Bernie

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Bernie

PG-13

2012

1h 44m

Comedy

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

167 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede is one of the most-beloved residents in the small Texas town of Carthage. Sunday-school teacher, choir member and creator of spectacular funerals, Bernie is a friend to everyone, including Marjorie Nugent, a rich but nasty widow whom no one else likes. When Marjorie is found shot to death and stuffed in a freezer, Bernie is charged with the murder, and concerned Carthage citizens immediately spring to his defense.

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Critics Consensus

Richard Linklater's Bernie is a gently told and unexpectedly amusing true-crime comedy that benefits from an impressive performance by Jack Black.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Feb 22, 2019

Bernie lacks the edge of malice one might reasonably expect from so nasty a tale.

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Anna Smith

metro.co.uk

Sep 5, 2017

4/5

[Jack] Black is hilarious, all towering tolerance that finally reaches boiling point.

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Kent Jones

Film Comment Magazine

Nov 5, 2013

But the troubling question at the heart of this liberating, sunlit, deceptively simple but extremely complex and fairly formidable film is: should the law or the community itself decide the fate of its citizens?

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

May 8, 2024

Bernie sits squarely in the middle of Linklater’s indie-mainstream spectrum – an experiment in marrying drama and documentary, which inevitably satisfies neither.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

Apr 21, 2023

4.5/5

While some may bridle at a serious event being treated in a glib fashion for comic effect, Linklater never openly ridicules the situation or his subjects – and serial-mugger Black is remarkably restrained.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 27, 2022

3.5/4

Linklater’s film is one of the best comedies and most interesting films of the year.

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Mike P

@RT09890132 Aug 8, 2026

Affable true crime drama and human interest story...From an unlikely source; Richard Linklater...Which is infused with a healthy dose of black humor, compassion and clear-eyed analysis...All about Bernie Tiede, a popular small town Funeral Director...Who befriends miserly curmudgeon Marjorie Nugent...And then almost absent-mindedly falls into a crazy premeditated murder scenario... And this movie comes to life because of the fantastic performances of the leads; particularly Jack Black; who makes us love this odd man ...We instantly recognize Bernie, even as the movie starts, and completely understand him; and that's what makes the story that unfolds so compelling...This odd, sweet and sad cautionary tale...About the best of intentions leading to total disaster for everyone involved... It's a great movie, and highly recommended.

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Dominique E

@encisonico Aug 5, 2026

Such a great casting with Jack Black as Bernie and Matt as prosecutor. Black depicted Bernie perfectly based on the real community anecdotes and support for him. What an interesting story.

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Furrocious O

@Furrocious Aug 2, 2026

Loved it. Jack Black is hilarious and great as always. Truth really is stranger than fiction & Bernie proves it.

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Brighton N

@RT09904023 May 29, 2026

Bernie has a wonderful premise and phenomenal performances from everybody involved! The script is so humorous and witty, the story is heartbreaking and justifiable, and, all along, it offers a great look into the power of forgiveness and the necessity of justice. Check out my more in-depth review at The Reel Ranker by searching "Bernie" ;)

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stephen C

@Clappydoodle May 17, 2026

Excellent film. Hard to believe it's a true story, but it sure is (with some poetic licence in the script, no doubt). Great acting, good script. Just enough subtle humour, particularly the interviews of the locals. Nothing sinister or macabre to worry about. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 4, 2026

The worldwide gross is $10,173,061.00 over a budget of $6,000,000.00. Not as much as the production budget.

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Richard Linklater

Director

Jack Black

Bernie Tiede

Shirley MacLaine

Marjorie Nugent

Matthew McConaughey

Danny Buck

Brady Coleman

Scrappy Holmes

Richard Robichaux

Lloyd Hornbuckler

Bernie: Official Clip - The Cover Up

2:09

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Bernie: Official Clip - What Have I Done?

2:11

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Bernie: Official Clip - Ready for the Casket

2:03

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Bernie: Official Clip - Mean Marjorie

2:05

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Bernie: Official Clip - I Know You Hate Me

2:12

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Bernie: Official Clip - Most Qualified Young Man

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Bernie: Official Clip - The Freezer

2:09

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Bernie: Official Clip - Was it Romantic?

2:13

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Bernie: Official Clip - The Five States of Texas

1:13

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Bernie: Official Clip - Increasingly Dependent

2:13

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Bernie: Trailer 1

2:02

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Synopsis

Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede is one of the most-beloved residents in the small Texas town of Carthage. Sunday-school teacher, choir member and creator of spectacular funerals, Bernie is a friend to everyone, including Marjorie Nugent, a rich but nasty widow whom no one else likes. When Marjorie is found shot to death and stuffed in a freezer, Bernie is charged with the murder, and concerned Carthage citizens immediately spring to his defense.

Director: Richard Linklater
Producer: Celine Rattray, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Judd Payne, Dete Meserve, Ginger Sledge, Richard Linklater
Screenwriter: Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth
Distributor: Millennium Entertainment
Production Co: Detour Filmproduction, Wind Dancer Films, Mandalay Vision
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violent Images|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 27, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.2M
Runtime: 1h 44m

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