Mississippi Burning
1988 · Movie · R · 128 min
★ 7.7(2,020)unSUB Rating
Two FBI agents investigate the 1960s murder of civil rights workers in a segregated Southern town where a conspiracy of silence protects the perpetrators. Their investigation pits procedure against local attitudes, exposing deep racial division and resistance as they press for answers and justice.
Also known as Le Mississippi brûle
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi, Pluto TV and Amazon Prime Video — also streaming on Amazon Prime Video and MGM+.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
unSUB does not host or stream any content. Every link above goes to a licensed provider.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1988
- Release date
- 1988-12-08
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Max quality
- HD
- TMDB rating (input)
- 7.7/10 (2,020 votes)
- Box office
- $34,603,943
- Budget
- $15,000,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this tense civil-rights investigation if you want a gritty thriller with persistent unease and outrage, Not for you if you’re looking for a light or purely uplifting experience; similar titles include In the Heat of the Night and Thunderheart.
Pros: tense, uneasy pace; strong leads; important theme | Cons: hard-to-watch racism; sometimes simplified; historical/in factual issues
Themes
- suicide
- sheriff
- police
- funeral
- ku klux klan
- mississippi river
- shotgun
- fbi
- deputy sheriff
- motel
- u.s. navy
- rope
- +11 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1989
- National Board of Review Award — Best Film
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1989 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1989 · nominated
Show all 10 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1989 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1989 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1989 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1989 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1989 · nominated
Cast & crew
Gene Hackman
as Agent Rupert Anderson
Willem Dafoe
as Agent Alan Ward
Frances McDormand
as Mrs. Pell
Brad Dourif
as Deputy Clinton Pell
R. Lee Ermey
as Mayor Tilman
Gailard Sartain
as Sheriff Stuckey
Stephen Tobolowsky
as Townley
Michael Rooker
as Frank Bailey
Pruitt Taylor Vince
as Lester Cowens
Badja Djola
as Agent Monk
Directed by Alan Parker