Fargo

1996, Mystery & thriller/Crime, 1h 37m

104 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Violent, quirky, and darkly funny, Fargo delivers an original crime story and a wonderful performance by McDormand. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

"Fargo" is a reality-based crime drama set in Minnesota in 1987. Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) is a car salesman in Minneapolis who has gotten himself into debt and is so desperate for money that he hires two thugs (Steve Buscemi), (Peter Stormare) to kidnap his own wife. Jerry will collect the ransom from her wealthy father (Harve Presnell), paying the thugs a small portion and keeping the rest to satisfy his debts. The scheme collapses when the thugs shoot a state trooper.
  • Rating:
    R (Sexuality|Language|Strong Violence)
  • Genre:
    Mystery & thriller, Crime, Comedy, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Joel Coen
  • Producer:
    Ethan Coen
  • Writer:
    Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $24.5M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Gramercy Pictures
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Stereo, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Frances McDormand
Marge Gunderson
Steve Buscemi
Carl Showalter
William H. Macy
Jerry Lundegaard
Peter Stormare
Gaear Grimsrud
Harve Presnell
Wade Gustafson
John Carroll Lynch
Norm Gunderson
Kristin Rudrüd
Jean Lundegaard
Steve Reevis
Shep Proudfoot
Steve Park
Mike Yanagita
Jose Feliciano
Self
Joel Coen
Director
Joel Coen
Writer
Ethan Coen
Writer
Tim Bevan
Executive Producer
John Cameron
Line Producer
Ethan Coen
Producer
Eric Fellner
Executive Producer
Carter Burwell
Original Music
Roger Deakins
Cinematography
Ethan Coen
Film Editing
Joel Coen
Film Editing
John S. Lyons
Casting
Rick Heinrichs
Production Design
Thomas P. Wilkins
Art Director
Lauri Gaffin
Set Decoration
Mary Zophres
Costume Design
John Blake
Key Makeup Artist
Daniel Curet
Key Hair Stylist
Gilly Ruben
Unit Production Manager
Michelangelo Csaba Bolla
First Assistant Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Fargo

All Critics (104) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (98) | Rotten (6)
Full Review… Kevin Maher Times (UK) Full Review… Peter Bradshaw Guardian Full Review… Danny Leigh Financial Times Full Review… Adam Nayman The Ringer Full Review… Derek Malcolm Guardian Full Review… David Hunter Hollywood Reporter Full Review… Alain Masson Positif Full Review… Michael Atkinson Spin Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Full Review… Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Full Review… Sarah Brinks Battleship Pretension Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins
View All Critic Reviews (104)

Audience Reviews for Fargo

  • Nov 29, 2014
    Marvelously acted and just as wonderfully quirky as would be expected from the Coens, Fargo represents the brothers in fine form as they craft a juicy crime tale amidst memorable characters and sharp dialogue.
    Isaac H Super Reviewer
  • Oct 19, 2014
    Fargo, in its darkness and eccentricity, proves to be too interesting to ignore and too good to not applaud.
    Maymay A Super Reviewer
  • Jul 09, 2014
    It's as pessimistic as it's optimistic, as serious as it's funny, and as ugly as it's beautiful.
    Eddie C Super Reviewer
  • Jul 02, 2014
    God Bless Frances McDromand. Fargo is a hilarious black comedy about a kidnapping plot gone wrong. It's funny, it's violent and it's exciting. Fargo features a cast of talented actors with a cleverly written script.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

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