Burn After Reading
“Intelligence is relative.”
When a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst falls into the hands of gym employees, Linda and Chad, they see a chance to make enough money for Linda to have life-changing cosmetic surgery. Predictably, events whirl out of control for the duo, and those in their orbit.
Where to watch
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Your rating
Your review
Cast
62 people
George Clooney
Harry Pfarrer
Known for
Ocean's Eleven
Gravity
Frances McDormand
Linda Litzke
Known for
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Fargo
Brad Pitt
Chad Feldheimer
Known for
Inglourious Basterds
Fight Club
John Malkovich
Osborne Cox
Known for
RED
Bird Box
Tilda Swinton
Katie Cox
Known for
Doctor Strange
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Richard Jenkins
Ted
Known for
DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The Shape of Water
Elizabeth Marvel
Sandy Pfarrer
Known for
House of Cards
Unbelievable
David Rasche
CIA Officer
Known for
Succession
Men in Black 3
J.K. Simmons
CIA Superior
Known for
INVINCIBLE
Whiplash
Olek Krupa
Krapotkin
Known for
Home Alone 3
The Italian Job
Michael Countryman
Alan
Known for
Black Knight
P.S. I Love You
Kevin Sussman
Tuchman Marsh Man
Known for
The Big Bang Theory
Lessons in Chemistry
Joel Coen Director · Ethan Coen Director Carter Burwell Composer
Worldwide gross $164M · Budget $37M · United States release September 12, 2008
Box office
Budget
$37,000,000
Worldwide gross
$163,700,000
Gross vs. budget
4.4×
Production
Focus Features
Production
StudioCanal
Production · Studio
Relativity Media
Production
Working Title
Production
Mike Zoss Productions
Production
Working Title Films
Production
United States · United Kingdom · France
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English
Release dates
Italy · August 27, 2008
Premiere · Venice International Film Festival
United States · September 12, 2008
Theatrical
Australia
September 11, 2008 · Theatrical
Austria
October 3, 2008 · Theatrical
Belgium
September 5, 2008 · Theatrical
Brazil
September 12, 2008 · Theatrical
Canada
September 5, 2008 · Theatrical
Denmark
October 10, 2008 · Theatrical
Estonia
October 10, 2008 · Theatrical
France
December 10, 2008 · Theatrical
June 10, 2009 · Physical · DVD & Blu-Ray
July 29, 2009 · Digital · VOD
June 13, 2026 · TV · French · Canal+ Grand Écran
September 3, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · En attendant le Festival Lumière, Institut Lumière, Lyon
October 11, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · 18e édition du Festival Lumière, Ciné Aqueduc/Dardilly, Lyon
October 13, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · 18e édition du Festival Lumière, Le Polaris/Corbas , Lyon
October 14, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · 18e édition du Festival Lumière, Cinéma Comœdia, Lyon - En présence de Jean-Paul Salomé
October 15, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · 18e édition du Festival Lumière, Cinéma MDP/Pierre-Bénite, Lyon - En présence de Stéphane Audiard (romancier)
October 17, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · Nuit géante Les frères Coen - 18e édition du Festival Lumière, Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon - En présence de Joel et Ethan Coen
October 18, 2026 · Limited theatrical · English · 18e édition du Festival Lumière, UGC Ciné Cité Confluence, Lyon - En présence de Stéphane Audiard (romancier)
Germany
October 2, 2008 · Theatrical
Ireland
October 17, 2008 · Theatrical
Italy
September 19, 2008 · Theatrical
Japan
April 24, 2009 · Digital
Netherlands
October 17, 2008 · Theatrical
April 2, 2009 · Physical · DVD
April 14, 2012 · TV · RTL 5
November 13, 2013 · Physical · Blu ray
Norway
October 17, 2008 · Theatrical
Poland
October 24, 2008 · Digital
Portugal
October 2, 2008 · Theatrical
Romania
September 5, 2008 · Theatrical
South Korea
March 26, 2009 · Theatrical
Spain
October 10, 2008 · Theatrical
Sweden
November 5, 2008 · Theatrical
April 1, 2009 · Physical · DVD & Blu-ray release
Switzerland
October 16, 2008 · Digital
United Kingdom
October 17, 2008 · Theatrical
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