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Burn After Reading (2008)

R  96 min  -  Comedy | Crime | Drama   -  12 September 2008 (USA)
7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 126,691 users   Metascore: 63/100 
Reviews: 502 user | 305 critic | 37 from Metacritic.com

A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

Directors:

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
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Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 12 nominations See more awards »

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Burn After Reading -- Burn After Reading - Theatrical Trailer Burn After Reading -- Clip: The perils of goat cheese Burn After Reading -- Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Clooney ...
Frances McDormand ...
Brad Pitt ...
John Malkovich ...
Tilda Swinton ...
Richard Jenkins ...
Ted
Elizabeth Marvel Elizabeth Marvel ...
David Rasche ...
J.K. Simmons ...
CIA Superior (as JK Simmons)
Olek Krupa ...
Michael Countryman Michael Countryman ...
Kevin Sussman ...
J.R. Horne J.R. Horne ...
Divorce Lawyer (as JR Horne)
Hamilton Clancy ...
Armand Schultz ...
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Storyline

Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, is fired at the CIA, so he begins a memoir. His wife wants a divorce and expects her lover, Harry, a philandering State Department marshal, to leave his wife. A diskette falls out of a gym bag at a Georgetown fitness center. Two employees there try to turn it into cash: Linda, who wants money for elective surgery, and Chad, an amiable goof. Information on the disc leads them to Osbourne who rejects their sales pitch; then they visit the Russian embassy. To sweeten the pot, they decide they need more of Osbourne's secrets. Meanwhile, Linda's boss likes her, and Harry's wife leaves for a book tour. All roads lead to Osbourne's house. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Gym | CIA | Memoir | Divorce | Embassy  | See more »

Taglines:

Intelligence is relative. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Official Sites:

Official site | Official site [Spain] | See more »

Country:

USA | UK | France

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Quémese después de leerse See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$37,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$19,128,001 (USA) (14 September 2008) (2651 Screens)

Gross:

$163,720,069 (Worldwide) (25 December 2008)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

SDDS  | Dolby Digital  | DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When Harry's wife is on the Seattle show, the show's host interrupts her, saying that "Dermot Mulrooney" is coming on after the commercial break. Dermot Mulroney is the actor that plays "Star of 'Coming Up Daisy'" in the actual film. See more »

Goofs

Revealing mistakes: Olive St. is depicted to be a one-way street, from the way the cars are parked. But the "SCHOOL ZONE" paint on the pavement faces the opposite direction to the supposed one-way traffic. See more »

Quotes

[repeated line]
Chad Feldheimer: [excited] Oh, my God!
See more »

Crazy Credits

As usual, the Coen Brothers edited this film under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes See more »

Connections

Featured in The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards (2009) See more »

Soundtracks

"Something I Shouldn't Have Had"
Written by T. Wallington, S. Langley
Performed by Revolvo See more »