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Sling Blade

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
95K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,732
32
Sling Blade (1996)
HV
Play trailer1:51
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Drama
Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
95K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,732
32
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Billy Bob Thornton(play)
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Dwight Yoakam
    • J.T. Walsh
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Billy Bob Thornton(play)
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Dwight Yoakam
    • J.T. Walsh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 345User reviews
    • 86Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos2

    Sling Blade
    Trailer 1:51
    Watch Sling Blade
    Sling Blade
    Trailer 1:53
    Watch Sling Blade

    Photos104

    John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    John Ritter in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black in Sling Blade (1996)
    John Ritter, Billy Bob Thornton, and Dwight Yoakam in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Karl Childers
    Dwight Yoakam
    Dwight Yoakam
    • Doyle Hargraves
    J.T. Walsh
    J.T. Walsh
    • Charles Bushman
    John Ritter
    John Ritter
    • Vaughan Cunningham
    Lucas Black
    Lucas Black
    • Frank Wheatley
    Natalie Canerday
    Natalie Canerday
    • Linda Wheatley
    James Hampton
    James Hampton
    • Jerry Woolridge
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Karl's Father
    Rick Dial
    • Bill Cox
    Brent Briscoe
    Brent Briscoe
    • Scooter Hodges
    Christine Renee Ward
    Christine Renee Ward
    • Melinda
    • (as Christy Ward)
    Sarah Boss
    • Marsha Dwiggins
    Kathy Sue Brown
    • Theresa Evans
    Wendell Rafferty
    • Melvin
    Bruce Hampton
    • Morris
    • (as Col. Bruce Hampton Ret.)
    Vic Chesnutt
    • Terence
    Mickey Jones
    Mickey Jones
    • Monty Johnson
    Ian Moore
    • Randy Horsefeathers
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Billy Bob Thornton(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Billy Wilder once told Billy Bob Thornton that he was "too ugly" to be an actor, and that he should write a screenplay for himself, where he could exploit his "less than perfect" features. After this movie launched Thornton's career, he publicly discussed his conversation with Wilder, which was at a cocktail party where he was working as a waiter. He got a call from Wilder, who invited him over to his house. Wilder said he didn't recall their conversation, but was glad that he heeded his advice. As a gift, Wilder gave Thornton a paperback copy of this movie's script with his autograph, and a personal message inscribed on it.
    • Goofs
      When Karl is talking to the Frostee Cream Boy, there are no cars on the road behind him. But whenever the camera is aimed at the Frostee Cream, there is a lot of traffic on the road reflected in the window. Billy Bob Thornton points out in the DVD commentary that this is because the local police had another pressing issue the day they filmed Jim Jarmusch, and they couldn't be there to stop traffic.
    • Quotes

      Karl: I like them French fried potaters.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits start about 18 minutes into the film.
    • Alternate versions
      The Director's Cut runs 12 minutes longer than the original theatrical releases.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Star Trek: First Contact/Shine/Jingle All the Way/Sling Blade/Microcosmos (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      The One I Love
      (instrumental)

      Written by Ali Jennings and Daniel Lanois

      Performed by Ali Jennings

      Courtesy of Daniel Lanois, Ali Jennings Songs/Socan, Daniel Lanois Songs/Socan

    User reviews345

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Probably one of Thornton's finest movies
    I guess the main reason why I wanted to see this movie was because it was written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also played a role in it. Even though the man hasn't really been able to prove a lot with his work as a director, I must say that I almost always appreciate him as an actor. He's perhaps not the most popular actor in Hollywood, but in my opinion he sure is one of the better ones.

    In this movie he plays the role of Karl Childers, a grown, but simple man who is released from the psychiatric hospital where he has been hospitalized since the age of twelve. He had to stay in that hospital for so long because he murdered his own mother and her lover, believing that they were doing something wrong. He returns to the town where he lived the first twelve years of his life and it doesn't take long for him to get a job as a mechanic, fixing all kinds of small motors at a local repair shop. In the same town he also meets Frank, a young and friendly boy who immediately seems to like this strange man. Soon Karl is invited by Frank's mother to stay in their garage, much against the will of her alcoholic and abusive boyfriend Doyle. While Karl's friendship with Frank gets stronger, the tension between him and Doyle keeps building up, until reaching its final climax...

    Now that I've finally seen this movie, I can only say that it's too bad that I didn't give it a try earlier. Especially thanks to the magnificent performance by Billy Bob Thornton, this is a movie that is more than just worth a watch. But also the other actors like Dwight Yoakam, Natalie Canerday,... did a very good job. The entire movie feels very realistic, is quite sober and never tries to be too dramatic. This is the kind of movie that could have become very preachy, but it hasn't and that's something that I really appreciate. Add to this some good directing and you know that Thornton has done a very nice job with this movie.

    This isn't exactly a typical Hollywood movie, not in its story and certainly not in its approach towards the subject. This could easily have become some kind of cheesy TV-movie, but Billy Bob Thornton has made a very good movie out of it instead. I really appreciated his work as a director, actor and writer in this movie, liked the story and was intrigued by the acting of all the actors. That's why I give it a 7.5/10, maybe even an 8/10.
    helpful•58
    12
    • philip_vanderveken
    • Aug 25, 2005

    FAQ3

    • Does Karl have Tourette Syndrome?
    • Why was Doyle so cruel?
    • How old is Karl?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 1997 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Benton, Arkansas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • Shooting Gallery
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 15 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby SR

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