Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsPrimetime EmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalFall TV GuideMost Anticipated This MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayTrending peopleCelebrity news
    IMDb LabsHelp centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
    Some content may be auto-translated
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Sling Blade

  • 1996
  • R
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,550
136
Sling Blade (1996)
HV
Play trailer1:51
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Psychological DramaDrama

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.

  • Director
    • Billy Bob Thornton
  • Writer
    • Billy Bob Thornton
  • Stars
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Dwight Yoakam
    • J.T. Walsh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    105K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,550
    136
    • Director
      • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Writer
      • Billy Bob Thornton
    • Stars
      • Billy Bob Thornton
      • Dwight Yoakam
      • J.T. Walsh
    • 372User reviews
    • 70Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 14 wins & 15 nominations total

    Videos2

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

    Photos104

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 97
    View Poster

    Top Cast32

    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
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews372

    8.0104.7K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Sling Blade' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
    Sign in to see this summary and all user reviews
    See opinions from fans, or write your own review.
    Sign in to IMDb
    This extra step helps us keep IMDb's reviews a space for genuine, human voices.

    More like this

    A Simple Plan
    7.5
    A Simple Plan
    The Apostle
    7.2
    The Apostle
    Falling Down
    7.5
    Falling Down
    The People vs. Larry Flynt
    7.3
    The People vs. Larry Flynt
    The Man Who Wasn't There
    7.5
    The Man Who Wasn't There
    Phenomenon
    6.5
    Phenomenon
    Bad Santa
    7.0
    Bad Santa
    The Great Santini
    7.2
    The Great Santini
    Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade
    7.5
    Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade
    Raising Arizona
    7.3
    Raising Arizona
    The Natural
    7.4
    The Natural
    Monster's Ball
    7.0
    Monster's Ball

    Related interests

    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      According to Billy Bob Thornton in a February 7, 1997 interview on Howard Stern's radio show, Karl living behind a shed is based on a boy where he grew up who could not walk or talk very well, so his parents kept him in a shed out back. Billy said the boy's mother was scared by a snake when she was pregnant, so they felt he was a child of the devil. They kept him locked up and fed him like a dog. It turned out the boy had polio.
    • Goofs
      When Karl is at the Frostee Cream, if you look at the menu, you can see Blizzard's, Peanut Buster's and a DQ Sandwich on the menu board which would indicate that the movie was filmed at a Dairy Queen.
    • 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 with Ebert & Roeper: 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

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ3

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

    Details

    • 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

    • 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

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 2h 15m(135 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2026 by IMDb.com, Inc.