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Bernie

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for Bernie PG-13 2012 1h 44m Comedy Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 167 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede 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, 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.
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Bernie

Bernie

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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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Critics Reviews

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J. Hoberman ARTINFO.com Feb 22, 2019
Bernie lacks the edge of malice one might reasonably expect from so nasty a tale. Go to Full Review Anna Smith metro.co.uk Sep 5, 2017
4/5
[Jack] Black is hilarious, all towering tolerance that finally reaches boiling point. Go to Full Review Kent Jones Film Comment Magazine Nov 5, 2013
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? Go to Full Review Michael Leader Den of Geek May 8, 2024
Bernie sits squarely in the middle of Linklater’s indie-mainstream spectrum – an experiment in marrying drama and documentary, which inevitably satisfies neither. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ Apr 21, 2023
4.5/5
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. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Sep 27, 2022
3.5/4
Linklater’s film is one of the best comedies and most interesting films of the year. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike P @RT09890132 Aug 8, 2026 Affable true crime drama and human interest story...From an unlikely source; Richard Linklater...Which is infused with a healthy dose of black humor, compassion and clear-eyed analysis...All about Bernie Tiede, a popular small town Funeral Director...Who befriends miserly curmudgeon Marjorie Nugent...And then almost absent-mindedly falls into a crazy premeditated murder scenario... And this movie comes to life because of the fantastic performances of the leads; particularly Jack Black; who makes us love this odd man ...We instantly recognize Bernie, even as the movie starts, and completely understand him; and that's what makes the story that unfolds so compelling...This odd, sweet and sad cautionary tale...About the best of intentions leading to total disaster for everyone involved... It's a great movie, and highly recommended. See more Dominique E @encisonico Aug 5, 2026 Such a great casting with Jack Black as Bernie and Matt as prosecutor. Black depicted Bernie perfectly based on the real community anecdotes and support for him. What an interesting story. See more Furrocious O @Furrocious Aug 2, 2026 Loved it. Jack Black is hilarious and great as always. Truth really is stranger than fiction & Bernie proves it. See more Brighton N @RT09904023 May 29, 2026 Bernie has a wonderful premise and phenomenal performances from everybody involved! The script is so humorous and witty, the story is heartbreaking and justifiable, and, all along, it offers a great look into the power of forgiveness and the necessity of justice. Check out my more in-depth review at The Reel Ranker by searching "Bernie" ;) See more stephen C @Clappydoodle May 17, 2026 Excellent film. Hard to believe it's a true story, but it sure is (with some poetic licence in the script, no doubt). Great acting, good script. Just enough subtle humour, particularly the interviews of the locals. Nothing sinister or macabre to worry about. Thoroughly enjoyed it. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Apr 4, 2026 The worldwide gross is $10,173,061.00 over a budget of $6,000,000.00. Not as much as the production budget. See more Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Richard Linklater

Director

Jack Black

Bernie Tiede

Shirley MacLaine

Marjorie Nugent

Matthew McConaughey

Danny Buck

Brady Coleman

Scrappy Holmes

Richard Robichaux

Lloyd Hornbuckler

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Bernie

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Bernie

Bernie: Trailer 1 Bernie: Trailer 1 2:02 Now Playing View more videos
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Bernie

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

Movie Info

Synopsis Assistant funeral director Bernie Tiede 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, 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
Producer
Celine Rattray, Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer, Matt Williams, David McFadzean, Judd Payne, Dete Meserve, Ginger Sledge, Richard Linklater
Screenwriter
Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth
Distributor
Millennium Entertainment
Production Co
Detour Filmproduction, Wind Dancer Films, Mandalay Vision
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
Runtime
1h 44m
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