The Burial

The Burial

Year: 2023

Runtime: 2 h 6 m

Language: English

Director: Maggie Betts

Echo Score: 76

Budget: $33M

Drama

When a respected funeral home owner faces a lawsuit threatening his livelihood, he finds an unlikely ally in a skilled lawyer. Together, they confront corporate greed and racial injustice in a David versus Goliath legal battle. As they delve deeper into the case, they forge an unexpected bond while exposing a troubling web of corruption and fighting for justice and a chance at redemption.

The Burial (2023) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Burial (2023) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a tightly knit Mississippi community where family traditions run as deep as the soil, the funeral home stands as both a business and a place of reverence. The town’s quiet rhythms are underscored by a looming legal storm that threatens to upend the lives of those who have built their identities around service and respect. The atmosphere is a blend of Southern charm and simmering tension, a backdrop that makes every conversation feel weighted with history and possibility.

Jeremiah O’Keefe is a veteran of the industry, a man whose reputation is built on decades of steady stewardship of his funeral home. When an aggressive lawsuit threatens to strip him of his livelihood, he finds himself confronting forces far larger than the modest enterprise he has nurtured. His world, once defined by the dignity of his work, is suddenly cast into the stark arena of corporate power and legal maneuvering.

Enter Willie E. Gary, a charismatic and sharp-witted attorney whose reputation for taking on daunting cases precedes him. Paired with the insightful, younger counsel Hal Dockins, the duo forms an unlikely alliance with Jeremiah. Their partnership is a study in contrast—grit meets flair, local know‑how meets high‑stakes litigation—yet both are driven by a shared resolve to challenge an imposing corporate adversary and expose deeper currents of racial injustice.

The film’s tone balances the gravity of a David‑versus‑Goliath courtroom drama with moments of unexpected camaraderie and quiet introspection. As the legal battle unfolds, the characters navigate personal histories, community expectations, and the unsettling realization that the conflict is about more than a single case—it is a fight for dignity, redemption, and a chance to rewrite the rules that have long governed their world.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:50

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Cathartic David vs. Goliath Legal Dramas like The Burial

Where skilled lawyers face impossible odds against corporate giants in tense but steady battles.If you loved the tense, steady-paced courtroom strategy and ultimate catharsis of The Burial, you'll enjoy these movies. This thread gathers legal dramas where an underdog team methodically builds a case against a powerful corporation, culminating in a hopeful and emotionally rewarding victory that feels just.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a classic underdog structure, beginning with a seemingly insurmountable challenge. A skilled but underestimated legal team methodically investigates and builds their case, often exposing deep corruption. The central conflict is a tense courtroom battle where strategy and evidence triumph over brute financial force, ending in a decisive, happy victory.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a specific blend of tense, strategic legal proceedings, a steady pacing that builds anticipation, and a powerful emotional payoff. They focus on themes of justice, fighting systemic greed, and the triumph of determination, creating a consistently cathartic viewing experience.

Movies about Fighting Corporate Injustice like The Burial

Stories that methodically unravel webs of corporate corruption and fight for redemption.For viewers who appreciated The Burial's focus on confronting corporate greed and racial injustice, this thread collects movies with a similar determined mood. These films follow protagonists uncovering corruption and fighting systemic exploitation, offering a mix of tense drama and hopeful, redemptive conclusions.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose livelihood or principles are threatened by a faceless, exploitative system. They form an unlikely alliance to investigate and expose the corruption, often facing significant personal and professional risk. The journey is one of determined resilience, leading to a public reckoning that provides both personal redemption and a sense of broader justice.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central theme of challenging powerful, corrupt systems. They share a mood of urgent determination and a steady pacing that allows for a thorough exploration of the issue. The emotional core is a blend of righteous anger and hopeful resolve, culminating in a cathartic sense of victory.

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The Burial Summary

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The Burial Summary

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The Burial Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Burial

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Burial

The Burial Ending Explained

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