IMDb 7.8 1988 HD

Mississippi Burning

Mississippi Burning

1988
Crime Drama Mystery Thriller
128 min R USA
7.678 / 10
7.8 IMDB

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…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Alan Parker / Brenda Kalosh / Aldric La'Auli Porter / Carol D. Bonnefil / Robin Squibb
Starring
Gene Hackman / Willem Dafoe / Frances McDormand / Brad Dourif / R. Lee Ermey / Gailard Sartain / Stephen Tobolowsky / Michael Rooker

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

powerful intense historical disturbing thought-provoking grim relevant challenging important raw

Reviews

C
Clara Jenkins
May 20, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

A film of considerable ambition, 'Mississippi Burning' tackles a difficult subject with a direct, often confrontational approach. Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe give strong, committed performances as the two FBI agents, their dynamic providing a crucial human element…

S
Samuel Davies
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'Mississippi Burning' is a testament to the power of cinema to confront uncomfortable truths. Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe are exceptional as the FBI agents navigating a landscape of hatred and fear. Their contrasting styles highlight the complexities…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 20, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This is a film that aims for impact, and largely achieves it through sheer force of will. Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe anchor 'Mississippi Burning' with committed performances, portraying the friction and eventual understanding between two very different…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 20, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A stark and powerful examination of racial injustice, 'Mississippi Burning' is a film that stays with you. The central performances from Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe are superb, charting the complex relationship between two agents tasked with unravelling…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 20, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Alan Parker's 'Mississippi Burning' remains a searing and vital piece of filmmaking. Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe deliver powerhouse performances as FBI agents investigating horrific crimes in a deeply segregated Mississippi. Hackman embodies a weary, pragmatic outsider, while…

FAQs

The film portrays the FBI's intervention as a necessary but arduous process. While the agents bring federal authority and investigative resources, they face immense resistance from local law enforcement and the community itself. Their efforts are depicted as a difficult battle against deeply entrenched beliefs and practices. The narrative suggests that while progress can be made through determined investigation, the deep wounds of segregation require more than just external intervention to truly heal.