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Burn After Reading

  • 2008
  • K-13
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
350K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,653
432
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 info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    350K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,653
    432
    • Directors
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Writers
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Stars
      • Brad Pitt
      • Frances McDormand
      • George Clooney
    • 712User reviews
    • 344Critic reviews
    • 63Metascore
  • See production info 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 reviews712

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Burn after Reading is the Coen brothers at their craziest, which means black comedy at its finest and an original story
    The Coen brothers does it again, a great and original black comedy-crime film. Burn after Reading is brilliantly written, extremely funny and masterfully directed. The film is written, produced, edited and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The story follows a recently jobless CIA analyst, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) whose misplaced memoirs are found by a pair of dimwitted gym employees (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt). When they mistake the memoirs for classified government documents, they undergo a series of misadventures in an attempt to profit from their find. The film also stars George Clooney as a womanizing U. S. Marshal, Tilda Swinton as Katie Cox, the wife of Osbourne Cox, Richard Jenkins as the gym manager, and J. K. Simmons as a CIA supervisor.

    It was the first movie of the Coen's not to have Roger Deakins as the cinematographer and it kind of shows, but the award nominated Emmanuel Lubezki was the right choice for this film and the cinematography is incredible. I also want to praise the acting in the film, especially Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, though it isn't the actors best they completely nailed the comedy aspect of the performance, how they executed the witty and smart written dialogue was seriously top notch. George Clooney is another actor who gave a terrific performance, it might not seem that great at first but the character is just so different from what he usually plays. John Malkovich was probably the funniest after Brad Pitt's performance.

    This isn't Joel and Ethan Coen's best film, but it's a worthy addition to their filmography as it shows how great storytellers and filmmakers they are. The simple plot shouldn't really work but the tone and feeling that their films have but they completely nailed it. Though it is far from perfect, it's still a very entertaining movie with memorable comedic performances.
    helpful•6
    1
    • Holt344
    • Aug 20, 2021

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    • How long is Burn After Reading?Powered by Alexa
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 2008 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hủy Sau Khi Đọc
    • 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

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