Mississippi Burning
Seen it?1988 | 128 min | Drama, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
It collected a shelf of major awards, it earned strong reviews (79% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences rate it highly (7.7 out of 10) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Cop Land or The Departed, start here.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 8 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence.
Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his partner, a former sheriff.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.7 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 3 BAFTAs: 43rd British Academy Film Awards: Best Sound, 43rd British Academy Film Awards: Best Cinematography, 43rd British Academy Film Awards: Best Editing. Won 1 Berlin award: 39th Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Bear for Best Actor. Also nominated for 4 Golden Globes, 2 more BAFTAs and 1 more Berlin award. Plus 12 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$35 million worldwide on a $15 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 461K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Cop Land
Saturday SpecialAnother FBI crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Departed Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed crime drama.
The Boondock Saints
Weeknight WatchAlso stars Willem Dafoe, in another crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Dolores Claiborne Saturday SpecialAnother crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Killer Inside Me Weeknight WatchAnother crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Alan Parker
- Gene HackmanAgent Rupert Anderson
- Willem DafoeAgent Alan Ward
- Frances McDormandMrs. Pell
- Brad DourifDeputy Clinton Pell
- R. Lee ErmeyMayor Tilman
- Gailard SartainSheriff Stuckey
- Stephen TobolowskyTownley
- Michael RookerFrank Bailey
- Pruitt Taylor VinceLester Cowens
- Badja DjolaAgent Monk