Mississippi Burning
“1964. When America was at war with itself.”
Synopsis
Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his partner, a former sheriff.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-11-17
Top Cast
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Gene Hackman
Agent Rupert Anderson
Willem Dafoe
Agent Alan Ward
Frances McDormand
Mrs. Pell
Brad Dourif
Deputy Clinton Pell
R. Lee Ermey
Mayor Tilman
Gailard Sartain
Sheriff Stuckey
Stephen Tobolowsky
Townley
Michael Rooker
Frank Bailey
Pruitt Taylor Vince
Lester Cowens
Badja Djola
Agent Monk
Kevin Dunn
Agent Bird
Frankie Faison
Eulogist
Thomas B. Mason
Judge (as Tom Mason)
Geoffrey Nauffts
Goatee
Rick Zieff
Passenger
Christopher White
Black Passenger
Gladys Greer
Hattie
Jake Gipson
Mose
Release History & Theatrical Window
Shanghai International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
December 8, 1988
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 27, 2015
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$34.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.31x
+$19.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alan Parker
- Screenplay & Story
- Chris Gerolmo
- Original Score
- Trevor Jones
- Original Title
- Mississippi Burning
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 8m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $34.6M
- Production Studios
- Orion Pictures, Frederick Zollo Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alan Parker
Chris Gerolmo
Trevor Jones
Peter Biziou
Gerry Hambling
Robert F. Colesberry, Frederick Zollo
Department Leadership Roster
Alan Parker
Director
Chris Gerolmo
Screenplay
Trevor Jones
Original Music Composer
Peter Biziou
Director of Photography
Robert F. Colesberry
Producer
Gerry Hambling
Editor
Philip Harrison
Production Design
John Robotham
Stunt Coordinator
Geoffrey Kirkland
Production Design
Aude Bronson-Howard
Costume Design
Frederick Zollo
Producer
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 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Mississippi Burning.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mississippi Burning
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Mississippi Burning about?
Two FBI agents investigating the murder of civil rights workers during the 60s seek to breach the conspiracy of silence in a small Southern town where segregation divides black and white. The younger agent trained in FBI school runs up against the small town ways of his partner, a former sheriff.
Who directed Mississippi Burning?
Mississippi Burning was directed by Alan Parker.
Who stars in Mississippi Burning?
The principal cast of Mississippi Burning includes Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif, R. Lee Ermey.
When was Mississippi Burning released and how long is it?
Mississippi Burning was released in 1988 with a total runtime of 2h 8m.
What was the box office and production budget of Mississippi Burning?
Mississippi Burning had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $34.6M at the worldwide box office (2.31 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Mississippi Burning?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Mississippi Burning was composed by Trevor Jones.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Mississippi Burning?
Mississippi Burning holds official age classifications: CA: R; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).