Burn After Reading (2008): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Burn After Reading is a 2008 comedy drama directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, starring John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $163.7 million worldwide on a $37 million budget. It earned 7 award nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 2009. Critics gave it 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Directors
- Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
- Original language
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English - Studio
- Focus Features
- Budget
- $37M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Burn After Reading About?
The premise of Burn After Reading without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A discarded CD-ROM containing classified information falls into the hands of two gym employees, Linda and Chad. Believing the disc holds valuable secrets they can exploit for financial gain, they embark on a misguided plan. Their actions inadvertently trigger a series of escalating events involving a cast of morally ambiguous characters, leading to a chaotic and humorous spiral of misunderstandings and dangerous consequences.
Burn After Reading Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- dark comedy
- stupidity
- internet dating
- neo screwball comedy
- spy comedy
- espionage
- washington d.c.
- caper comedy
- madcap comedy
- crime caper
- secret information
- top secret data
+38 more Show fewer
- cd rom
- gym
- memoir
- cosmetic surgery
- extortion
- pillow talk
- sex chair
- sex farce
- divorce
- disc
- cia agent
- sex toy
- sex machine
- extramarital affair
- violence
- political satire
- mormon
- tray of canapes
- reference to george kennan
- sitting on a park bench
- georgetown washington d.c.
- ticklishness
- cia central intelligence agency
- man uses a wheelchair
- director also editor
- satire comedy
- agent
- farce comedy
- bare chested man
- sex
- jefferson memorial washington d.c.
- demotion
- embassy
- female doctor
- u.s. marshal
- casual sex
- sex scene
- cocktail party
Burn After Reading Cast
John Malkovich leads the cast, with Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt. Directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen; 5 actors are credited in all.
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Co-director Ethan Coen -
Co-director Joel Coen
Also Starring in Burn After Reading
· 1 moreMore from Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
More films directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, best-rated first: No Country for Old Men, Fargo, Inside Llewyn Davis and Blood Simple.
Burn After Reading Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Burn After Reading 78% on Rotten Tomatoes and 63 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 78% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 65%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 63 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
Burn After Reading Plot Summary
What happens in Burn After Reading from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Faced with a precarious situation at work stemming from his drinking habits, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) reacts to his impending demotion by resigning from his position as a CIA analyst. Determined to document his life experiences, he sets off to write a memoir. However, his plans are derailed when his wife, Katie (Tilda Swinton), seizes this moment to initiate divorce proceedings while continuing her extramarital affair. Acting on her attorney’s advice, she discreetly copies sensitive financial records and a convoluted diatribe from Osbourne’s computer onto a CD. Unbeknownst to her, this CD holds chaotic thoughts about CIA operations.
Full summary
The whole story of Burn After Reading, scene by scene
Burn After Reading Box Office & Budget
Burn After Reading grossed $163.7 million worldwide on a $37 million budget, 4.4 times what it cost. $60.4 million came from the US and Canada and $103.4 million (63%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$163.7M
4.4× its budget
- US & Canada
- $60.4M
- International
- $103.4M
- Budget
- $37M
Burn After Reading Awards & Nominations
Burn After Reading earned 7 award nominations, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA 2009. The 7 nominations come from 4 ceremonies, the most at the BAFTA 2009.
7 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 2009 3 nominations- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Brad Pitt
- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Tilda Swinton
- Nominated Best Original Screenplay
-
Golden Globes 2009 2 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Nominated Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy – Frances McDormand
-
Critics' Choice 2009 1 nomination- Nominated Best Comedy Movie
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Artios Awards 2009 1 nomination- Nominated Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Comedy
Burn After Reading Trailers & Videos
9 videos: 5 trailers and 4 clips.
- Trailer Burn After Reading international trailer
- Trailer Burn After Reading international trailer
- Trailer Burn After Reading Official Trailer #1 - Brad Pitt Movie (2008) HD
- Trailer Burn After Reading Official Trailer #2 - Brad Pitt Movie (2008) HD
How Well Do You Know Burn After Reading?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What position did Osborne Cox hold before his termination?
Cars in Burn After Reading
27 cars on screen, including the 1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon and the 1996 Ford Probe.
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1995 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon Important role -
1996 Ford Probe Important role -
2007 Lexus GS 450h Important role -
1983 Mercedes-Benz 240 D W123 Important role
Burn After Reading Also Known As
36 alternative titles, including “После прочтения cжечь” and “Прочитати і спалити”.
- Also known as
-
- После прочтения cжечь
- Прочитати і спалити
- Põletada peale lugemist
- Spaliti nakon čitanja
- Burn After Reading - Wer verbrennt sich hier die Finger?
- Kafto aporrito
- Kauto aporrito
- Lire et détruire
- Quemar después de leer
- Burn After Reading - A prova di spia
- Égető bizonyíték
- После прочтения сжечь
+24 more Show fewer
- Aramızda Casus Var
- Destruir Depois de Ler
- Po přečtení spalte
- 阅后即焚
- Спалити након читања
- לקרוא ולשרוף
- Tajne przez poufne
- Καυτό Απόρρητο
- Прочитати та спалити
- بعد از خواندن بسوزانید
- Queime Depois de Ler
- 번 애프터 리딩
- Изгори след прочитане
- Po prečítaní spáľte
- Quémese después de leerse
- 布萊德彼特之即刻毀滅
- Cremeu-ho després de llegir-ho
- Hãy Đốt Sau Khi Đọc
- バーン・アフター・リーディング
- ยกขบวนป่วนซีไอเอ
- CIA光碟離奇失竊案, წაკითხვისთანავე დაწვით
- Põletada pärast lugemist
- Citeste si arde
- Perskaityk ir sudegink
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Burn After Reading FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Burn After Reading, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Burn After Reading?
Burn After Reading runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Burn After Reading released?
Burn After Reading was released on September 12, 2008.
Who directed Burn After Reading?
Burn After Reading was directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen.
More films by Ethan Coen Who is in the cast of Burn After Reading?
Burn After Reading stars John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt, among 5 credited actors.
How much did Burn After Reading make at the box office?
Burn After Reading grossed $163.7 million worldwide ($60.4 million domestic, $103.4 million international) on a budget of $37 million.
How is Burn After Reading rated?
Burn After Reading has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, 63 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Was Burn After Reading nominated for any awards?
Burn After Reading received 7 nominations across 4 ceremonies.
Does Burn After Reading have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Burn After Reading has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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