Sling Blade (1996): cast, story & where to watch
1996 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1996, Sling Blade is a drama film directed by Billy Bob Thornton, running about 135 minutes. “A simple man. A difficult choice.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Karl Childers, a mentally disabled man, has been in the custody of the state mental hospital since the age of 12 for killing his mother and her lover. Although thoroughly institutionalized, he is deemed fit to be released into the outside world.
Who’s in it. Sling Blade stars Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers, Dwight Yoakam as Doyle Hargraves, J.T. Walsh as Charles Bushman and John Ritter as Vaughan Cunningham, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, Sling Blade has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $34.1M at the box office.
Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Sling Blade page.
If you liked it. Fans of Sling Blade tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Sling Blade (1996)?
- In GB, Sling Blade is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Sling Blade worth watching?
- Sling Blade holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Sling Blade?
- Sling Blade stars Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh, John Ritter and Lucas Black.
- When was Sling Blade released?
- Sling Blade was released in 1996, with a runtime of about 135 minutes.