Mississippi Burning

Play trailer

Mississippi Burning

R

Released Jan 27, 1989

2h 5m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

79%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When a group of civil rights workers goes missing in a small Mississippi town, FBI agents Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) are sent in to investigate. Local authorities refuse to cooperate with them, and the African American community is afraid to, precipitating a clash between the two agents over strategy. As the situation becomes more volatile, the direct approach is abandoned in favor of more aggressive, hard-line tactics.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Mississippi Burning draws on real-life tragedy to impart a worthy message with the measured control of an intelligent drama and the hard-hitting impact of a thriller.

Read Critics Reviews

Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Each time I heard the pulsating music start working me up for the next bout of violence, I dreaded what was coming. The manipulation got to me, all right, but the only emotion I felt was hatred of the movie.

Sep 13, 2023

Full Review

Sean French

Sight & Sound

Parker has loudly claimed the right to fictionalise his subject matter, but he must not then use these fictions as evidence with which to hector us on the realities of law enforcement.

Jan 16, 2020

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Unfortunately, the central narrative premise of Mississippi Burning sets up the FBI as the sole heroic defender of the victims of southern racism in 1964, which is more than a little disgusting.

Rated: 0/4

Jan 2, 2019

Full Review

Noah W. Griffin

The Crisis

By centering on a fictionalized account of the actual FBI involvement in solving the mystery surrounding the disappearance of three civil rights workers, the film bypasses the black role in the Mississippi Civil Rights struggle.

Nov 14, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

As a crime thriller “Mississippi Burning” maintains a simmering level of suspense. Interestingly the suspense lies more in how things play out rather than what the outcome will be.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

Full Review

Tom Meek

Cambridge Day

The pairing of the two leads pays big dividends.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 7, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Tim K

Great acting and a thrilling story that also shows the turbulence of the south especially during this time of tense segregation. Plenty of simple but beautiful shots that the director lets you watch and admire without dialogue and really take in the message. In most cases this is the pain and horror associated with the victims of a heinous crime. The film also does a great job of showing the perspective of the Mississippians' including Agent Anderson who struggles between his love for his home and the realization of the hatred living among his people including his late father.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

Full Review

Landon J

Upon seeing other reviews and context for this, it seems this portrayal is somewhat insensitive and rather indoctrinating. Suspending disbelief however you can find am interesting and stimulating drama piece. Cut and dry as far as plot complexity goes, but worth watching and enjoying all the same. Always love to see Dafoe show his best.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

Full Review

E C

Intense, gripping, raw. Barely blinked the entire movie. This is why we cannot sanitize history and history as it is told in movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Farah R

Mississippi Burning doesn't shy away from portraying the brutality that occurred in Mississippi during the investigation into the murders of three civil rights workers. However, by choosing to focus on a fictionalized version told from the FBI's perspective, they diminished the authenticity and integrity of the film. Nevertheless, a cast ensemble of powerhouse actors makes it worth the watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

Full Review

Chris H

One of the best films ever made. The story (based quite closely, from what I can tell, on real events) is dramatic, tragic and horrific in equal measure and all the acting is superb. When I saw this on the big screen in the 1980s it was Willem Dafoe who impressed me most; when I saw it two days ago it was the Oscar-nominated Gene Hackman and Frances McDormand who delivered the most shattering performances. Watch and learn.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/17/24

Full Review

Dinos K

great movie, great casting. The plot was kinda generic but I still love that movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/10/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Alan Parker

Director

Gene Hackman

Agent Rupert Anderson

Willem Dafoe

Agent Alan Ward

Frances McDormand

Mrs. Pell

Brad Dourif

Deputy Clinton Pell

R. Lee Ermey

Mayor Tilman

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Welcome to Mississippi

2:03

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - We Into It Now, Boys

2:10

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Federal Bureau of Integration

1:58

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Eulogy

2:06

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Anderson's Way

2:04

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - The Burning Cross

1:52

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - A Razor-Sharp Interrogation

2:15

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Searching the Swamp

2:14

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Hatred Is Taught

1:55

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Wringing Necks

2:10

View more videos

The Silence of the Lambs

95%

95%

The Silence of the Lambs

Watchlist

No Man's Land

50%

61%

No Man's Land

Watchlist

Frantic

77%

64%

Frantic

Watchlist

Manhunter

94%

77%

Manhunter

Watchlist

Code of Silence

67%

51%

Code of Silence

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Five Favourite Films with Bill Nighy

Besson Announces / Cancels Retirement on "Arthur" Sequel

View more photos

Synopsis

When a group of civil rights workers goes missing in a small Mississippi town, FBI agents Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) are sent in to investigate. Local authorities refuse to cooperate with them, and the African American community is afraid to, precipitating a clash between the two agents over strategy. As the situation becomes more volatile, the direct approach is abandoned in favor of more aggressive, hard-line tactics.

Director: Alan Parker
Producer: Robert F. Colesberry, Frederick Zollo
Screenwriter: Chris Gerolmo
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $33.7M
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now