Burn After Reading (2008) is a dark comedy of errors from the Coen Brothers that turns espionage tropes on their head. When a disc of “secret” information falls into the wrong hands — namely, two clueless gym employees — a chaotic spiral of misunderstandings, blackmail, and murder ensues. Featuring an all-star cast and a plot that delights in absurdity, it’s a sharp satire of intelligence, both governmental and personal.
Think you remember every twisted turn and accidental death? Take this 10-question trivia challenge and see if you can survive the madness — or if you should just burn it all after reading.
Burn After Reading (2008) Trivia Questions & Answers
- Who plays the role of gym employee Linda Litzke in Burn After Reading (2008)?
Correct Answer: Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand plays Linda, a naive and overly optimistic gym worker who becomes obsessed with getting cosmetic surgery. Her well-intentioned but misguided attempts to fund her procedures spark the film’s chaotic chain of events.
- What does Chad Feldheimer find that sets the plot in motion?
Correct Answer: A disc containing CIA information
Chad, played by Brad Pitt, finds a disc at the gym containing what he believes are top-secret government files. In reality, it’s just the draft of Osborne Cox’s memoirs, but Chad and Linda become convinced they’ve stumbled onto something huge.
- What agency did Osborne Cox work for before being fired?
Correct Answer: CIA
Osborne Cox, portrayed by John Malkovich, is a disgruntled former CIA analyst who is let go due to a drinking problem. His bitter retaliation — writing a tell-all memoir — sets the story’s absurd “spy” plot into motion.
- Why does Linda want money so badly?
Correct Answer: To pay for cosmetic surgery
Linda is desperate to undergo multiple cosmetic procedures, convinced that changing her appearance will finally lead to a better life and lasting romance. Her desire blinds her to the ridiculousness of her actions and the escalating danger around her.
- Who plays the paranoid and womanizing U.S. Marshal Harry Pfarrer?
Correct Answer: George Clooney
George Clooney plays Harry, a neurotic womanizer with serious commitment issues and a tendency to overreact. His paranoid behavior and secret affair with Osborne’s wife create some of the film’s most awkward and deadly encounters.
- What does Chad believe he and Linda have found?
Correct Answer: Highly classified government secrets
Chad is certain the disc is filled with explosive intel, even though he doesn’t understand any of it. His delusions of espionage grandeur — paired with his goofy energy — drive much of the film’s comedic tension.
- What does Chad try to do with the disc?
Correct Answer: Blackmail Osborne Cox
Linda and Chad attempt to blackmail Osborne, hoping to either get money or be rewarded for returning the disc. When that fails, they comically escalate the situation by trying to sell it to the Russian embassy, convinced they’re players in a grand spy game.
- How does Chad meet his end?
Correct Answer: He’s shot by Harry in a closet
In one of the film’s most shocking moments, Harry shoots Chad point-blank after discovering him hiding in a closet. The abrupt violence contrasts with Chad’s clueless charm and sets off Harry’s downward psychological spiral.
- What happens to Osborne Cox’s memoirs?
Correct Answer: They’re mistaken for classified files
The entire crisis revolves around Osborne’s draft memoirs, which are mistakenly treated as classified documents. Ironically, they hold no real value, highlighting how bureaucratic confusion and personal egos inflate meaningless documents into matters of national concern.
- What is the tone of the CIA’s final report on the events?
Correct Answer: Confused and indifferent
In a brilliant final scene, two CIA officials (played by J.K. Simmons and David Rasche) debrief the bizarre and tragic events with complete detachment. Their baffled indifference — “What did we learn? I guess not to do it again…” — encapsulates the film’s cynical view of modern intelligence and human incompetence.
