Barton Fink
1991 · 117 min · Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
In the wake of his early but undeniable theatrical success in Broadway, the idealistic author of the proletariat and self-pitying 1940s New York playwright, Barton Fink, finds himself lured to dazzling Hollywood to write scripts for eccentric Jack Lipnick's Capitol Pictures. But, instead of writing a story pivoting around the common man, Fink's first screenplay turns out to be a Wallace Beery wrestling movie, and, before he knows it, he develops a severe case of writer's block. Now, holed up in the seedy, run-down Hotel Earle, before his silent Underwood typewriter, Barton comes to realise that his only hope to meet the deadline is to take inspiration from the burly insurance salesman living next door, Charlie Meadows, and the unassuming secretary, Audrey Taylor. In the meantime, the suffocating stranglehold of artistic bankruptcy tightens. Does self-destructive Barton Fink have the stomach for confronting Hollywood's bitter reality?
Emotional fingerprint
Barton Fink (1991) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Confusion 30%, Anxiety 25%, Disturbing 20%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
- Confusion30%
- Anxiety25%
- Disturbing20%
- Humor15%
- Awe10%
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Confusion, Anxiety, Disturbing. Genres: Thriller, Comedy, Drama. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Confusion, Anxiety and Disturbing. Its IMDb rating of 7.6/10 suggests a generally positive audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 73/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Tension
- Curiosity
- Disturbing
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Curiosity
Dominant emotion: Humor
Dominant emotion: Disturbing
Dominant emotion: Sadness
Dominant emotion: Tension
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Tension | Curiosity | Disturbing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 3′ | Curiosity | 38 % | 7 % | 32 % | 2 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 9′ | Curiosity | 38 % | 11 % | 31 % | 4 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 15′ | Humor | 40 % | 20 % | 31 % | 11 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 20′ | Curiosity | 40 % | 23 % | 33 % | 19 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 26′ | Curiosity | 39 % | 19 % | 30 % | 23 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 32′ | Humor | 43 % | 20 % | 29 % | 31 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 38′ | Disturbing | 41 % | 21 % | 27 % | 30 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 44′ | Humor | 39 % | 19 % | 24 % | 18 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 50′ | Sadness | 41 % | 20 % | 26 % | 15 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 56′ | Curiosity | 44 % | 31 % | 30 % | 19 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 61′ | Tension | 50 % | 45 % | 34 % | 25 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 67′ | Curiosity | 64 % | 56 % | 45 % | 45 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 73′ | Disturbing | 73 % | 63 % | 48 % | 56 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 79′ | Tension | 66 % | 57 % | 44 % | 41 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 85′ | Curiosity | 64 % | 56 % | 51 % | 43 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 91′ | Disturbing | 69 % | 63 % | 53 % | 56 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 97′ | Tension | 74 % | 70 % | 44 % | 60 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 102′ | Disturbing | 78 % | 73 % | 39 % | 65 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 108′ | Sadness | 73 % | 65 % | 37 % | 62 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 114′ | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence |
Riches to rags
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Barton Fink. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
0 responses so far
Feeling details appear after at least 3 viewers respond, to protect privacy.
Cast
Garland Stanford
Richard St. Claire
Pete
Maitre D'
Stagehand
Clapper Boy
Referee
Details
- Directed by
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Written by
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 1991
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Country
- United Kingdom, United States
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Confusion
- Data updated
Where to watch
Rent
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