Burn After Reading (2008)
76%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 32 nominations total
With Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters
Burn After Reading is like a game of Jenga, but instead of blocks, it’s a convoluted plot that could topple over at any moment. But somehow, the Coen Brothers manage to keep it standing with their signature mix of dark humor and political satire. Brad Pitt steals the show as a dim-witted gym employee caught up in a Washington farce, while Frances McDormand delivers a standout performance as a sex-crazed personal trainer. It may not be for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for a twisted comedy that pokes fun at everything from the CIA to online dating, Burn After Reading is worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Mediopolis Film-und Fernsehproduktion Skyline Productions, Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Distributor
Focus Features
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Bronx Community College – University Avenue at West 181 Street, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence
Year of Release
2008
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital DTS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 35m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2008 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 21, 2008
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
Burn After Reading, starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt, directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, comedy, drama, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Shubhra Gupta, Deborah Ross, Nell Minow, Ben Mankiewicz, Ben Lyons, Steven D Greydanus, MPAA rating R, some sexual content, pervasive language, violence, produced by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Focus Features
Worldwide gross: $163,728,902
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $225,530,306
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 633
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 24,594,363
US/Canada gross: $60,355,347
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $83,137,184
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 841
US/Canada opening weekend: $19,128,001
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $26,348,090
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 520
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $37,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $50,966,086
Production budget ranking: 781
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,445,237
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $147,118,983
ROI to date (est.): 188%
ROI ranking: 657
Frances McDormand – Linda Litzke
John Malkovich – Osborne Cox
Tilda Swinton – Katie Cox
Brad Pitt – Chad Feldheimer
Richard Jenkins – Ted
Joel Coen – Director, Producer, Writer
Ethan Coen – Director, Producer, Writer
Director(s)
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writer(s)
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Producer(s)
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 32 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (249) | Top Critics (72) | Fresh (194) | Rotten (55)
Burn After Reading is a comedy that makes fun of almost everything, reminding you that almost none of it is laughing matter.
April 29, 2019
Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
TOP CRITIC
Although there are a couple of vaguely amusing moments, it fails as a comedy because it just isn’t funny, and it fails as a thriller because it just isn’t suspenseful and it fails as entertainment of any kind because it is all so ludicrously improbable.
August 23, 2018
Deborah Ross
The Spectator
TOP CRITIC
February 18, 2012 | Rating: B
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
These are functioning morons, they walk and work among us. And they are brilliant and funny and in spite of the screwball-comedy nature of the story, they are completely believable.
November 7, 2008
Ben Mankiewicz
At the Movies
TOP CRITIC
, Frances McDormand might get nominated for an Academy Award in a supporting role. She was great.
November 7, 2008
Ben Lyons
At the Movies
TOP CRITIC
It’s morbidly absurdist, thoroughly pointless, and can certainly be funny at times.
October 29, 2008 | Rating: C+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
The Coen Brothers [return] to their comedic-crime roots… with engaging and ebullient results.
April 28, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
James Croot
Stuff.co.nz
I know I am about to commit film critic heresy, but I found the film’s overly clever story left me cold.
January 31, 2021 | Rating: 2.5/5
Richard Crouse
Richard Crouse
Learning a valuable lesson isn’t a necessary component in being highly entertained.
November 28, 2020 | Rating: 8/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
Washington farce…with a perfectly cast Brad Pitt…
November 10, 2020
Norman Wilner
NOW Toronto
The Coen brothers find a way to mix both political thriller and dark comedy in Burn After Reading to give us a beautiful piece of cinema.
October 12, 2020 | Rating: 5/5
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
The joy of a Coen Brothers film is that it IS confusing, yet somehow always remains coherent.
September 4, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com…
Plot
Osbourne Cox, a Balkan expert, resigned from the CIA because of a drinking problem, 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 CD-ROM 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 cosmetic 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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of Burn After Reading includes A-list actors such as George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, and Brad Pitt.
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