Burn After Reading

Play trailer

Burn After Reading

R

2008

1h 35m

Comedy

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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.

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Oct 29, 2008

C+

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

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

Apr 28, 2021

4/5

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

Go to Full Review

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

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.

See more

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.

See more

Steve O

@olshewsky Aug 10, 2026

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

See more

Ryan D

@ryandizz Jul 29, 2026

Pretty entertaining and a good story

See more

Landon J

@Minxsykitty Jul 29, 2026

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

See more

Sean C

@SeanMCollinsRMN May 31, 2026

Fun and very much in the Coen brothers style.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Joel Coen

Director

Ethan Coen

Director

George Clooney

Harry Pfarrer

Frances McDormand

Linda Litzke

John Malkovich

Osborne Cox

Tilda Swinton

Katie Cox

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Baby Crow's Feet

2:07

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - A League of Morons

3:15

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Raw Intelligence

1:36

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Cocktails and Goat Cheese

1:39

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Appearances Can Be Deceptive

2:13

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Tuchman Marsh

2:32

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Caught and Shot

2:11

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Osbourne Is Out

2:06

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - I Got His Number

1:54

Now Playing

Burn After Reading: Official Clip - Harry and Linda's Blind Date

2:05

Now Playing

View more videos

Pirate Radio

59%

71%

Pirate Radio

Watchlist

Assassination of a High School President

55%

46%

Assassination of a High School President

Watchlist

The Last Time

35%

40%

The Last Time

Watchlist

A Serious Man

89%

68%

A Serious Man

Watchlist

Cherish

51%

55%

Cherish

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Is Burn After Reading the Most Coens-y Coen Bros. Movie Of Them All?

Creed, Paddington, and More Available to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime

RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings