Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysTIFFSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Burn After Reading

  • 2008
  • 14A
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
344K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,815
95
Burn After Reading (2008)
Burn After Reading - Theatrical Trailer
Play trailer1:48
25 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyCrimeDrama

A disk containing mysterious information from a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous and daft gym employees who attempt to sell it.A disk containing mysterious information from a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous and daft gym employees who attempt to sell it.A disk containing mysterious information from a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous and daft gym employees who attempt to sell it.

  • Directors
    • Ethan Coen
    • Joel Coen
  • Writers
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
  • Stars
    • Brad Pitt
    • Frances McDormand
    • George Clooney
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    344K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,815
    95
    • Directors
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Stars
      • Brad Pitt
      • Frances McDormand
      • George Clooney
    • 702User reviews
    • 344Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards
      • 8 wins & 32 nominations total

    Videos25

    Burn After Reading
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Trailer 0:33
    Watch Burn After Reading
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    Watch A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:53
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:43
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:30
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading
    Clip 0:38
    Watch Burn After Reading
    Burn After Reading: At The Plastic Surgeon
    Clip 0:36
    Watch Burn After Reading: At The Plastic Surgeon
    Burn After Reading: Rendezvous With Mr. Black
    Clip 0:38
    Watch Burn After Reading: Rendezvous With Mr. Black

    Photos177

    Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading (2008)
    John Malkovich in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading (2008)
    John Malkovich in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Frances McDormand and Jeffrey DeMunn in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading (2008)
    George Clooney and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading (2008)
    George Clooney and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading (2008)
    George Clooney and Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Ethan Coen and Joel Coen in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading (2008)
    Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Chad Feldheimer
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • Linda Litzke
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Harry Pfarrer
    John Malkovich
    John Malkovich
    • Osborne Cox
    Tilda Swinton
    Tilda Swinton
    • Katie Cox
    Richard Jenkins
    Richard Jenkins
    • Ted
    Elizabeth Marvel
    Elizabeth Marvel
    • Sandy Pfarrer
    David Rasche
    David Rasche
    • CIA Officer Palmer DeBakey Smith
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • CIA Superior
    • (as JK Simmons)
    Olek Krupa
    Olek Krupa
    • Krapotkin
    Michael Countryman
    Michael Countryman
    • Alan
    Kevin Sussman
    Kevin Sussman
    • Tuchman Marsh Man
    J.R. Horne
    • Divorce Lawyer
    • (as JR Horne)
    Hamilton Clancy
    Hamilton Clancy
    • Peck
    Armand Schultz
    Armand Schultz
    • Olson
    Pun Bandhu
    Pun Bandhu
    • Party Guest
    Karla Mosley
    Karla Mosley
    • Party Guest
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    Jeffrey DeMunn
    • Cosmetic Surgeon
    • Directors
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Coen Brothers (Joel Coen & Ethan Coen) wrote the character Osborne Cox with John Malkovich in mind. Brad Pitt's character was also written with the actor in mind, inspired by a commercial for which he suffered a similar haircut and dye job. Indeed, the Coen Brothers noted at a Q&A session at the Venice Film Festival that all the leading characters were written for all the leading actors, with the exception of Tilda Swinton.
    • Goofs
      When Osborne returns home after being served for divorce, he tries to enter his home with a car key not a house key.
    • Quotes

      Osbourne Cox: I have a drinking problem? Fuck you, Peck, you're a Mormon. Compared to you we ALL have a drinking problem!

    • Crazy credits
      As usual, the Coen Brothers edited this film under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Burn After Reading/Traitor/College/Babylon A.D./Hamlet 2 (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      My Eyes Adored You
      Written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan

      Sung by George Clooney

    User reviews702

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Burn After Reading — What if you believed you were in a spy movie?
    Burn After Reading is a weird movie. It takes everything that makes a good spy flick and turn it on its head. You can't help but incredulously laugh at what happens. This is all about oddballs.

    The good. Excellent acting. Totally off the wall characters, actions and situations, yet completely logical. Story with twists within twists. Well paced scenario. Solid dialogs. Nice action.

    The actors. George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, and John Malkovich play disturbingly crazy roles stuffed with delusion and heavily dosed with stupidity. While Richard Jenkins, David Rasche, and J.K. Simmons seem almost out of place as the standard bearers of reason.

    The bad. Since it's so bizarre, it won't please everyone.

    The ugly. Nothing.

    The result. Offbeat and cooky comedy. Don't think you'll see your run of the mill kind of film and you'll have fun.
    helpful•91
    12
    • AvidClimber
    • Jun 2, 2013

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ4

    • Is "Burn After Reading" based on a book?
    • Were Osborne Cox's memoirs on the disc?
    • What are the songs from the trailer?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 2008 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lire et détruire
    • Filming locations
      • Bronx Community College - University Avenue at West 181 Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Focus Features
      • StudioCanal
      • Relativity Media
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $37,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $60,355,347
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,128,001
      • Sep 14, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $163,728,902
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Burn After Reading (2008)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Burn After Reading (2008) in Canada?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.