Burn After Reading

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Burn After Reading

R

Released Sep 12, 2008

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

245 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 doofuses and those in their orbit.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

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

Apr 29, 2019

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

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.

Aug 23, 2018

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

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

Rated: C+

Oct 29, 2008

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

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.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 5, 2023

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James Croot

The Post NZ

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

Rated: 4/5

Apr 28, 2021

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

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

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 31, 2021

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s b

A comedy devoid of laughs and full of irritating characters. I can understand it being a cult classic, I cannot understand it having larger appeal. I made this account purely to rate it as low as I could, I want my evening back.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

Full Review

Jason B

Cohen Bros comedies are an acquired taste. In this case the point is the lives of our characters are no where near as important as they think they are. You can either see this as hilarious, or just depressing. i love it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

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Butch T

What an absurd delight. The best part of the experience was involuntary recollection of George Clooney's Soggy Bottom Boys character breaking into "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow" in that other absurd delight, "Oh Brother Where Art Thou."

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/05/25

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Tom F

Your basic Coen Brothers film. Everything after Big Lebowski is pretty much just playing the hits.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

This wouldn't make a 100 must-see movies list, but I think any neo-film buff should consider this essential. There are scenes from this that I simply will never, ever forget.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/29/25

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Charles H

Stupid movie, through and through. I want that part of my life back.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

Full Review

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Joel Coen

Director

Ethan Coen

Director

George Clooney

Harry Pfarrer

Frances McDormand

Linda Litzke

John Malkovich

Osborne Cox

Tilda Swinton

Katie Cox

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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 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: Working Title Films
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

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