Burn After Reading
| Theatrical Performance |
| Total US Gross |
$60,355,347 |
| International Gross |
$100,800,000 |
| Worldwide Gross |
$161,155,347 |
| Home Market Performance |
| US DVD Sales: |
$18,749,004 |
Weekly Breakdown |
|
| Released |
September 12, 2008
December 18, 2008 (Peru)
December 19, 2008 (Panama)
December 23, 2008 (DVD Sale)
January 8, 2009 (Chile)
January 9, 2009 (Venezuela)
January 9, 2009 (Ecuador)
|
| Production Budget |
$37,000,000 |
| MPAA Rating |
R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence. |
| Budget Source: | L.A. Times, 9/12/2008
|
| Highest Combined Star Gross | 802 (see full chart)
|
| Keywords |
Secret Agent
|
| Distributed by |
Focus Features
|
| Produced by |
Working Title
|
| Music Composed By |
Carter Burwell
|
| Source |
Original Screenplay
|
| Major Genre |
Black Comedy
|
| Country |
United States
|
| Production Method |
Live Action
|
| Creative Type |
Contemporary Fiction
|
| Screenwriter |
Coen Brothers
|
| Director |
Joel Coen |
|
Synopsis
At the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Arlington, Va., analyst Osborne Cox arrives for a top-secret meeting. Unfortunately for Cox, the secret is soon out: he is being ousted. Cox does not take the news particularly well and returns to his Georgetown home to work on his memoirs and his drinking, not necessarily in that order. His wife Katie is dismayed, though not particularly surprised; she is already well into an illicit affair with Harry Pfarrer, a married federal marshal, and sets about making plans to leave Cox for Harry.
Elsewhere in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and seemingly worlds apart, Hardbodies Fitness Centers employee Linda Litzke can barely concentrate on her work. She is consumed with her life plan for extensive cosmetic surgery, and confides her mission to can-do colleague Chad Feldheimer. Linda is all but oblivious to the fact that the gym’s manager Ted Treffon pines for her even as she arranges dates via the Internet with other men.
When a computer disc containing material for the CIA analyst’s memoirs accidentally falls into the hands of Linda and Chad, the duo are intent on exploiting their find. As Ted frets, “No good can come of this,” events spiral out of everyone’s and anyone’s control, in a cascading series of darkly hilarious encounters.
Weekend Chart Record
| Date | Rank | | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
| 9/12/2008 |
1 |
 |
$19,128,001 |
  |
2,651 |
$7,215 |
$19,128,001 |
3 |
| 9/19/2008 |
2 |
 |
$11,028,257 |
-42.34% |
2,657 |
$4,151 |
$36,135,221 |
10 |
| 9/26/2008 |
5 |
 |
$6,196,269 |
-43.81% |
2,649 |
$2,339 |
$45,567,391 |
17 |
| 10/3/2008 |
7 |
 |
$4,120,129 |
-33.51% |
2,397 |
$1,719 |
$51,678,103 |
24 |
| 10/10/2008 |
14 |
 |
$2,095,647 |
-49.14% |
1,406 |
$1,491 |
$55,177,399 |
31 |
| 10/17/2008 |
18 |
 |
$1,097,546 |
-47.63% |
708 |
$1,550 |
$57,118,919 |
38 |
| 10/24/2008 |
19 |
 |
$744,475 |
-32.17% |
422 |
$1,764 |
$58,273,819 |
45 |
| 10/31/2008 |
22 |
 |
$456,578 |
-38.67% |
327 |
$1,396 |
$58,976,060 |
52 |
| 11/7/2008 |
24 |
 |
$363,846 |
-20.31% |
270 |
$1,348 |
$59,501,512 |
59 |
| 11/14/2008 |
31 |
 |
$195,748 |
-46.20% |
207 |
$946 |
$59,850,794 |
66 |
| 11/21/2008 |
34 |
 |
$112,607 |
-42.47% |
134 |
$840 |
$60,029,592 |
73 |
| 11/28/2008 |
35 |
 |
$86,900 |
-22.83% |
97 |
$896 |
$60,169,788 |
80 |
| 12/5/2008 |
38 |
 |
$45,414 |
-47.74% |
78 |
$582 |
$60,244,987 |
87 |
| 12/12/2008 |
43 |
 |
$32,481 |
-28.48% |
57 |
$570 |
$60,301,580 |
94 |
| 12/19/2008 |
50 |
 |
$16,314 |
-49.77% |
44 |
$371 |
$60,338,891 |
101 |
Daily Chart Record
| Date | Rank | | Gross | % Change | Theaters | Per Theater | Total Gross | Days |
| 9/12/2008 |
1 |
 |
$6,454,564 |
  |
2,651 |
$2,435 |
$6,454,564 |
1 |
| 9/13/2008 |
1 |
 |
$7,937,585 |
+22.98% |
2,651 |
$2,994 |
$14,392,149 |
2 |
| 9/14/2008 |
1 |
 |
$4,735,852 |
-40.34% |
2,651 |
$1,786 |
$19,128,001 |
3 |
| 9/15/2008 |
1 |
 |
$1,493,389 |
-68.47% |
2,651 |
$563 |
$20,621,390 |
4 |
| 9/16/2008 |
1 |
 |
$1,640,625 |
+9.86% |
2,651 |
$619 |
$22,262,015 |
5 |
| 9/17/2008 |
1 |
 |
$1,437,723 |
-12.37% |
2,651 |
$542 |
$23,699,738 |
6 |
| 9/18/2008 |
1 |
 |
$1,407,226 |
-2.12% |
2,651 |
$531 |
$25,106,964 |
7 |
| 9/19/2008 |
2 |
 |
$3,478,005 |
+147.15% |
2,657 |
$1,309 |
$28,584,969 |
8 |
| 9/20/2008 |
2 |
 |
$5,004,740 |
+43.90% |
2,657 |
$1,884 |
$33,589,709 |
9 |
| 9/21/2008 |
2 |
 |
$2,545,512 |
-49.14% |
2,657 |
$958 |
$36,135,221 |
10 |
| 9/22/2008 |
2 |
 |
$790,649 |
-68.94% |
2,657 |
$298 |
$36,925,870 |
11 |
| 9/23/2008 |
2 |
 |
$907,846 |
+14.82% |
2,657 |
$342 |
$37,833,716 |
12 |
| 9/24/2008 |
2 |
 |
$794,863 |
-12.45% |
2,657 |
$299 |
$38,628,579 |
13 |
| 9/25/2008 |
2 |
 |
$742,543 |
-6.58% |
2,657 |
$279 |
$39,371,122 |
14 |
| 9/26/2008 |
5 |
 |
$1,635,096 |
+120.20% |
2,649 |
$617 |
$41,006,218 |
15 |
| 9/27/2008 |
4 |
 |
$3,069,438 |
+87.72% |
2,649 |
$1,159 |
$44,075,656 |
16 |
| 9/28/2008 |
6 |
 |
$1,491,735 |
-51.40% |
2,649 |
$563 |
$45,567,391 |
17 |
| 9/29/2008 |
4 |
 |
$471,328 |
-68.40% |
2,649 |
$178 |
$46,038,719 |
18 |
| 9/30/2008 |
3 |
 |
$601,342 |
+27.58% |
2,649 |
$227 |
$46,640,061 |
19 |
| 10/1/2008 |
3 |
 |
$514,309 |
-14.47% |
2,649 |
$194 |
$47,154,370 |
20 |
| 10/2/2008 |
4 |
 |
$403,604 |
-21.52% |
2,649 |
$152 |
$47,557,974 |
21 |
| 10/3/2008 |
7 |
 |
$1,262,603 |
+212.83% |
2,397 |
$527 |
$48,820,577 |
22 |
| 10/4/2008 |
7 |
 |
$1,904,812 |
+50.86% |
2,397 |
$795 |
$50,725,389 |
23 |
| 10/5/2008 |
8 |
 |
$952,714 |
-49.98% |
2,397 |
$397 |
$51,678,103 |
24 |
| 10/6/2008 |
7 |
 |
$316,479 |
-66.78% |
2,397 |
$132 |
$51,994,582 |
25 |
| 10/7/2008 |
6 |
 |
$337,402 |
+6.61% |
2,397 |
$141 |
$52,331,984 |
26 |
| 10/8/2008 |
6 |
 |
$382,693 |
+13.42% |
2,397 |
$160 |
$52,714,677 |
27 |
| 10/9/2008 |
7 |
 |
$367,075 |
-4.08% |
2,397 |
$153 |
$53,081,752 |
28 |
| 10/10/2008 |
- | |
$629,772 |
+71.56% |
1,406 |
$448 |
$53,711,524 |
29 |
| 10/11/2008 |
13 |
 |
$943,054 |
+49.75% |
1,406 |
$671 |
$54,654,578 |
30 |
| 10/12/2008 |
13 |
 |
$522,821 |
-44.56% |
1,406 |
$372 |
$55,177,399 |
31 |
| 10/13/2008 |
14 |
 |
$298,595 |
-42.89% |
1,406 |
$212 |
$55,475,994 |
32 |
| 10/14/2008 |
14 |
 |
$188,907 |
-36.73% |
1,406 |
$134 |
$55,664,901 |
33 |
| 10/15/2008 |
13 |
 |
$161,732 |
-14.39% |
1,406 |
$115 |
$55,826,633 |
34 |
| 10/16/2008 |
14 |
 |
$194,740 |
+20.41% |
1,406 |
$139 |
$56,021,373 |
35 |
| 10/17/2008 |
- | |
$346,452 |
+77.90% |
708 |
$489 |
$56,367,825 |
36 |
| 10/18/2008 |
- | |
$495,504 |
+43.02% |
708 |
$700 |
$56,863,329 |
37 |
| 10/19/2008 |
- | |
$255,590 |
-48.42% |
708 |
$361 |
$57,118,919 |
38 |
| 10/20/2008 |
- | |
$94,574 |
-63.00% |
708 |
$134 |
$57,213,493 |
39 |
| 10/21/2008 |
- | |
$109,565 |
+15.85% |
708 |
$155 |
$57,323,058 |
40 |
| 10/22/2008 |
- | |
$103,606 |
-5.44% |
708 |
$146 |
$57,426,664 |
41 |
| 10/23/2008 |
- | |
$102,680 |
-0.89% |
708 |
$145 |
$57,529,344 |
42 |
| 10/24/2008 |
- | |
$232,770 |
+126.69% |
422 |
$552 |
$57,762,114 |
43 |
| 10/25/2008 |
- | |
$337,858 |
+45.15% |
422 |
$801 |
$58,099,972 |
44 |
| 10/26/2008 |
- | |
$173,847 |
-48.54% |
422 |
$412 |
$58,273,819 |
45 |
| 10/27/2008 |
- | |
$57,227 |
-67.08% |
422 |
$136 |
$58,331,046 |
46 |
| 10/28/2008 |
- | |
$66,373 |
+15.98% |
422 |
$157 |
$58,397,419 |
47 |
| 10/29/2008 |
- | |
$61,145 |
-7.88% |
422 |
$145 |
$58,458,564 |
48 |
| 10/30/2008 |
- | |
$60,918 |
-0.37% |
422 |
$144 |
$58,519,482 |
49 |
| 10/31/2008 |
- | |
$93,450 |
+53.40% |
327 |
$286 |
$58,612,932 |
50 |
| 11/1/2008 |
- | |
$242,254 |
+159.23% |
327 |
$741 |
$58,855,186 |
51 |
| 11/2/2008 |
- | |
$120,874 |
-50.10% |
327 |
$370 |
$58,976,060 |
52 |
| 11/3/2008 |
- | |
$37,582 |
-68.91% |
327 |
$115 |
$59,013,642 |
53 |
| 11/4/2008 |
- | |
$34,544 |
-8.08% |
327 |
$106 |
$59,048,186 |
54 |
| 11/5/2008 |
- | |
$41,996 |
+21.57% |
327 |
$128 |
$59,090,182 |
55 |
| 11/6/2008 |
- | |
$47,484 |
+13.07% |
327 |
$145 |
$59,137,666 |
56 |
| 11/7/2008 |
- | |
$107,717 |
+126.85% |
270 |
$399 |
$59,245,383 |
57 |
| 11/8/2008 |
- | |
$166,642 |
+54.70% |
270 |
$617 |
$59,412,025 |
58 |
| 11/9/2008 |
- | |
$89,487 |
-46.30% |
270 |
$331 |
$59,501,512 |
59 |
| 11/10/2008 |
- | |
$39,360 |
-56.02% |
270 |
$146 |
$59,540,872 |
60 |
| 11/11/2008 |
- | |
$56,009 |
+42.30% |
270 |
$207 |
$59,596,881 |
61 |
| 11/12/2008 |
- | |
$29,952 |
-46.52% |
270 |
$111 |
$59,626,833 |
62 |
| 11/13/2008 |
- | |
$28,213 |
-5.81% |
270 |
$104 |
$59,655,046 |
63 |
| 11/14/2008 |
- | |
$61,058 |
+116.42% |
207 |
$295 |
$59,716,104 |
64 |
| 11/15/2008 |
- | |
$90,974 |
+49.00% |
207 |
$439 |
$59,807,078 |
65 |
| 11/16/2008 |
- | |
$43,716 |
-51.95% |
207 |
$211 |
$59,850,794 |
66 |
| 11/17/2008 |
- | |
$14,622 |
-66.55% |
207 |
$71 |
$59,865,416 |
67 |
| 11/18/2008 |
- | |
$17,486 |
+19.59% |
207 |
$84 |
$59,882,902 |
68 |
| 11/19/2008 |
- | |
$16,518 |
-5.54% |
207 |
$80 |
$59,899,420 |
69 |
| 11/20/2008 |
- | |
$17,565 |
+6.34% |
207 |
$85 |
$59,916,985 |
70 |
| 11/21/2008 |
- | |
$34,138 |
+94.35% |
134 |
$255 |
$59,951,123 |
71 |
| 11/22/2008 |
- | |
$53,090 |
+55.52% |
134 |
$396 |
$60,004,213 |
72 |
| 11/23/2008 |
- | |
$25,379 |
-52.20% |
134 |
$189 |
$60,029,592 |
73 |
| 11/24/2008 |
- | |
$12,156 |
-52.10% |
134 |
$91 |
$60,041,748 |
74 |
| 11/26/2008 |
- | |
$12,138 |
  |
97 |
$125 |
$60,069,293 |
76 |
| 11/27/2008 |
- | |
$13,595 |
+12.00% |
97 |
$140 |
$60,082,888 |
77 |
| 11/28/2008 |
- | |
$34,240 |
+151.86% |
97 |
$353 |
$60,117,128 |
78 |
| 11/29/2008 |
- | |
$35,633 |
+4.07% |
97 |
$367 |
$60,152,761 |
79 |
| 11/30/2008 |
- | |
$17,027 |
-52.22% |
97 |
$176 |
$60,169,788 |
80 |
| 12/1/2008 |
- | |
$7,345 |
-56.86% |
97 |
$76 |
$60,177,133 |
81 |
| 12/2/2008 |
- | |
$8,290 |
+12.87% |
97 |
$85 |
$60,185,423 |
82 |
| 12/5/2008 |
- | |
$14,598 |
  |
78 |
$187 |
$60,214,171 |
85 |
| 12/6/2008 |
- | |
$19,815 |
+35.74% |
78 |
$254 |
$60,233,986 |
86 |
| 12/7/2008 |
- | |
$11,001 |
-44.48% |
78 |
$141 |
$60,244,987 |
87 |
| 12/8/2008 |
- | |
$6,412 |
-41.71% |
78 |
$82 |
$60,251,399 |
88 |
| 12/9/2008 |
- | |
$6,084 |
-5.12% |
78 |
$78 |
$60,257,483 |
89 |
| 12/10/2008 |
- | |
$5,702 |
-6.28% |
78 |
$73 |
$60,263,185 |
90 |
| 12/11/2008 |
- | |
$5,914 |
+3.72% |
78 |
$76 |
$60,269,099 |
91 |
| 12/12/2008 |
- | |
$10,348 |
+74.97% |
57 |
$182 |
$60,279,447 |
92 |
| 12/13/2008 |
- | |
$14,116 |
+36.41% |
57 |
$248 |
$60,293,563 |
93 |
| 12/14/2008 |
- | |
$8,017 |
-43.21% |
57 |
$141 |
$60,301,580 |
94 |
| 12/15/2008 |
- | |
$5,389 |
-32.78% |
57 |
$95 |
$60,306,969 |
95 |
| 12/16/2008 |
- | |
$4,783 |
-11.25% |
57 |
$84 |
$60,311,752 |
96 |
| 12/17/2008 |
- | |
$5,563 |
+16.31% |
57 |
$98 |
$60,317,315 |
97 |
| 12/18/2008 |
- | |
$5,262 |
-5.41% |
57 |
$92 |
$60,322,577 |
98 |
| 12/19/2008 |
- | |
$5,081 |
-3.44% |
44 |
$115 |
$60,327,658 |
99 |
| 12/20/2008 |
- | |
$6,152 |
+21.08% |
44 |
$140 |
$60,333,810 |
100 |
| 12/21/2008 |
- | |
$5,081 |
-17.41% |
44 |
$115 |
$60,338,891 |
101 |
| 12/22/2008 |
- | |
$4,001 |
-21.26% |
44 |
$91 |
$60,342,892 |
102 |
| 12/23/2008 |
- | |
$4,186 |
+4.62% |
44 |
$95 |
$60,347,078 |
103 |
| 12/24/2008 |
- | |
$3,380 |
-19.25% |
44 |
$77 |
$60,350,458 |
104 |
| 12/25/2008 |
- | |
$4,889 |
+44.64% |
44 |
$111 |
$60,355,347 |
105 |
Color coding:
= Weekend days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
= Public Holidays (New Year's Day, July 4 etc.)
|