks down on a road outside Dallas, Randall Dale Adams accepts a ride from teenager David Harris. Harris is driving a stolen vehicle and, later that night, when Dallas police officer Robert Wood pulls the car over to check its headlights, he is shot and killed. A jury believes Adams is the killer, but 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.

Feels like

  • True Crime
  • Documentary
  • Legal Drama
  • Mystery
  • Social Commentary
  • Unreliable Narration
  • Innovative Cinematography
  • Atmospheric
  • Thought-Provoking

Cast

Crew

Directed by
Errol Morris
Written by
Errol Morris
Produced by
Mark Lipson
Music by
Philip Glass

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 28, 1988 · 1 h 43 min · NR

Released
August 28, 1988
Runtime
1 h 43 min
Age rating
NR
Genres
Crime, Documentary
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Box office
$1 million
Available in
10 countries

Tropes

Sarcastic Title, Bittersweet Ending, Title Drop +9

  • Sarcastic Title
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Title Drop
  • Inkblot Test
  • Plethora of Mistakes
  • Crime After Crime
  • Evil Is Petty
  • Police Are Useless
  • Amateur Sleuth
  • Crime Reconstruction
  • Hanging Judge
  • The Sociopath

12 of 21 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Thin Blue Line?"

Questions about The Thin Blue Line

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Thin Blue Line?

In the United States, The Thin Blue Line streams on Philo, AMC+, Criterion, Sundance Now, and IFC Films Unlimited, and it is free with ads on Kanopy and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Microsoft Store. It also streams in 7 other countries.

Is The Thin Blue Line worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86 (IMDb 7.9, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 79).

Can I half-watch The Thin Blue Line?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for complexity and 8 for ambiguity.

What tropes does The Thin Blue Line use?

Sarcastic TitleBittersweet EndingTitle DropInkblot TestPlethora of MistakesCrime After CrimeEvil Is PettyPolice Are UselessAmateur SleuthCrime ReconstructionHanging JudgeThe Sociopathand 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 tropes for it, including Sarcastic Title, Bittersweet Ending, and Title Drop.