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      Bernie

      PG-13 Released Apr 27, 2012 1 hr. 44 min. Comedy Crime Drama TRAILER for Bernie: Trailer 1 List
      88% 172 Reviews Tomatometer 73% 25,000+ Ratings Audience Score Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) is one of the most-beloved residents in the small Texas town of Carthage. Sunday-school teacher, choir member and creator of spectacular funerals, Bernie is a friend to everyone, including Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), a rich but nasty widow whom no one else likes. When Marjorie is found shot to death and stuffed in a freezer, Bernie is charged with the murder, and concerned Carthage citizens immediately spring to his defense. Read More Read Less Watch on Peacock Stream Now

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      Critics Consensus

      Richard Linklater's Bernie is a gently told and unexpectedly amusing true-crime comedy that benefits from an impressive performance by Jack Black.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Alec C Prepare yourself for the story of one of America's most beloved and well-liked murderers! Berne Tiede is a mortician who is the most respected member of his community, until his relationship with Marjorie Nugent ends with him killing her for her abusiveness! Told from the perspectives of the real-life members of the community, this crime-comedy shows that anyone pushed to the limit can become a killer! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/01/24 Full Review Justin B I've been coming to this site for decade to check out reviews. Today, this movie inspired me to create an account and pronounce that it was easily the worst movie I've ever sat through. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 10/09/23 Full Review ed m Just ok. Great cast, but just average. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Dave S Richard Linklater's Bernie will never be confused with cinematic art and probably won't change the way that you view the world, but it sure is entertaining. Bernie (Jack Black) is a funeral director in the small town of Carthage, Texas who befriends the intensely unlikeable Marjorie (Shirley MacLaine), a vile curmudgeon hated by all. Eventually, even the kind-hearted Bernie has had enough, causing him to pump four rounds into her back, much to the eventual disbelief of the town folk. Filled with subtle and dark humor, some very clever writing, and knock-out performances from MacLaine and Black (possibly his best role), Bernie is a breath of fresh air and probably Linklater's most underappreciated movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Liz M This movie is a gem. Jack Black is perfect and the directing is excellent. A very funny movie based on a true story that could only have this flavor in a small town in Texas. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review daniel b Admittedly, a strange movie. I loved it. It's hard to talk about how bizarre it is without giving it away, but you grow to love these strange characters, despite their alarming behavior. I think the end result is that the viewer grows in compassion. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Bernie

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      Bernie

      A scene from "Bernie." Jack Black as Bernie and Shirley MacLaine as Marjorie Nugent in "Bernie." Jack Black as Bernie in "Bernie." Shirley MacLaine as Marjorie Nugent and Jack Black as Bernie in "Bernie." Jack Black (left) as Bernie in "Bernie." Jack Black as Bernie in "Bernie." Jack Black as Bernie and Shirley MacLaine as Marjorie Nugent in "Bernie." Shirley MacLaine as Marjorie Nugent and Jack Black as Bernie in "Bernie." (L-R) Brady Coleman as Scrappy Holmes and Jack Black as Bernie in "Bernie." Jack Black as Bernie in "Bernie." View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      J. Hoberman ARTINFO.com Bernie lacks the edge of malice one might reasonably expect from so nasty a tale. Feb 22, 2019 Full Review Anna Smith metro.co.uk [Jack] Black is hilarious, all towering tolerance that finally reaches boiling point. Rated: 4/5 Sep 5, 2017 Full Review Kent Jones Film Comment Magazine But the troubling question at the heart of this liberating, sunlit, deceptively simple but extremely complex and fairly formidable film is: should the law or the community itself decide the fate of its citizens? Nov 5, 2013 Full Review Emiliano Basile EscribiendoCine [Linklater] tenderly embellishes the entire situation by subtly expressing the dichotomy between the law and real life. [Full review in Spanish] Rated: 8/10 Jan 2, 2024 Full Review James Croot Stuff.co.nz While some may bridle at a serious event being treated in a glib fashion for comic effect, Linklater never openly ridicules the situation or his subjects – and serial-mugger Black is remarkably restrained. Rated: 4.5/5 Apr 21, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Linklater’s film is one of the best comedies and most interesting films of the year. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 27, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) is one of the most-beloved residents in the small Texas town of Carthage. Sunday-school teacher, choir member and creator of spectacular funerals, Bernie is a friend to everyone, including Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), a rich but nasty widow whom no one else likes. When Marjorie is found shot to death and stuffed in a freezer, Bernie is charged with the murder, and concerned Carthage citizens immediately spring to his defense.
      Director
      Richard Linklater
      Executive Producer
      Don Fox, Darby Parker, Jack Gilardi Jr., Johnny Lin, Ken Hirsh, William T. Conway, Michael Bassick, Duncan Montgomery
      Screenwriter
      Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth
      Distributor
      Millennium Entertainment
      Production Co
      Mandalay Vision, Wind Dancer Films
      Rating
      PG-13 (Some Violent Images|Brief Strong Language)
      Genre
      Comedy, Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 27, 2012, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Nov 30, 2016
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $9.2M
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