The Thin Blue Line
1988 · Movie · Not Rated · 103 min · ★ 7.6 · 90% critics
This documentary revisits the murder of a Dallas police officer, using interviews, evidence, and repeated re-creations of the night to examine how the investigation and trial unfolded. As conflicting accounts and shaky testimony pile up, it raises unsettling questions about how easily the justice system can lock onto the wrong story.
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi — also streaming on AMC+, IFC Films, All Reality +1 more.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1988
- Release date
- 1988-08-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Not Rated
- Runtime
- 103 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 90/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (415 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a tense, detail-driven true-crime documentary that challenges official narratives and keeps you actively weighing evidence; Not for you if you dislike documentaries or slow, repetitive revisiting of events like The Keepers.
Pros: gripping real-life intrigue; haunting, tense mood; thought-provoking injustice themes | Cons: repetitive reenactments; demands close attention; not a procedural fix
Themes
- death penalty
- texas
- investigation
- dallas, texas
- trial
- murder
- police officer
- miscarriage of justice
Cast & crew
- RA
Randall Adams
as Self
- DH
David Harris
as Self
- GR
Gus Rose
as Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas
- JJ
Jackie Johnson
as Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas
- MT
Marshall Touchton
as Self - Homicide Detective in Dallas
- DH
Dale Holt
as Self - Internal Affairs Investigator in Dallas
- SK
Sam Kittrell
as Self - Police Detective in Vidor
- HN
Hootie Nelson
as Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
- DJ
Dennis Johnson
as Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
- FJ
Floyd Jackson
as Self - Friend of David Harris in Vidor
Directed by Errol Morris