Sling Blade (1996)
95%RT Audience Score: 92%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 Oscar
14 wins & 15 nominations total
Sling Blade is a cinematic masterpiece that tells a mesmerizing parable of good and evil through the eyes of a slow man, Forrest Gump Unplugged. Billy Bob Thornton’s performance is so good that his directing may be slighted, and the film is a splendid example of Southern storytelling at its most poetic and imaginative. While some critics may find fault in the abundance of long, flat medium shots that rob the film of intimacy and give it a sleepy pace, it is precisely this simplicity that makes Sling Blade so unforgettable. It is a full-blooded story, rich in the best and worst of elements of the human condition, and one of the most satisfying cinematic experiences one could ever have. In short, Sling Blade is a film that you may not embrace, but I guarantee you will not forget.
Sling Blade is a Southern masterpiece that tells the story of a slow man in a slow movie, but don’t let that fool you. With mesmerizing performances and poetic storytelling, this film is a heavy-hitting and unforgettable picture. Billy Bob Thornton’s directing may be slighted by his incredible performance, but that’s just a testament to his talent. Sure, there are some long, flat medium shots that give the film a sleepy pace, but that’s just part of the charm. It’s like Forrest Gump Unplugged, but with a much darker edge. You may not embrace it, but I guarantee you won’t forget it.
Production Company(ies)
Miramax, Shooting Gallery
Distributor
Miramax Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Benton, Arkansas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong language, including descriptions of violent and sexual behavior
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 16m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday, directed by Billy Bob Thornton, written by Billy Bob Thornton, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Susan Stark, Rita Kempley, Janet Maslin, Kevin Thomas, Stanley Kauffmann, Wesley Lovell, Matthew Rozsa, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, Brian D Johnson, MPAA rating R, mentally disabled, murder, friendship, abuse, Southern storytelling, simple premise, unforgettable, superb acting, heavy-hitting, comedy, heartfelt story
Worldwide gross: $24,444,121
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $45,565,818
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,381
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,969,010
US/Canada gross: $24,444,121
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $45,565,818
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,114
US/Canada opening weekend: $28,139
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $52,453
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,196
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $1,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $1,864,081
Production budget ranking: 2,034
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,003,808
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $42,697,930
ROI to date (est.): 1,489%
ROI ranking: 68
Dwight Yoakam – Doyle Hargraves
J.T. Walsh – Charles Bushman
John Ritter – Vaughan Cunningham
Lucas Black – Frank Wheatley
Natalie Canerday – Linda Wheatley
Director(s)
Billy Bob Thornton
Writer(s)
Billy Bob Thornton
Producer(s)
David Bushell, Brandon Rosser
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 Oscar
14 wins & 15 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Writing Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (57) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (2)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: A-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
May 9, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Susan Stark
Detroit News
TOP CRITIC
A masterpiece of Southern storytelling.
May 8, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Rita Kempley
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
An abundance of long, flat medium shots that rob the film of intimacy and give it a sleepy pace.
May 8, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A mesmerizing parable of good and evil and a splendid example of Southern storytelling at its most poetic and imaginative.
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 5/5
Kevin Thomas
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
[Thornton] performance is so good that his directing may be slighted.
January 1, 2000
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
With one feature film, an underutilized character actor emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the hottest properties in Hollywood. Although his career has had ups and downs since, its clear that a strong voice in cinema arrived…
February 12, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Wesley Lovell
Cinema Sight
It is a full blooded story, rich in the best and worst of elements of the human condition, and one of the most satisfying cinematic experiences I’ve ever had.
September 27, 2020 | Rating: 4/4
Matthew Rozsa
matthewrozsa.com
It may have a simple premise with themes that have been addressed before, but with masterful direction and superb acting, it’s a heavy-hitting and unforgettable picture.
September 24, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
A film you may not embrace, but I guarantee you will not forget.
September 23, 2020 | Rating: 4.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Stretched over 141 minutes, and threaded with humor, it is remarkably spare and simple, a slow movie about a slow man-Forrest Gump Unplugged.
October 30, 2019
Brian D. Johnson
Maclean’s Magazine
Much of the audience appeal relies on the film’s simplicity
February 15, 2012 | Rating: B
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews…
Plot
A partially handicapped man named Karl is released from a mental hospital, about 20 years after murdering his mother and another person. Karl is often questioned if he will ever kill again, and he shrugs in response saying there is no reason to. Now out of the mental institution, Karl settles in his old, small hometown, occupying himself by fixing motors. After meeting a young boy named Frank, who befriends him, Karl is invited to stay at Frank’s house with his mother Linda, who views Karl as a strange but kind and generous man. However, Linda’s abusive boyfriend, Doyle, sees things differently in the way rules ought to be run- normally insulting Linda’s homosexual friend Vaughan as well as Karl’s disabilities, and having wild parties with his friends. As Karl’s relationship with Frank grows, he is watchful of Doyle’s cruel actions.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Dwight Yoakam’s performance as the cruel boyfriend, Doyle, is described as “top-notch asshole” by one critic.
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