Burn After Reading

Play trailer

Burn After Reading

R,

2008,

1h 35m,

Comedy/

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

78%

239 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

239 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo of doofuses and those in their orbit.

Critics Consensus

With Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

Read Critics Reviews

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Apr 29, 2019

Burn After Reading is a comedy that makes fun of almost everything, reminding you that almost none of it is laughing matter.

Go to Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 23, 2018

Although there are a couple of vaguely amusing moments, it fails as a comedy because it just isn't funny, and it fails as a thriller because it just isn't suspenseful and it fails as entertainment of any kind because it is all so ludicrously improbable.

Go to Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Oct 29, 2008

C+

It's morbidly absurdist, thoroughly pointless, and can certainly be funny at times.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 5, 2023

3.5/4

In setting up a spy thriller that, given the idiocy of its characters, just-so-happens to proceed like a comedy, the Coens’ best humorist qualities emerge after years of slumber, now well-rested and ready to play.

Go to Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

Apr 28, 2021

4/5

The Coen Brothers [return] to their comedic-crime roots... with engaging and ebullient results.

Go to Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Jan 31, 2021

2.5/5

I know I am about to commit film critic heresy, but I found the film's overly clever story left me cold.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Han R

Apr 9, 2019

Burn before watching...

Harry R

Mar 17, 2019

The Coen brothers have a real knack for witty comedy. Here they go closer to black comedy and throw some funny "spy" action for good measure. Very well balance and entertaining. Good performances all around, special note for Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt

See more

Abraham P

Mar 15, 2019

"What a clusterf***." The Coen brothers' black comedy Burn After Reading is a complete mess that doesn't deliver that many laughs. When two gym trainers find a computer disc containing the memoir of a CIA analyst they attempt to blackmail him; meanwhile a philandering US marshal grows increasingly paranoid that he's being spied on by someone. Starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich and Brad Pitt, the film has an impressive cast that gives fairly good performances. The problem is, most of the characters are unlikable assholes. And the plot goes nowhere, which would be alright if it was a fun ride or had some clever twist of irony...but it doesn't. Still, the satiric wit of the Coen brothers makes for a few fun comedic moments. Burn After Reading is entertaining at times but doesn't really amount to much.

See more

Jan 28, 2019

Definitely one of the best Coen Bothers productions. Funny, compelling and with a storyline so bizarre you can't help but chuckle. I definite MUST watch.

See more

Abraham R

Jan 22, 2019

Funny, had me laughing

Han R

Jan 20, 2019

Spiritoso e piacevole, il film diretto dai fratelli Coen arriva subito dopo quel filmone de âNon Ã¨ un paese per vecchiâ? e siamo su un genere e tipo di pellicola decisamente diverso. In pieno stile Coen la sceneggiatura e il susseguirsi delle scene Ã¨ âstranoâ?, un poâ(TM) atipico, ovvero non si capisce chi sia il protagonista ed Ã¨ un caos, un disordine, incredibile ma il tutto visto in maniera positiva, perchÃ (C) il film funziona alla grande. Il cast Ã¨ stratosferico, tutti bravi, anche Brad Pitt che interpreta Chad, un ingenuo personal trainer che si trova coinvolto in una disavventura con la sua collega e amica Linda (Frances McDormand). Esilarante e anche inaspettato ciÃ² che succede nella scena con Pitt e Clooney (Harry) in cui questâ(TM)ultimo uccide lâ(TM)altro allâ(TM)improvviso. Bello, mi Ã¨ piaciuto.

See more

Read all reviews

Joel Coen

Director

Ethan Coen

Director

George Clooney

Harry Pfarrer

Frances McDormand

Linda Litzke

John Malkovich

Osborne Cox

Tilda Swinton

Katie Cox

View more videos

Buried

87%

65%

Buried

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Buried

Hunger

90%

83%

Hunger

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Hunger

In Bruges

84%

87%

In Bruges

Watchlist

TRAILER

for In Bruges

Frozen River

88%

74%

Frozen River

Watchlist

There Will Be Blood

92%

86%

There Will Be Blood

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Is Burn After Reading the Most Coens-y Coen Bros. Movie Of Them All?

Creed, Paddington, and More Available to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime

RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia

View more photos

Synopsis

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo of doofuses and those in their orbit.

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Producer: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Relativity Media, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Focus Features
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Pervasive Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.3M
Runtime: 1h 35m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings