where to watch Sling Blade
8.0/10 IMDb
96% Rotten Tomatoes

Where To Watch Sling Blade

Sling Blade is a 1996 American Southern Gothic drama film written, directed, and starring Billy Bob Thornton. The story follows Karl Childers, a mentally challenged man released from a psychiatric hospital after spending decades there for murdering his mother and her lover as a child. Returning to his Arkansas hometown, he befriends a young boy and his single mother, forming a fragile but heartfelt friendship. When an abusive boyfriend threatens the family, Karl must confront his past and protect his friends. With raw performances and deep emotional resonance, Sling Blade became a modern classic of character-driven cinema.

  • Release Date: November 27, 1996
  • Director: Billy Bob Thornton
  • Genre: Drama, Thriller, Entertainment
  • Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes
  • Language: English
  • Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J. T. Walsh, John Ritter, Lucas Black, Natalie Canerday
  • Box Office: $9.7 Million Worldwide
  • Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV

More details about Sling Blade and where you can watch

In Sling Blade, Karl Childers is a man of simple speech and quiet demeanor released from a psychiatric institution after 25 years, having killed his abusive mother and her lover with a sling blade when he was a child. Returning to rural Arkansas, he finds work fixing small engines and gradually befriends Frank, a lonely 12-year-old, and Linda, Frank’s struggling single mother. Their fragile bond grows as Karl’s gentle nature contrasts with the violence and bitterness around him. But when Linda’s boyfriend a violent, abusive man threatens the family, Karl is forced to confront his fears and past actions. Set against a backdrop of Southern life, the film explores themes of redemption, morality, and the nature of kindness.

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Did You Know

Sling Blade was made on a tiny $1.2 million budget, became a sleeper hit grossing over $34 million worldwide, and earned Billy Bob Thornton an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay while launching his major Hollywood career