Sling Blade
“A simple man. A difficult choice.”
Synopsis
Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man, has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. Although thoroughly institutionalized, he is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2015-01-19
Top Cast
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Billy Bob Thornton
Karl Childers
Dwight Yoakam
Doyle Hargraves
J.T. Walsh
Charles Bushman
John Ritter
Vaughan Cunningham
Lucas Black
Frank Wheatley
Natalie Canerday
Linda Wheatley
James Hampton
Jerry Woolridge
Robert Duvall
Karl's Father
Rick Dial
Bill Cox
Brent Briscoe
Scooter Hodges
Christine Renee Ward
Melinda
Sarah Boss
Marsha Dwiggins
Kathy Sue Brown
Theresa Evans
Wendell Rafferty
Melvin
Bruce Hampton
Morris
Vic Chesnutt
Terence
Mickey Jones
Monty Johnson
Ian Moore
Randy Horsefeathers
Release History & Theatrical Window
Telluride Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 27, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 5, 1999
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$34.1M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
28.42x
+$32.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Billy Bob Thornton
- Screenplay & Story
- Billy Bob Thornton
- Original Score
- Daniel Lanois
- Original Title
- Sling Blade
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Production Budget
- $1.2M
- Worldwide Gross
- $34.1M
- Production Studios
- Miramax, The Shooting Gallery
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Daniel Lanois
Barry Markowitz
Hughes Winborne
Larry Meistrich, Brandon Rosser, David L. Bushell
Department Leadership Roster
Billy Bob Thornton
Director
Daniel Lanois
Original Music Composer
Hughes Winborne
Editor
Barry Markowitz
Director of Photography
Billy Bob Thornton
Screenplay
Brandon Rosser
Producer
David L. Bushell
Producer
Doug Hall
Costume Design
Clark Hunter
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sling Blade.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sling Blade.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sling Blade
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sling Blade about?
Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man, has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. Although thoroughly institutionalized, he is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.
Who directed Sling Blade?
Sling Blade was directed by Billy Bob Thornton.
Who stars in Sling Blade?
The principal cast of Sling Blade includes Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black.
When was Sling Blade released and how long is it?
Sling Blade was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 2h 15m.
What was the box office and production budget of Sling Blade?
Sling Blade had a reported production budget of $1.2M and grossed $34.1M at the worldwide box office (28.42 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Sling Blade?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sling Blade was composed by Daniel Lanois.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sling Blade?
Sling Blade holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).