Barn Burning

1980·Movie
41min
46
MediocreGoodWatch score

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Barn Burning fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, no humor.

Energy

Tense and violent

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension7
  • Violence7
  • Adrenaline4

Heart

Deeply moving and melancholic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Pathos9
  • Coming of Age9
  • Family Dynamics9

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor2
  • Situational Comedy0

World

History, growing up, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability5

Craft

Standout performances and characters

  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9
  • Direction7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing6
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

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You need an uplifting moodYou want fast pacing

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About

Ab Snopes (Tommy Lee Jones) is a Southern tenant farmer whose unrelenting and violent nature proves to be his undoing in William Faulkner's Barn Burning. Snopes sets his employer's barn on fire when he thinks he's been treated unfairly. His son, Sarty, is horrified. Snopes escapes justice for lack of proof, but he and his family are told to move on. No sooner do they move than Snopes is offended by his new rich employer. Torn between trying to win his father's acceptance and his aversion to what his father will do, Sarty must make a decision and act quickly. Adapted by Academy Award winning screenwriter Horton Foote, Faulkner's complex world of class divisions and hostile family relationships comes to life through a boy's attempt to liberate himself from hatred and poverty.
Southern Gothic DramaLiterary AdaptationComing-of-AgeMoral DilemmaFather-Son ConflictClass StrugglePeriod PieceBleak & IntenseCharacter-DrivenFaulknerian

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Barn Burning

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Barn Burning legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Fandango At Home. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Barn Burning worth watching?

46
MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 47/100 (IMDb 6). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Barn Burning rated?

ViolenceDisturbing imagery

Content advisories: violence and disturbing imagery.

How long is Barn Burning?

0 h 41 min

Barn Burning runs 0 h 41 min.

What language is Barn Burning in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Barn Burning?

2CAUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Barn Burning in 2 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

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