Erin Brockovich (2000)

83% of critics liked it
(138 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(394,173 ratings)

Julia Roberts stars in this legal drama based on the true story of a woman who helped win the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit. Erin Brockovich (Roberts) is a single mother of three who, after losing a personal injury lawsuit, asks her lawyer, Ed Masry (Albert Finney), if he… More Julia Roberts stars in this legal drama based on the true story of a woman who helped win the largest settlement ever paid in a direct-action lawsuit. Erin Brockovich (Roberts) is a single mother of three who, after losing a personal injury lawsuit, asks her lawyer, Ed Masry (Albert Finney), if he can help her find a job. Ed gives her work as a file clerk in his office, and she runs across some information on a little-known case filed against Pacific Gas and Electric. Erin begins digging into the particulars of the case, convinced that the facts simply don't add up, and persuades Ed to allow her to do further research; in time, she discovers a systematic cover-up of the industrial poisoning of a city's water supply, which threatens the health of the entire community. Erin Brockovich was directed by Steven Soderbergh; Julia Roberts earned a $20 million payday for her work on the film, the highest salary paid to a female film star up to that time. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 11 min.
Directed By: Steven Soderbergh
Written By: Susannah Grant
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 17, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Aug 15, 2000
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Roberts shines.
Todd McCarthy, Variety
An exhilarating tale.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
With this script, Grant becomes Hollywood's foremost writer of strong, smart women's roles, and Lachmann works the same wonders with the atomizing light of Southern California that he did in Soderbergh's The Limey.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Julia Roberts winner. R mostly for language.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
Julia Roberts has never been more fragile or stunning. And by oncerning itself with truthful consequences of its characters' self-sacrifices, the film succeeds as a drama as much about the passion of personal investment as the pursuit of justice.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In this Oscar-winning fairytale, combining traits of Norma Rae and Karen Silkwood, Julia Roberts is at her most winning and sexiest as the lone-figher against the system; that it's inspired by an actual case makes it more fun to watch.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
An example of Hollywood entertainment done with finesse and compassion, the way it always should be but so often isn't.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
It would have seemed impossible to me that a writer could take such a worn-out premise and make it enthralling, but this guy has done it.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
It's hard to imagine another actress pulling this off without appearing sleazy.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
With director Steven Soderbergh at the helm and Julia Roberts in the title role, the movie breezes by enjoyably without so much as a grandstanding speech or an awkward moment.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lady D

An intriguing true story, I rarely give Julia Roberts credit, but think it was a part she took well. The passion for the human side of law was the whole substance of this film. Aaron Eckhart was truly unrecognisable.
Nicki M

Original rating of 4 and a half stars stays after rewatch. This is just a really good film. The best role I have seen Julia Roberts in (I really tend to hate her chick flicks). She plays the part of Erin, a gutsy, and slightly trashy, single mum really well. being a true story makes… More
Original rating of 4 and a half stars stays after rewatch. This is just a really good film. The best role I have seen Julia Roberts in (I really tend to hate her chick flicks). She plays the part of Erin, a gutsy, and slightly trashy, single mum really well. being a true story makes it even better. There's really a bit of everything here. No point going on, as this is an older film now, and most would have seen it, but if you haven't, give it a go, will probably enjoy it.
Graham J

A minor film especially after the bomb he dropped before it (Traffic) this is still a great watch with good performances from Julia Roberts and Albert Finney.
Brad W

This film is simply one word, heroic. Julia Roberts couldn't have done the role better. The plot was interesting and dealt with a lot of issues of life. The cast and music and everything were great, even if the movie dragged on a lot. A really good film.
Lenny M

Sexy legal pursuits.
Richard C

i didnt like this. i thought it was boring and i just find anything i liked about the movie. C-
Jeremy S

Julia Robert's career best role as Erin Brockovich one of hollywood's greatest heros. Nominated for Best Picture.
Anthony L

East to watch feel good film, Finney is likable as always and Roberts is likable for a change. Steven Soderbergh is a real hit and miss director as far as I'm concerned, this is one of his hits.
Film C

this is one of my favourite movies of all time its a compelling drama that is really funny sad and feel good moments that make this movie the best! with fantastic performances especially roberts! whats worrying is that this movie is based on a true story but one womans determinatin to… More
this is one of my favourite movies of all time its a compelling drama that is really funny sad and feel good moments that make this movie the best! with fantastic performances especially roberts! whats worrying is that this movie is based on a true story but one womans determinatin to put a close the case provails and is brilliant really worth a watch!
Fernando Rafael Q

Erin Brockovich has got to be one of the greatest screen characters ever: loud, sassy, opinionated, bitchy, smart and driven. The best part? She's actually real! Julia Roberts is incredible as the title character in this underrated indie gem. Attention usually falls on the… More
Erin Brockovich has got to be one of the greatest screen characters ever: loud, sassy, opinionated, bitchy, smart and driven. The best part? She's actually real! Julia Roberts is incredible as the title character in this underrated indie gem. Attention usually falls on the Oscar-winning turn by Roberts (and deservedly so), but Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart are certainly impressive as Erin's boss and boyfriend, respectively. Incredible writing by Susannah Grant.
Lorenzo v

"She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees." An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply.… More
"She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees." An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply. <center>REVIEW</center> Erin Brockovich essentially combines two movies. The first being about a single mother of three struggling to support her kids in a materialistic country. The second about said single mother transcending stereotypes by discovering and investigating a cover up by a large utility about the damage that their plant has caused local residents. The great achievement that director Steven Soderbergh makes is to combine these two elements seamlessly. Julia Roberts is in superb form in the titular role and her co-star, veteran Albert Finney, turns in an excellent performance. Good support comes from Aaron Eckhart as Erin's main squeeze, George and Marg Helgenberger as Donna Jensen, the woman whose Real Estate claim starts the whole thing off. The screenplay by Susannah Grant provides Roberts with lots of snappy one-liners, which I'm not quite sure the real Erin Brockovich said. But hey, it makes for more fun in the movie. I defy you to go see Erin Brockovich and leave without a smile on your face.
Tim S

Roberts & Finney are magic together in this underrated film.
Dean M

Part legal drama and part advocacy cinema, and fueled throughout by Julia Roberts's most personal performance to date, this engaging film is smart, sassy, and quietly chilling, the latter because it's based on frankly horrifying events that occurred in an isolated California… More
Part legal drama and part advocacy cinema, and fueled throughout by Julia Roberts's most personal performance to date, this engaging film is smart, sassy, and quietly chilling, the latter because it's based on frankly horrifying events that occurred in an isolated California desert community early in the 1990s.
Sanjaya &

A great movie from Soderbergh!!! It's unpleasing to saw that this movie is based on a true story... Julia Roberts plays a great role of Erin Brokovich... She's look ugly but very smart... No wonder she got her Oscar in this movie... Best movie of 2000
Chris W

Julia Roberts (to the surprise of myself and many others) gives a much deserved Oscar winning performance in this film based on true events. The dialogue is great (some of it down right hilarious and witty), the supporting cast (especially Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart) are great,… More
Julia Roberts (to the surprise of myself and many others) gives a much deserved Oscar winning performance in this film based on true events. The dialogue is great (some of it down right hilarious and witty), the supporting cast (especially Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart) are great, and the overall visual look and feel and cinematography are pleasing, too. Give this one a shot. It's really quite good.
Tim S

I like the sassy white trash Julia Roberts.
Drew S

I love the main plot to death and Erin Brockovich really grows on you. Though I thought she started the movie as a belligerent, detestable cunt, I quickly grew to admire her complete unwillingness to compromise when she knew she could do better. She's lived her life gambling, but… More
I love the main plot to death and Erin Brockovich really grows on you. Though I thought she started the movie as a belligerent, detestable cunt, I quickly grew to admire her complete unwillingness to compromise when she knew she could do better. She's lived her life gambling, but when she knows her opponents' cards, she's going to move on them. What makes this movie less effective than it could have been to me is that the subplots were pallid. Aaron Eckhart has nothing to do here; their romance comes off as maudlin and unconvincing, especially when they fight. There's maybe one scene where her children seem like a legitimate part of the plot or Julia Roberts's character development. A lot of the figures in this movie are just ciphers to bounce more development off of the admittedly one-dimensional Ms. Brockovich. But the dialogue is fantastic, the storyline gripping, and the message inspiring. It begins to show signs of wear in the third act, but the finale is really great. This is definitely one worth seeing.
Dean L

Great movie. Very moving. social activism and being true to yourself and what you believe. Never give up.
Candy R

Can't believe this is based on true story. Julia is excellent in character. Tear jerker.
Jennifer X

i love julia roberts in this.