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The Paper Chase

1973 · Movie · PG · 113 min · ★ 6.8 · 74% critics

Drama

A first-year law student at an elite law school faces relentless pressure from a demanding professor while trying to keep up with intense coursework. At the same time, a new romance pulls focus and raises the stakes, forcing hard choices about ambition, balance, and what success is really worth.

Based on The Paper Chase

IMDb

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Not currently available to stream in the US.

2 hours to watch.

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Details
Years
1973
Release date
1973-10-16
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
113 min
Critic score
74/100
TMDB rating
6.8/10 (119 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want an academic pressure-cooker drama about ambition, discipline, and relationships under strain, with a strong focus on classroom tension; Not for you if you need fast pacing or a romance-forward story like Urban Cowboy.

Pros: intense classroom pressure; memorable stern professor; relatable student stress | Cons: slow pace; romance feels underdeveloped; some plots meander

Themes

  • based on novel or book
  • harvard university
  • college
  • law student
  • study group
  • paper airplane
  • mentor protégé relationship
  • rhetoric

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1974
  • Academy Award — Best Sound · 1974 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1974 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1974 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by James Bridges