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

You might also like

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Fargo Videos

View All Videos (12)

Fargo Photos

View All Photos (24)

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:
    comedy, crime, mystery and thriller, 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:
  • Production Co:
    Gramercy Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
  • 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
Cinematographer
Ethan Coen
Film Editor
Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Fargo

87 Fearless Women Movie Heroes Who Inspire Us
The 8 Best Ways to Turn a Movie into an Amazing TV Series
Rank The Freshest Movies of the 1990s
View All

Critic Reviews for Fargo

All Critics (98) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (6)

View All Critic Reviews (98)

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

Fargo Quotes

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides