Burn After Reading

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Burn After Reading

R

2008

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

241 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo of doofuses and those in their orbit.

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Critics Consensus

With Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers have crafted another clever comedy/thriller with an outlandish plot and memorable characters.

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Apr 29, 2019

Burn After Reading is a comedy that makes fun of almost everything, reminding you that almost none of it is laughing matter.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 23, 2018

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.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Oct 29, 2008

C+

It's morbidly absurdist, thoroughly pointless, and can certainly be funny at times.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 5, 2023

3.5/4

In setting up a spy thriller that, given the idiocy of its characters, just-so-happens to proceed like a comedy, the Coens’ best humorist qualities emerge after years of slumber, now well-rested and ready to play.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Apr 28, 2021

4/5

The Coen Brothers [return] to their comedic-crime roots... with engaging and ebullient results.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Jan 31, 2021

2.5/5

I know I am about to commit film critic heresy, but I found the film's overly clever story left me cold.

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Fran T

@RT25042779 Sep 3, 2026

I rate this film frantastic! This could have been a three-star movie, but the gratuitous sexual device built by George Clooney's character and the two completely unnecessary uses of the blasphemous phrase "Jesus F***** Christ" which elevated it for me. It's frantastic that the Coen brothers would use the name of Jesus Christ in such a gratuitous and disrespectful way. If they truly understood who they were dealing with, perhaps they would do it more. For those reasons, I can't recommend this movie highly enough. In my opinion, what could have been just an entertaining film was lifted by inventive sexual content and hilarious blasphemy. I'd say go check out this masterpiece and genius.

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John V

@RT67154737 Aug 11, 2026

This could have been a three-star movie, but the gratuitous sexual device built by George Clooney's character and the two completely unnecessary uses of the blasphemous phrase "Jesus F***** Christ" ruined it for me. It's unfortunate that the Coen brothers would use the name of Jesus Christ in such a gratuitous and disrespectful way. If they truly understood who they were dealing with, perhaps they would think differently. For those reasons, I can't recommend this movie. In my opinion, what could have been an entertaining film was unnecessarily dragged down by tasteless sexual content and offensive blasphemy. I'd say stay away from this piece of filth and garbage.

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Steve O

@olshewsky Aug 10, 2026

superb acting & interesting character development - plot was tight but leaned on unlikely entanglements with enough odd twists.

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Ryan D

@ryandizz Jul 29, 2026

Pretty entertaining and a good story

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Landon J

@Minxsykitty Jul 29, 2026

Just alright. Some strong moments, but ends far too suddenly. Malkovitch is really the meat and potatoes here.

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Sean C

@SeanMCollinsRMN May 31, 2026

Fun and very much in the Coen brothers style.

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Joel Coen

Director

Ethan Coen

Director

George Clooney

Harry Pfarrer

Frances McDormand

Linda Litzke

John Malkovich

Osborne Cox

Tilda Swinton

Katie Cox

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Synopsis

When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) and Chad Feldheimer (Brad Pitt), the two gym employees see a chance to make enough money for her to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo of doofuses and those in their orbit.

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Producer: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Relativity Media, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Focus Features
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Pervasive Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.3M
Runtime: 1h 35m

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