The Best Frances McDormand Movies
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- 1Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. MacyFargo, a dark comedy-crime film, is an unforgettable journey into the frozen heart of Minnesota. Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman in Minneapolis, hatches a desperate scheme involving his wife and two bumbling criminals, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare). The plan backfires when it attracts the attention of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), the pregnant police chief of Brainerd. McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of Gunderson, whose tenacious investigation unravels the plot amidst the snow-swept landscapes. The film's unique blend of horror and humor has earned it a cult following and multiple awards, including two Academy Awards.More Fargo
2John Getz, Frances McDormand, M. Emmet Walsh"Blood Simple" was the first feature film from Joel and Ethan Coen. This is the newly restored and re-edited director's cut of the film, introduced by Mortimer Young. The stylish crime thriller premiered at film festivals in 1984. "Blood Simple" begins deep in the heart of Texas, where a jealous saloon owner hires a cheap divorce detective to kill the saloon owner's younger wife and her bartender lover. But the detective gets a better idea: he follows the two lovers, and...More Blood Simple- #281 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #29 of 92 onThe Best Movies Of 1984, Ranked
- #20 of 63 onThe Greatest Directorial Debuts Of All Time
3Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormandSet in the volatile era of civil rights movement, Mississippi Burning is a gripping crime drama. When three civil rights workers go missing in Jessup County, Mississippi, FBI agents Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) are dispatched to investigate. The film navigates the murky waters of racial bigotry as the agents grapple with an uncooperative town steeped in prejudice. Directed by Alan Parker, this politically charged movie won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated for six others including Best Picture. The narrative is taut, the characters unforgettable, making Mississippi Burning a striking depiction of a tumultuous time in American history.More Mississippi Burning- #189 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #23 of 241 onThe 200+ Best Movies Based On A True Story
- #58 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
4Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Ed NortonIn the heart-pounding thriller Primal Fear, a young altar boy, Aaron Stampler (Edward Norton), finds himself accused of a gruesome murder. Enter Martin Vail (Richard Gere), a slick defense attorney who takes on Stampler's seemingly hopeless case. As the courtroom drama unfolds, unexpected twists and turns lurk around every corner, challenging Vail's belief in his client's innocence. This film, rich in suspense and legal intrigue, showcases Norton's performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The narrative is tightly woven, with each revelation leading to more questions than answers.More Primal Fear- #12 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #191 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
- #121 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
5George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John MalkovichIn Burn After Reading, chaos ensues when a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees, Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt). Their ill-conceived attempts to exploit their find thrust them into the world of espionage. The Coen Brothers' dark comedy intertwines these characters with a paranoid federal marshal (George Clooney) and his cheating wife (Tilda Swinton). This film, acclaimed for its stellar ensemble cast and biting humor, won the 2008 Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion award for best film.More Burn After Reading- #28 of 61 onThe Funniest Movies About Politics
- #55 of 73 onThe Greatest Movies About CIA Agents & Operatives
- #543 of 633 onThe 600+ Funniest Movies Of All Time
6Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate HudsonAlmost Famous is a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama directed by Cameron Crowe. It follows the journey of 15-year-old William Miller (Patrick Fugit), an aspiring rock journalist who gets his big break when he lands an assignment for Rolling Stone magazine. He goes on tour with emerging band Stillwater, led by charismatic frontman Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) and experiences the highs and lows of the '70s rock scene. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and features a breakout performance from Kate Hudson as groupie-with-a-heart-of-gold, Penny Lane.More Almost Famous- #602 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #134 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #14 of 54 onThe Best Movies 'Loosely' Based On True Stories
7Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee PaceIt's 1939 and governess Guinevere Pettigrew finds herself out of work and on the bread line. Middle-aged and running out of options, Miss Pettigrew takes an uncharacteristic gamble when, after being refused work at an employment agency,she steals the details of a juicy assignment and pursues the job herself.- #355 of 473 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
- #47 of 70 onThe Best Movies About Getting Dumped
- #33 of 51 onThe 50+ Best British Rom-Coms, Ranked
8Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay HardenWhen the Italian Mafia threatens to kill a crooked bookie (John Turturro), Irish mob boss Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) refuses to allow it, chiefly because he's dating the bookie's sister, crafty gun moll Verna Bernbaum (Marcia Gay Harden). Leo's right-hand man, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), is also seeing Verna on the sly, and when he's found out is obliged to switch sides, going to work for the Italian mob amidst a dramatically escalating gang war over liquor distribution.More Miller's Crossing- #30 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
- #213 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #36 of 90 onThe Best Movies of 1990
9Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey WilsonIn the offbeat comedy Raising Arizona, H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage), a repeat offender, falls for prison officer Edwina (Holly Hunter). Their longing for a child leads them to kidnap one of a wealthy businessman's quintuplets, setting off a chain of wild and wacky events. This quirky blend of crime, humor, and farce is directed by the Coen Brothers, known for their unique storytelling style. The film's eccentric characters and unpredictable plot twists make it an unforgettable entry in the landscape of American cinema. Despite its madcap premise, at its heart, it explores themes of love, family, and morality.More Raising Arizona- #122 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #633 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #85 of 704 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
10Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand, Michael BadaluccoA dark tale of infidelity and murder, crime and punishment. Set in a small northern California town of the late 40s, the film portrays Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thornton), a barber dissatisfied with his life. His wife Doris' (Frances McDormand) infidelity presents Ed with an opportunity for blackmail that he thinks will help him to change it. However, Ed's scheme unravels and lays bare even darker secrets...More The Man Who Wasn't There- #51 of 113 onThe Best Movies Of 2001
- #14 of 18 onThe Best Coen Brothers Movies, Ranked By Movie Fans With A Dark Sense Of Humor
- #16 of 38 onThe Best Modern Black & White Movies
11Bruce Willis, Ed Norton, Bill MurrayIn Moonrise Kingdom, a whimsical tale set on an idyllic New England island in 1965, two young lovers, Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman) and Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward), decide to run away together. Their disappearance sparks a local search party led by the island's quirky inhabitants including Police Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis) and Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton). The film, directed by Wes Anderson, is a charming exploration of adolescent love and rebellion against societal norms. It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 85th Academy Awards.More Moonrise Kingdom- #234 of 704 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #22 of 46 on50+ Quirky Romance Movies With Unique Love Stories
- #156 of 169 onThe 150+ Best Teen Romance Movies, Ranked
12John Turturro, John Goodman, Judy DavisBarton Fink (John Turturro) is an aspiring New York playwright who lands a job in 1940s Hollywood. Tasked with writing a wrestling picture for a big-time studio, Fink suffers from severe writer's block and finds himself entangled in a twisted tale of mystery and madness. His neighbor, Charlie Meadows (John Goodman), adds to the intrigue with his jovial yet unsettling demeanor. Directed by the Coen brothers, Barton Fink is a surreal drama that won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, showcasing a labyrinthine plot that blurs the line between reality and illusion.More Barton Fink- #34 of 86 onThe Best Movies Of 1991, Ranked
- #541 of 704 onThe All-Time Greatest Comedy Films
- #344 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
13Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sean BeanSingle mother Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) is part of a group of the first women to work at a local iron mine in Minnesota. Offended that they have to work with women, male workers at Eveleth Mines lash out at them and subject them to sexual harassment. Appalled by the constant stream of insults, sexually explicit language and physical abuse, Josey -- despite being cautioned against it by family and friends -- files a historic sexual harassment lawsuit.
14Andie MacDowell, Bruce Davison, Julianne MooreMany loosely connected characters cross paths in this film, based on the stories of Raymond Carver. Waitress Doreen Piggot (Lily Tomlin) accidentally runs into a boy with her car. Soon after walking away, the child lapses into a coma. While at the hospital, the boy's grandfather (Jack Lemmon) tells his son, Howard (Bruce Davison), about his past affairs. Meanwhile, a baker (Lyle Lovett) starts harassing the family when they fail to pick up the boy's birthday cake.More Short Cuts- #345 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #345 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #22 of 35 onThe Best Movies Based on Poems
15Glenn Close, Pauline Collins, Cate BlanchettA group of foreign women -- including an educated British musician (Glenn Close), an Australian nurse (Cate Blanchett) and an American socialite (Julianna Margulies) -- leave Singapore during World War II. When their boat is attacked, they wash up in Japanese-occupied Sumatra and end up in a POW camp. Conditions there are grim, with prisoners brutally punished for minor violations. But the captives soon decide to form a singing group that just may lift these very different women out of misery.More Paradise Road- #36 of 45 onThe Best '90s War & Military Movies, Ranked
- #7 of 31 onThe Best Prisoner of War Movies
- #27 of 56 onThe 50+ Best Movies About Women In Prison
16Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Peña, Joe MortonIn the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an old skull in the desert. As he traces the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson) 40 years earlier, Deeds' investigation points toward his late father, the much-loved Deputy Buddy Deeds. Ignoring warnings not to delve any deeper, Sam rekindles a romance with his high school sweetheart while bringing up old tensions in the town and exposing secrets long put to rest.More Lone Star- #218 of 288 onThe 250+ Best Western Movies Of All Time
- #90 of 117 onThe Best Movies Of 1996
- #27 of 48 onThe 45+ Best Modern Day Westerns
17Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormandGrady (Michael Douglas) is a 50-ish English professor who hasn't had a thing published in years -- not since he wrote his award winning "Great American Novel" 7 years ago. This weekend proves even worse than he could imagine as he finds himself reeling from one misadventure to another in the company of a new wonder boy author.More Wonder Boys
18Demi Moore, Jeff Daniels, George DzundzaClairvoyant Marina (Demi Moore) meets New York City butcher Leo Lemke (George Dzundza) while he is visiting her small town in North Carolina. When she then dreams about him, she believes it is a sign that he is her true love. She marries Leo and moves to his working-class neighborhood in New York City. There she meets his neighbors, including shy singer Stella (Mary Steenburgen) and psychiatrist Alex Tremor (Jeff Daniels). Soon Marina begins to wonder if she was wrong about her soul mate.- 19Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John TurturroIn the third installment of the Transformers series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a sci-fi action spectacle. The plot centers around the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), as they discover a hidden spacecraft on the moon and race against time to reach it before their archenemies, the Decepticons. With humanity's fate hanging in the balance, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) joins forces with the Autobots once again. This cinematic extravaganza, directed by Michael Bay, showcases stunning visual effects and high-octane action sequences that won it an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects.
20Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand, James FrancoWhen a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life.
21Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David SchwimmerAnimal pals Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) are still trying to make it back to New York's Central Park Zoo. They are forced to take a detour to Europe to find the penguins and chimps who broke the bank at a Monte Carlo casino. When French animal-control officer Capitaine Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) picks up their scent, Alex and company are forced to hide out in a traveling circus.- 22Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie CarvelJoel Coen's bold and fierce adaptation of "Macbeth," a tale of murder, madness, ambition, and wrathful cunning.More The Tragedy of Macbeth
- #117 of 120 onThe Best Movies Based On Plays
- #25 of 40 onThe Best Shakespeare Film Adaptations
- #1 of 28 onThe Best Apple TV+ Movies
23Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin FrielsWhen thugs employed by a crime boss lead a vicious assault on Dr. Peyton Wilder (Liam Neeson), leaving him literally and psychologically scarred, an emergency procedure allows him to survive. Upon his recovery, Wilder can find solace only by returning to his scientific work developing synthetic skin, and seeking revenge against the crime boss. He assumes a phantom avenger persona called Darkman, who, with malleable facial qualities, is able to infiltrate and sow terror in the criminal community.More Darkman- Dig Deeper...'Darkman' Is The Twisted Superhero Movie That Sam Raimi Made Before 'Spider-Man'
- #303 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #52 of 99 onThe Best 1990s Action Movies
24Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu ReevesIn the romantic comedy Something's Gotta Give, we follow the unexpected love story between Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson), a perennial bachelor and successful music mogul, and Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), a divorced playwright. After an awkward introduction at her Hamptons beach house, their lives intertwine in unforeseen ways leading to comedic and tender moments alike. The film, directed by Nancy Meyers, is not only notable for its star-studded cast including Keanu Reeves and Frances McDormand but also for Diane Keaton's Academy Award-nominated performance. This film is a heartwarming exploration of mature love, second chances, and self-discovery.More Something's Gotta Give- #174 of 473 onThe 400+ Best Chick Flicks Ever
- #3 of 27 onThe Best Movies About a Midlife Crisis in Women
- #47 of 60 onRomantic Movies Your Girlfriend Forces You To Watch
25Frances McDormand, Nigel Hawthorne, Hatty JonesParisian schoolgirl and orphan Madeline (Hatty Jones) schemes to save her boarding school and home from being closed and sold by its owner, the severe Lord Covington (Nigel Hawthorne), whose benevolent wife (Stéphane Audran) has recently passed away. Madeline's sweet antics are often a burden to her goodhearted but stern headmistress, Miss Clavel (Frances McDormand), whose true appreciation of Madeline is revealed when Madeline and a schoolboy named Pepito (Kristian de la Osa) are kidnapped.More Madeline- #15 of 52 onThe Best Movies With A Little Girl Protagonist
- #83 of 103 onThe Best '90s Movies For Kids, Ranked
- #52 of 75 onThe Best '90s Family Movies, Ranked
26Salma Hayek, Sharon Stone, Meg RyanSearching for Debra Winger is a 2002 American documentary film conceived and directed by Rosanna Arquette. It presents a series of interviews with leading actresses who discuss the various pressures they face as women working in the film industry while trying to juggle their professional commitments with their personal responsibilities to their families and themselves.
27William Forsythe, Vincent Gallo, Adam TreseSid (William Forsythe), Russell (Vincent Gallo) and Jerry (Adam Trese) are three friends in New Jersey who are struggling for money. After deciding that crime is the answer to their problems, they plan a jewelry store theft -- only to mistakenly break into a bakery next door. The three men go straight, believing they are not suited to crime. As their financial woes continue, however, they eventually agree on what they feel is a flawless scheme to rob an armored car.
28Scottsboro: An American Tragedy
Frances McDormand, Stanley TucciUsing trial transcripts, courtroom photographs and other archival material, this documentary tells the story of nine African-American teenagers who, in 1931, were accused of rape by two white women. Despite a complete lack of evidence, the boys were convicted and sent to prison. Although ultimately exonerated, the boys' lives were devastated by the incident, and the filmmakers connect the public outrage regarding this case to the beginnings of the civil rights movement of the 1950s.
29Frances McDormand, Brian Cox, Brad DourifIn Ireland, American lawyer Ingrid Jessner (Frances McDormand) and her activist partner, Paul Sullivan (Brad Dourif), struggle to uncover atrocities committed by the British government against the Northern Irish during the "Troubles." But when Sullivan is assassinated in the streets, Jessner teams up with Peter Kerrigan (Brian Cox), a British investigator acting against the will of his own government, and struggles to uncover a conspiracy that may even implicate one of Kerrigan's colleagues.
30Patricia Arquette, Frances McDormand, Spalding GrayAfter the shocking murders of her husband and son, Laura Bowman (Patricia Arquette) travels to Burma with her sister, Andy (Frances McDormand), to find peace. There she witnesses protests against the government and the military's violent response. When Burma enters into military lockdown, Laura loses her passport and is unable to leave the country. A professor (U Aung Ko) helps her, but this makes her a target of the government as she attempts to reach the border and cross into Thailand.
