Im a huge fan's of dark comedy's but this just didnt do it for me. Brad Pitt s character was halirous but so much of the movie just seemed like more of a crime drama than a comedy which was kinda dissapointing to me. I was a little suprised at the violence and how graphic it was a couple times. There also a lot of swearing and sexual jokes in the movie too. Nothing too too great, i'd only watch it if you really want to
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Burn After Reading
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 16. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Quirky, violent Coen comedy isn't meant for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Burn After Reading
Parents need to know that this quirky comic thriller has much in common with others in the Coen brothers' canon: It's very funny and very violent. There's plenty of sex (though not much nudity) and swearing ("f--k"s galore), and characters drink, like, manipulate, and whatever else they need to do to promote their own selfish interests. But teens may still want to see it, both because it stars Brad Pitt and George Clooney and because so many of the Coens' previous comedies have become cult favorites (Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski).
Read our full review by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about whether any of the characters in the movie can be considered role models. What motivates them to behave the way they do? What do they have in common with characters in other Coen brothers movies? How does the movie as a whole stack up against the Coens' other films? Families can also discuss how a mountain is made out of a molehill in the movie. How does the situation escalate so quickly? Teens: Have you ever found yourself in circumstances that spun out of control? What did you do?
Our Members Say
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
Nothing too great..
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
Good movie with a dark, "lesson learned" outcome
I like this Cohen brothers movie because it teaches that violence and lies get you no where in the professional world.
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
Funny Movie
Great movie from the cohen brothers. I dont think i laughed that hard n the scene where osbourne and chad are in the car. Brad Pitt is hilarious and John Malkovich is dynamite.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
LOL SO FUNNY
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
See after reading my review.
Burn After Reading proves that the Coen brothers have not lost there touch of comedy or drama they put an eerie sound to the movie and dumb funny characters to add. Very Good.
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Quit makin' films, Cohen.
Dosen't get much dumber than this.
Lives in FloridaI rate this title on for age 17 and give itMy concerns are:- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- I rate this title off for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Horrible
Terrible movie, one of the worst I've ever seen. Swears in every sentence. Sex scenes. Tons of violence. Terrible characters and no plot whatsoever. Badly done story about bad circumstances. I don't recommend it for anyone at any age.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Not for Teens!
This movie has themes and scene that are not appropriate for kids or teens (as the current rating suggests). Some involve sex toys, extremely foul language, murder and very adult situations. NOT recommended for families at all!
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
a waste of good actors
The Common sense review says this is a very funny movie. I guess I just didn't get it. It was the worst movie I've probably ever seen. I just kept thinking this is going somewhere . . . anywhere. It was full of actors that I really enjoy, but not in this movie. When they got to the part with the sex chair, I turned it off in disgust. OK, so I turned it back on hoping there was a funny ending where all the loose ends came together. But there really wasn't an ending at all. Like I said, I just didn't get it.
- I rate this title on for age 16 and give it
Brilliant and Original Film with great Supporting Actor Brad Pitt.
Loved it. Must see it.
- I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 14 and give it
Dumb comedy, not worth watching.
This is a pretty dumb, pointless movie. There are 2 killing scenes, which they try to make out as funny. The people seem to not know how to say sentences without swearing, and there is a lot of sex. The whole film has about no point to it and should not be watched at any age.
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Isn't meant for kids?
Is not meant for anyone, not only are there more scenes of sexual stupidity in one hour than you will ever see in any R movie, but the whole movie had no point at all! Basically it was a thrown together peice of garbage movie that made no sense, barely had a plot, tried to hard to have sexuality humor that ended up just being pure wrong (in all scenes no one laughed but had very dissatisfing nervous like faces), and did not deserve all that they said it was up to be!
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Isn't meant for kids?
Is not meant for anyone, not only are there more scenes of sexual stupidity in one hour than you will ever see in any R movie, but the whole movie had no point at all! Basically it was a thrown together peice of garbage movie that made no sense, barely had a plot, tried to hard to have sexuality humor that ended up just being pure wrong (in all scenes no one laughed but had very dissatisfing nervous like faces), and did not deserve all that they said it was up to be!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 100% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 67% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 33% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
| 33% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
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