Burn After Reading
Intelligence is relative.
Directed by Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Produced by Focus Features, StudioCanal
A darkly comic, paranoia-soaked farce where ordinary people's petty schemes spiral into absurdity and violence, driven by self-interest and miscommunication.
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.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Does Burn After Reading end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 83% of films.
Is Burn After Reading scary? Yes. More frightening than 76% of films.
Is Burn After Reading easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.
Is Burn After Reading sad? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
Is Burn After Reading violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
Cinnamon Score
How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Distinctly its own thing.
How unlike any other film this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Burn After Reading, and what each one shares →
Like Burn After Reading
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Burn After Reading
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Burn After Reading, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Burn After Reading, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Burn After Reading, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
