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Trailer

Sling Blade

1996Movie2 h 15 minR

Drama
86
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.0Metacritic858.0Rotten Tomatoes96%92%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about everyday modern life and the mind, with standout characters.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for laughs, warmth or scares.

Movies with

Story

A simple man. A difficult choice.

Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man, has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. Although thoroughly institutionalized, he is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.

Feels like

  • Southern Gothic
  • Mentally Disabled Protagonist
  • Social Outcasts
  • Redemption
  • Violence and Compassion
  • Small Town Life
  • Intense Drama
  • Character Study
  • Class Issues

Cast

14 of 14

Crew

Directed by
Billy Bob Thornton
Written by
Billy Bob Thornton
Produced by
David L. Bushell, Brandon Rosser
Music by
Daniel Lanois

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 30, 1996 · 2 h 15 min · R

Released
August 30, 1996
Runtime
2 h 15 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$1 million
Box office
$34 million
Available in
35 countries

Tropes

Establishing Character Moment, Mama's Boy, Jerkass +9

  • Establishing Character Moment
  • Mama's Boy
  • Jerkass
  • Chekhov's Skill
  • Seemingly Profound Fool
  • Abusive Parents
  • Exact Words
  • Jerkass Has a Point
  • Did Not Get the Girl
  • Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass
  • Mama Bear
  • If I Can't Have You…

12 of 112 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Is Sling Blade worth watching?"

Questions about Sling Blade

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Sling Blade worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86 (IMDb 8, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 85).

Is Sling Blade plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was Sling Blade a box office hit?

Budget$1 million
Box office$34 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $1 million to make and earned $34 million worldwide, 28.4 times its budget.

What tropes does Sling Blade use?

Establishing Character MomentMama's BoyJerkassChekhov's SkillSeemingly Profound FoolAbusive ParentsExact WordsJerkass Has a PointDid Not Get the GirlCrouching Moron, Hidden BadassMama BearIf I Can't Have You…and 100 more

TV Tropes lists 112 tropes for it, including Establishing Character Moment, Mama's Boy, and Jerkass.