The Paper Chase (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1973, The Paper Chase is a comedy, drama and romance film directed by James Bridges, running about 113 minutes. “You may be looking at a future President, Supreme Court Justice, Secretary of State or a dropout.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor.
Who’s in it. The Paper Chase stars Timothy Bottoms as James T. Hart, Lindsay Wagner as Susan Fields, John Houseman as Charles W. Kingsfield Jr. and Graham Beckel as Franklin Ford III, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Paper Chase has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Paper Chase page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Paper Chase tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Paper Chase (1973)?
- In US, The Paper Chase is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Paper Chase worth watching?
- The Paper Chase holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Paper Chase?
- The Paper Chase stars Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman, Graham Beckel and James Naughton.
- When was The Paper Chase released?
- The Paper Chase was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 113 minutes.