The Thin Blue Line
“Erases the border between art and activism.”
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Three Reasons: The Thin Blue LineOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-03-20
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Randall Adams
Self
David Harris
Self
Gus Rose
Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas
Jackie Johnson
Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas
Marshall Touchton
Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas
Dale Holt
Self - Internal Affairs Investigator in Dallas
Sam Kittrell
Self - Police Detective in Vidor
Hootie Nelson
Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
Dennis Johnson
Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
Floyd Jackson
Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
Edith James
Self - Defense Attorney
Dennis White
Self - Defense Attorney
Don Metcalfe
Self - The Judge
Emily Miller
Self - Surprise Eyewitness
R.L. Miller
Self - Surprise Eyewitness
Elba Carr
Self - Employee at Fas-Gas
Michael Randell
Self - Third Surprise Eyewitness
Melvyn Carson Bruder
Self - Appellate Attorney
Release History & Theatrical Window
USA Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
August 28, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
Undisclosed
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.2M
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Errol Morris
- Screenplay & Story
- Errol Morris
- Original Score
- Philip Glass
- Original Title
- The Thin Blue Line
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.2M
- Production Studios
- American Playhouse, Third Floor Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Errol Morris
Errol Morris
Philip Glass
Robert Chappell, Stefan Czapsky, Newton Thomas Sigel
Paul Barnes
Mark Lipson, Lindsay Law
Department Leadership Roster
Errol Morris
Director
Mark Lipson
Producer
Errol Morris
Writer
Robert Chappell
Director of Photography
Paul Barnes
Editor
Stefan Czapsky
Director of Photography
Ted Bafaloukos
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Thin Blue Line.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Thin Blue Line.
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
Letterboxd's Top 250 Documentary Films
Letterboxd's official Top 250 documentary feature films, ranked by average member rating. Letterboxd 官方 Top 250 最佳纪录长片榜单： 根据平台用户的平均评分进行排序的纪录长片精选榜单。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:36:46 UTC+8)*
TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:30:01 UTC+8)*
Limelight Not Seen
Criterion Collection
The Complete Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection is a video distribution company that sells 'important classic and contemporary films' in editions that offer the highest technical quality. This list contains only the featured films released on DVD, BluRay and 4K Criterion releases — no supplements are included. Organized by spine number with the newest releases first. CC标准收藏完整收录版： 收录标准收藏（Criterion Collection）发行的重要经典及当代电影。仅包含正片（涵盖 DVD、蓝光及 4K 版本），已排除花絮补充内容。按 CC 发行编号倒序排列（最新发行在前）。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#214] Mangrove (2020) • [#215] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#216] Red, White and Blue (2020) • [#217] Alex Wheatle (2020) • [#486] Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972) • [#647] Dekalog (1989) • [#944] World on a Wire (1973) • [#1187] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#1338] Fanny and Alexander (1984) • [#1341] Tanner '88 (1988) • [#1371] Scenes from a Marriage (1973) *注：以下影片因 TMDB 尚未收录，暂不在此片单中展示：* • [#531] First (2012) • [#1699] Ulysse (1983) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-11 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thin Blue Line
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Thin Blue Line about?
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.
Who directed The Thin Blue Line?
The Thin Blue Line was directed by Errol Morris.
Who stars in The Thin Blue Line?
The principal cast of The Thin Blue Line includes Randall Adams, David Harris, Gus Rose, Jackie Johnson, Marshall Touchton.
When was The Thin Blue Line released and how long is it?
The Thin Blue Line was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 1h 43m.
How much did The Thin Blue Line make at the box office?
The Thin Blue Line grossed $1.2M in worldwide ticket sales.
Who composed the musical score for The Thin Blue Line?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Thin Blue Line was composed by Philip Glass.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Thin Blue Line?
The Thin Blue Line holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).