Total Recall: The Best-Reviewed Coen Brothers Films

Summary

For more than two decades now, Joel and Ethan Coen have been thrilling critics -- and, here and there, audiences -- with their distinctive blend of dark humor, colorful violence, and singular visual flair. Not all of the Coens' films have been critical darlings (alas, poor Ladykillers), but with lifetime Tomatometers above 80 percent, the brothers are easily two (or is that one?) of the most respected directors in the business. Their latest effort, A Serious Man, is another winner, currently riding high with 86 percent on the Tomatometer, and to celebrate, we've freshened up our previous look at their filmography, Total Recall style! After branching out into broad espionage comedy with Burn After Reading, the Coens went back to their roots for A Serious Man -- quite literally, in fact: It takes place in an ordinary Jewish home in the suburban Midwest of the late 1960s, leading many critics to proclaim Serious the brothers' most personal film to date. Back to Article

Comments

Andrew C.

Andrew C

I have seen them all and they are all fantastic!!

Oct 19 - 04:42 PM

Brett P.

Brett Pearson

I'm kind of suprised bad santa didn't make the list but i can see where critics may not enjoy it as much.

Oct 19 - 04:45 PM

Movie Maniac!

D J

Bad Santa didn't make the list because they didn't actually direct it.

Oct 19 - 05:20 PM

Movie Maniac!

D J

Oh wait, Bedram B. beat me to it.

Oct 19 - 05:21 PM

jimmiescoffee

Eddie Money

maybe it didnt make the cut because its not a coen movie

Oct 19 - 07:08 PM

Sam C.

Sam Charlot

The Coens had nothing to do with Bad Santa. You're an idiot.

Oct 21 - 06:57 AM

Johannes L.

Johannes Labusch

Especially given the fact that it's not a Coen Brothers movie.

Oct 21 - 04:48 PM

Ray Clark Jr

Ray Clark Jr

They were both executive producers for Bad Santa buddy

Sep 12 - 01:16 PM

Ray Clark Jr

Ray Clark Jr

They were both executive producers for Bad Santa buddy

Sep 12 - 01:16 PM

Bedram B.

Bedram Bararpour

Bad Santa wasn't a Coen Brothers film. I think they produced it or something, but they didn't write it or direct it.

Oct 19 - 05:18 PM

will s.

will stamp

zwigoff, foo.

Oct 19 - 05:22 PM

Cory C.

Cory Clark

Joel and Ethan worked on the script but were uncredited.

Oct 19 - 05:27 PM

David W.

John Warner

"No Country for Old Men" and "Fargo" are their greatest films, but they're all great.

Oct 19 - 06:00 PM

rottenjoy

nando valdo

Coens are great! Definitely two of the great living movie directors. However, my best of list would differ quite a bit. I would say from best to worst: No Country for Old Men, Miller's Crossing, Fargo, Burn after Reading, Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, O' Brother Where Art Thou?, Ladykillers, and Intolerable Cruelty. Still need to see The Man Who Wasn't There and a Serious Man.

Oct 19 - 06:05 PM

Salty Gritts

Josh McCrohan

What a great filmography, The Coens are by far and away my favorite, writers/directors working today. I can't wait to see A Serious Man.

Oct 19 - 06:07 PM

King Kubrick

Travis Earl

I'll second that the cohen's are my favourite living directors. No Country might be the film of the decade, while Fargo might be the film of the 90s and both deserve to become canonical. And Lebowski is one of the greatest comedies ever. Ever. I believe it and no country still be watched decades from now.

A serious man looks to be the shiznit,

Oct 19 - 06:27 PM

RamALamADingDong

That Guy

I enjoyed Raising Arizona and Fargo for the quirky humor the movie had. I saw No Country for Old Men but I just didn't care for it at all. I also love O' Brother Where Art Thou, as it's the only Coen Brothers movie I own.

Oct 19 - 06:21 PM

Mehone T.

Mehone Tebedge

It took me a little longer than others to understand the humor that is the Coen Brothers, but I'm a fan now. I'm with you on No Country though. I sometimes feel alone on this but, it wasn't a bad movie, I'm sure it was great, I just did not care for it.

Oct 19 - 07:19 PM

tomwaitsjrHAPPYICONOCLAST

Greg Guro

I just saw Blood Simple last week, it's a very enjoyable film, but definately not my favorite.

I think my favorite is Barton Fink. So many ways to interpret it!

And I'm glad HUDSUCKER PROXY isn't here, it's too derivative. . .

. . . and I love Lebowski, odd it's so low percentage wise.

Oct 19 - 06:25 PM

Richard M.

Richard Murray

Uhhhh... Charles Durning... helluva actor, really shone as Waring Hudsucker in 'The Hudsucker Proxy' but he did *not* play the millionaire Lebowsky.

That was David Huddleston.

Oct 19 - 06:57 PM

Malcolm A.

Malcolm Aquinas

You are correct!

David Huddleston played "The Big" Lebowski; however, I think you'd have done better to recognize Charles Durning for his iconic performance in "O Brother, Where Art Thou" in keeping with the theme of this total recall.

(Since we're on the topic of Charles Durning films, I'd like to put in a plug for his brilliant turn as Charley in "Death of a Salesman" (1985). One of my all-time favorite plays superbly adapted to the (small) screen.)

Keep 'em comin' Cohen boys!

Oct 20 - 12:57 AM

billy01

Billy Milligan

Your absolutely right. And Durning was amazing as Pappy O'Daniel in O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Kind of a big mess up for the Rotten staff.

Oct 23 - 10:01 AM

David Tanny

David Tanny

The Coen Bros. are my favorite writers in film. They create such memorable characters and situations. I really want to see A Serious Man. Hopefully the Academy nominates it for some awards. I'd like to see the Coens recieve more awards for their films.

Oct 19 - 07:02 PM

AntonChigurh

Chris Scharlau

The best and most creative in hollywood right now. bravo Coen Brothers.

Oct 19 - 07:09 PM

Wall E.

Wall E

I love the Super Coen Bros.

Oct 19 - 07:35 PM

chille

doctor awesome

Fargo is my favorite. I especially love Bruce Campbell's cameo.

Oct 19 - 07:39 PM

Escapefromalcatraz

william thresher

No Country for Old Men changed the way I look at film. I honestly left that film wondering what the heck I had just seen (and that I was privileged to have seen it). A masterpiece.

Oct 19 - 07:43 PM

martinscorsese25

christopher cantos

though they're not my favorite directors, and though their films isnt my favorites. i've got to admit, they're one of the smartest people in Hollywood. like for No Country, i didn't love the film as the others do but i think it is one of the best films of 2007. their craftsmanship is so good. how they write, photograph, and edit their films! they are just SO GOOD

Oct 19 - 08:03 PM

Bigbrother

Big Brother

The only one that didn't work for me was Burn After Reading. I liked elements of it a lot, just wished it'd paid off better at the end. Same could be said for No Country. Very enjoyable works, but often at the end I'm left wondering, what was the point? Would it have been that hard to give the story a point besides just giving the characters something to do for 2 hours? Still love their work, just a minor pet peeve I have with some of the stories.

Oct 19 - 08:22 PM

mufflermachinegun

stephen riddle

I guess I'm the only one who thinks Blood Simple is a bit overrated. I mean, it's a good picture, ecspecially for a debut, but it's nowhere near as entertaining as movies like Fargo or Raising Arizona or No Country

Oct 19 - 08:29 PM

SmokingAce

Blake Jennings

I'm glad to see Raising Arizona on here, I always thought it was kind of underrated.

Oct 19 - 08:40 PM

What's Hot On RT

Total Recall
Total Recall

Bradley Cooper's Best Movies

Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus

Fast & Furious 6 is Certified Fresh

24 Frames
24 Frames

Fast & Furious cars gallery

Summer Movie Scorecard
Summer Movie Scorecard

Blockbusters ranked!

Help | About | Jobs | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Mobile