Mississippi Burning

Name: Mississippi Burning
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: January 27, 1989
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 65
Cast: Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe

1989

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 106 Ratings

See All

8.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.5	Your Score
8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 106 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Mississippi Burning

Now Playing: Mississippi Burning

Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures Corporation | Release Date: January 27, 1989 | R

Starring: Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe

Summary: A fictionalized version of the murders of three civil rights activists on June 21, 1964 in Mississippi. The FBI comes in to solve the case and succeeds only after using unethical and illegal means. (MGM)

Director: Alan Parker

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 128 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Apart from its pure entertainment value - this is the best American crime movie in years - it is an important statement about a time and a condition that should not be forgotten. The Academy loves to honor prestigious movies in which long-ago crimes are rectified in far-away places. Here is a nominee with the ink still wet on its pages. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

A powerful drama about the murder of three civil-rights workers in the South. Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe are FBI men investigating. A legitimate Oscar contender. [6 Jan 1989, p.5D]

Desson Howe

Mississippi Burning speeds down the complicated, painful path of civil rights in search of a good thriller. Surprisingly, it finds it Read full review

Empire Barry Mcllhenney

With remarkable performances, aggressive direction and a cracking pace, this is superb cinema, even if the historical accuracy leaves much to be desired. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Though its credibility is undermined by a fanciful ending, Mississippi Burning captures much of the truth in its telling of the impact of a 1964 FBI probe into the murders of three civil rights workers. Read full review

Judy Stone

Parker recreates the hate-and-fear-filled atmosphere in that small Southern town with broad brush strokes. But in the end, all of his spectacular fires send out a lot more heat than light. [13 Jan 1989, p.E1]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The glorification of the FBI, the obfuscation about Jim Crow laws, and the absurd melodramatics may all have been well-intentioned, but the understanding about the past and the present of racism that emerges is depressingly thin. Read full review

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

bh92

Jan 4, 2013

This film is a classic. It is truly gripping with the detectives playing two sensational performances. In particular, the violent scene at the barbers shop is excellent. The film also plays with all the emotions and sometimes is painful to watch as we witness the cruelty and suffering causedThis film is a classic. It is truly gripping with the detectives playing two sensational performances. In particular, the violent scene at the barbers shop is excellent. The film also plays with all the emotions and sometimes is painful to watch as we witness the cruelty and suffering caused by the KKK in Mississippi.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

geewah

Jan 18, 2021

A fictionalised telling based on a true life crime, this is one powerful movie.
Hackman and Defoe are fantastic as the two FBI agents.
One of the best movies of 1989.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Andys_Reviews

Jul 25, 2013

Although based on real events, the filmmakers go to great lengths to make it clear that this is a work of fiction. As such it works very well; it is a very powerful drama that puts the fight for civil rights to the fore. I must say I found it quite thought provoking, very well made andAlthough based on real events, the filmmakers go to great lengths to make it clear that this is a work of fiction. As such it works very well; it is a very powerful drama that puts the fight for civil rights to the fore. I must say I found it quite thought provoking, very well made and really well shot. The performances were all excellent with (for me), Gene Hackman standing out; although I thought Willem Dafoe was very good and Brad Dourif was excellent as the loathsome Deputy Pell. I also have to mention a couple of small roles; it was nice to see both Stephen Tobolowsky as Clayton Townley and R. Lee Ermey as Mayor Tilman; I know they didn’t have an awful lot to do, but they were both quality. Over all, an interesting drama that kept me interested all the way through a definite ‘must’ for any cinephile.

SteelMonster’s verdict: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

My score: 8.7/10.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

amheretojudge

Sep 15, 2018

essentially husky and cunningly crispy..

Mississippi Burning Mississippi Burning is a character driven political thriller about FBI investigation that creates havoc as they start taking matters in hand after racism increases like a fire catching forest in a town. Depicting such a delicateessentially husky and cunningly crispy..

Mississippi Burning

Mississippi Burning is a character driven political thriller about FBI investigation that creates havoc as they start taking matters in hand after racism increases like a fire catching forest in a town. Depicting such a delicate concept, the feature is surprisingly bold and obviously poignant with some indelible gut wrenching visuals. And the makers in here, respects both the sides of the political aspects and walks on a fair and clear line. Contrary to what premise promises or suggests, there is a lot more in here to explore than mere investigation procedure and no matter how rudimentary it may be, its metaphorical and satirical tone keeps the audience tangled in its pathos bubble. The background score may not be up front factoring the most, but it certainly has amazing cinematography and fine editing. "The buddy cop" chemistry should actually be like such and it defines it with such subtle panache that leaves long gasping of air whenever they are on screen. As mentioned, the performance is revelation in here where both the lead cast going head to head is one of the primary reason why stakes communicate fluently. Hackman has genuinely invested all his chips in with Dafoe supporting him thoroughly and McDormand proving once again why she is one of the finest actress we have. Gerolmo's exquisite script is justified by Parker's execution skills where he leaves no barrs while conveying the message. The inner politics brewed within the period depicted (the tables turning half way through the tale is not only unexpected but utterly pleasing to encounter too), Hackman and Dafoe sharing wisdom through funny bits and their performance that binds it all, are the high points of the feature. Mississippi Burning is more than the genre could title it for, as it is essentially husky and cunningly crispy for the entire majestic two hours.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Toasty87

Jul 12, 2020

Good script Good casting and good acting but it seems all had been thrown in a big pot and released.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EssenceOfSugar

Jul 28, 2012

Comprised mostly of racial abuse and interrogations, this portrayal of a certain historical event is flawed because it is all jumbled together, thinly veiled as a historical masterpiece. The difficulty of using these racial themes within film is the accuracy that it is shown in order to beComprised mostly of racial abuse and interrogations, this portrayal of a certain historical event is flawed because it is all jumbled together, thinly veiled as a historical masterpiece. The difficulty of using these racial themes within film is the accuracy that it is shown in order to be of certain historical value. It is one thing that you use an event from history and go slightly off track to improve it, it is another thing that you take an event from history and change it around into a complete mess that disrupts the perhaps flawless construction of history. Of course, this film is of little entertainment value, not because of the violent, horrific aspects, but because of the intensity. It wasn't all doom and gloom in the 1960's, but I suppose you could expect that from something titled 'Mississippi Burning'. At least the ending provided something a little more cheerful, despite the fact many people had been killed in the process.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

imthenoob

Nov 4, 2018

The director makes it a point to say that this is a fiction, despite being based on a real-life event, and I couldn't agree more. It's so annoyingly over dramatized that it fails to keep you even remotely interested in it. And often times, The story is dropped in order to show off some weakThe director makes it a point to say that this is a fiction, despite being based on a real-life event, and I couldn't agree more. It's so annoyingly over dramatized that it fails to keep you even remotely interested in it. And often times, The story is dropped in order to show off some weak action scene, I just don't get it. And what's even more insulting is that the 3 murdered men, who this film is based on, are barely mentioned at all in this film. Now that is insulting.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 9 REVIEWS