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Mississippi Burning

Play trailer Poster for Mississippi Burning R Released Jan 27, 1989 2h 5m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 29 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.
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Mississippi Burning

Mississippi Burning

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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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 Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm It’s bizarre to cheer on the abuse of civil rights in a movie ostensibly about advancing civil rights. Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 20, 2025 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Frans B Stellar performances by Hackman and Dafoe. No wonder Hackman withdrew his rights to the Silence of the Lambs novel after seeing a clip of himself in this movie, it made him uneasy about taking more violent roles Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/21/25 Full Review Desiray M The two main leads were absolutely brilliant. I felt they really feed of each other. One is by the books and the other wants to do it his way. Then comes the drama and the injustice to make the audience get angry and emotional. To the judge letting the criminals off. It all makes to vision how it was back in 1964. I loved the one ups and comebacks they used. I thought that was hilarious. “You’re so far up my nose, your boots on my chin”. I did take away a star because some scenes were too dramatic, from the music to the dead animals. The characters were all very thought out and I truly enjoyed it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/13/25 Full Review Dick C It's a tribute to late Gene... Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Johannes S Really good performances combined with an interesting story. The Mississippi setting is also great. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/08/25 Full Review Ricardo B Ambientado em 1964, no interior do Mississipi, coração do sul dos Estados Unidos, durante o auge da segregação, quando as tensões raciais se encontravam em seu ápice, e vagamente baseado em um caso real, beirando a ficção histórica, esse é — não ironicamente — um suspense criminal incendiário. Graças às excelentes atuações de Gene Hackman e Willem Defoe, à direção crua e realista de Alan Parker e à intensa trilha sonora de Trevor Jones, "Mississipi em Chamas" nos passa a sensação de estarmos assistindo um barrio de pólvora prestes a explodir, completamente incapazes de evitar a tragédia. Um retrato de um país em guerra consigo mesmo e espetáculo de tensão e suspense, marcado por comentários sociais atemporais. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/04/25 Full Review Robert B With the recent passing of Gene Hackman, I decided to revisit this epic classic movie that he took part in. I’ve seen a few times before, but this time I paid much closer attention to the portrayal of the role that Hackman played. In my own humble opinion, Hackman could’ve easily won an Academy award for this picture opposite Willem Dafoe who is equally brilliant. But, it’s Hackman‘s portrayal of a simmering brooding yet loyal, tender, and affectionate FBI agent that leaves me In awe of his brilliant performance. There’s a lot of hate today for whatever reason, and re-watching this movie reassured me that there is goodness in the world, And that our world was made better for having an actor like Gene Hackman within it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/04/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Mississippi Burning

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Mississippi Burning

Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Welcome to Mississippi Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Welcome to Mississippi 2:03 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - We Into It Now, Boys Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - We Into It Now, Boys 2:10 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Federal Bureau of Integration Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Federal Bureau of Integration 1:58 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Eulogy Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Eulogy 2:06 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Anderson's Way Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Anderson's Way 2:04 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - The Burning Cross Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - The Burning Cross 1:52 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - A Razor-Sharp Interrogation Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - A Razor-Sharp Interrogation 2:15 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Searching the Swamp Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Searching the Swamp 2:14 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Hatred Is Taught Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Hatred Is Taught 1:55 Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Wringing Necks Mississippi Burning: Official Clip - Wringing Necks 2:10 View more videos
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Movie Info

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
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