Bernie
“A story so unbelievable it must be true.”
Synopsis
In small-town Texas, affable and popular mortician Bernie Tiede strikes up a friendship with Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow well known for her sour attitude. When she becomes controlling and abusive, Bernie goes to great lengths to remove himself from her grasp.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2012-05-11
Top Cast
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Jack Black
Bernie Tiede
Shirley MacLaine
Marjorie Nugent
Matthew McConaughey
Danny Buck Davidson
Brady Coleman
Scrappy Holmes
Richard Robichaux
Lloyd Hornbuckle
Rick Dial
Don Leggett
Brandon Smith
Sheriff Huckabee
Larry Jack Dotson
Rev. Woodard
Merrilee McCommas
Molly
Mathew Greer
Carl
Marjorie Dome
Townsperson
Tim Cariker
Townsperson
Fern Luker
Townsperson
Jack Payne
Townsperson
Sonny Carl Davis
Townsperson
Chris Humphrey
Townsperson
Jesse Lucio
Mourner
Ann Reeves
Townsperson
Release History & Theatrical Window
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
April 27, 2012
Wide Cinema Exhibition
March 12, 2025
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$9.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.84x
+$4.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Linklater
- Screenplay & Story
- Skip Hollandsworth, Richard Linklater
- Original Score
- Graham Reynolds
- Original Title
- Bernie
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
- Production Budget
- $5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $9.2M
- Production Studios
- Mandalay Vision, Detour Filmproduction, Wind Dancer Films, Millennium Media
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Linklater
Skip Hollandsworth, Richard Linklater
Graham Reynolds
Dick Pope, Shane F. Kelly
Sandra Adair
Michael Bassick, Matt Williams, William T. Conway, Don Fox, Jack Gilardi Jr.
Department Leadership Roster
Richard Linklater
Director
Skip Hollandsworth
Screenplay
Richard Linklater
Screenplay
Matt Williams
Producer
Graham Reynolds
Original Music Composer
Sandra Adair
Editor
Liz Glotzer
Producer
David McFadzean
Producer
Dete Meserve
Producer
Judd Payne
Producer
Celine Rattray
Producer
Martin Shafer
Producer
Ginger Sledge
Producer
Dick Pope
Director of Photography
Bruce Curtis
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 12 years and over.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Bernie.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Bernie.
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Watched
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bernie
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Bernie about?
In small-town Texas, affable and popular mortician Bernie Tiede strikes up a friendship with Marjorie Nugent, a wealthy widow well known for her sour attitude. When she becomes controlling and abusive, Bernie goes to great lengths to remove himself from her grasp.
Who directed Bernie?
Bernie was directed by Richard Linklater.
Who stars in Bernie?
The principal cast of Bernie includes Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman, Richard Robichaux.
When was Bernie released and how long is it?
Bernie was released in 2012 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
What was the box office and production budget of Bernie?
Bernie had a reported production budget of $5M and grossed $9.2M at the worldwide box office (1.84 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Bernie?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Bernie was composed by Graham Reynolds.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Bernie?
Bernie holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: 12 (Suitable only for 12 years and over.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).