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Sling Blade

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,436
209
Sling Blade (1996)
HV
Play trailer1:51
2 Videos
72 Photos
Drama
Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.Karl Childers, a simple man hospitalized since his childhood murder of his mother and her lover, is released to start a new life in a small town.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,436
209
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Writer
      • Billy Bob Thornton(play)
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Dwight Yoakam
      • J.T. Walsh
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Writer
      • Billy Bob Thornton(play)
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Dwight Yoakam
      • J.T. Walsh
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 343User reviews
    • 86Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos2

    Sling Blade
    Trailer 1:51
    Sling Blade
    Sling Blade
    Trailer 1:53
    Sling Blade

    Photos72

    John Ritter and Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    John Ritter in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black in Sling Blade (1996)
    John Ritter, Billy Bob Thornton, and Dwight Yoakam in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)
    Billy Bob Thornton at an event for Sling Blade (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Billy Bob Thornton
    Billy Bob Thornton
    • Karl Childers
    Dwight Yoakam
    Dwight Yoakam
    • Doyle Hargraves
    J.T. Walsh
    J.T. Walsh
    • Charles Bushman
    John Ritter
    John Ritter
    • Vaughan Cunningham
    Lucas Black
    Lucas Black
    • Frank Wheatley
    Natalie Canerday
    Natalie Canerday
    • Linda Wheatley
    James Hampton
    James Hampton
    • Jerry Woolridge
    Robert Duvall
    Robert Duvall
    • Karl's Father
    Rick Dial
    • Bill Cox
    Brent Briscoe
    Brent Briscoe
    • Scooter Hodges
    Christine Renee Ward
    Christine Renee Ward
    • Melinda
    • (as Christy Ward)
    Sarah Boss
    • Marsha Dwiggins
    Kathy Sue Brown
    • Theresa Evans
    Wendell Rafferty
    • Melvin
    Bruce Hampton
    • Morris
    • (as Col. Bruce Hampton Ret.)
    Vic Chesnutt
    • Terence
    Mickey Jones
    Mickey Jones
    • Monty Johnson
    Ian Moore
    • Randy Horsefeathers
    • Director
      • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Writer
      • Billy Bob Thornton(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Billy Wilder once told Billy Bob Thornton that he was "too ugly" to be an actor, and that he should write a screenplay for himself, where he could exploit his "less than perfect" features. After this movie launched Thornton's career, he publicly discussed his conversation with Wilder, which was at a cocktail party where he was working as a waiter. He got a call from Wilder, who invited him over to his house. Wilder said he didn't recall their conversation, but was glad that he heeded his advice. As a gift, Wilder gave Thornton a paperback copy of this movie's script with his autograph, and a personal message inscribed on it.
    • Goofs
      When Karl is talking to the Frostee Cream Boy, there are no cars on the road behind him. But whenever the camera is aimed at the Frostee Cream, there is a lot of traffic on the road reflected in the window. Billy Bob Thornton points out in the DVD commentary that this is because the local police had another pressing issue the day they filmed Jim Jarmusch, and they couldn't be there to stop traffic.
    • Quotes

      Karl: I like them French fried potaters.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits start about 18 minutes into the film.
    • Alternate versions
      The Director's Cut runs 12 minutes longer than the original theatrical releases.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Star Trek: First Contact/Shine/Jingle All the Way/Sling Blade/Microcosmos (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      The One I Love
      (instrumental)

      Written by Ali Jennings and Daniel Lanois

      Performed by Ali Jennings

      Courtesy of Daniel Lanois, Ali Jennings Songs/Socan, Daniel Lanois Songs/Socan

    User reviews343

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    You Ought Not Pass on this Movie
    I remember first watching Sling Blade and thinking, "Oh no, here is a Forest Gump copycat." After all, the main character, Karl (Billy Bob Thornton) was mentally challenged and they were in the South. In reality, that's where the similarities stopped, but I didn't know that at the time. The second detractor for me was Billy Bob Thornton. I had only seen Billy Bob in one movie before Sling Blade and that was Bad Santa (yes I saw Sling Blade for the first time that many years later) and I thought that movie was dreadful, hence my impression of Billy Bob was also negative.

    Sling Blade was a welcome surprise. Billy Bob did an excellent job with the role and of course I was doubly surprised to see that he had written and directed the movie.

    Sling Blade was terrific in its simplicity. Karl was a simple man, he lived with simple folks in a simple town. That's not to say that they were without problems. Karl's mental handicap, Linda Wheatley's (Natalie Canderday) man issues, Frank Wheatley's (Lucas Black) fatherless issues, Doyle's (Dwight Yoakam) drinking problem, et al. For the simplicity of it all it was simply perfect.
    helpful•25
    5
    • view_and_review
    • Oct 8, 2015

    FAQ3

    • Does Karl have Tourette Syndrome?
    • Why was Doyle so cruel?
    • How old is Karl?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Resplandor en la noche
    • Filming locations
      • Benton, Arkansas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Miramax
      • Shooting Gallery
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,444,121
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $28,139
      • Dec 1, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $24,444,121
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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