Burn After Reading

Name: Burn After Reading
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 2008-09-05
Duration: 1 h 36 min
Rating: 6.7
Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton

2008·Movie·R·96 min·★ 6.7(5,264)

Comedy Drama More English titles

“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.

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Where to watch Burn After Reading in United States

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Netflix

Netflix Standard with Ads

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Click a service to open Burn After Reading there. Availability last verified on July 11, 2026.

Where is Burn After Reading streaming around the world?

Country	Streaming on	Rent / Buy
United States	Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, YouTube Free	Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
India	—	Amazon Video
United Kingdom	—	Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video
Canada	—	Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo
Australia	—	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
Germany	Moviedome Plus Amazon Channel, Superfresh Amazon Channel	Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
France	Canal+	Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD
Spain	Filmin	Amazon Video
Brazil	—	Claro video, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Japan	—	Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

About Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading is a 2008 English-language comedy and drama film directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen. The cast is led by George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt. It has a runtime of 1h 36m. Viewers rate it 6.7/10 across 5300 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, YouTube Free.

Burn After Reading was produced by Focus Features, StudioCanal, and Relativity Media and made in United States of America and United Kingdom. It was released on September 5, 2008, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $37 million, it went on to gross $164 million worldwide.

Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Writers: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Release date: September 5, 2008
Original language: English
Age rating: R
Status: Released
Country: United States of America, United Kingdom
Budget: $37 million
Box office: $164 million
Production: Focus Features, StudioCanal, Relativity Media

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Burn After Reading cast & crew

Burn After Reading was directed by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen and written by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.

The cast features George Clooney as Harry Pfarrer, Frances McDormand as Linda Litzke, Brad Pitt as Chad Feldheimer, John Malkovich as Osborne Cox, Tilda Swinton as Katie Cox, and Richard Jenkins as Ted.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Carter Burwell, cinematography is by Emmanuel Lubezki, and it was produced by Joel Coen and Robert Graf.

Is Burn After Reading worth watching?

Burn After Reading holds an audience score of 6.7/10 from 5,264 ratings, a solidly received comedy films.

At 1h 36m, it's an easy, time-light watch.

If you enjoy comedy and drama, Burn After Reading is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Burn After Reading

In United States, you can stream Burn After Reading on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, and YouTube Free, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.