Fargo | Rotten Tomatoes

Fargo

R

Now Playing

1 hr. 37 min.

Comedy

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

94%

109 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

"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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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Aender S

With The Big Lebowski, Fargo's the Coen brothers' best movie. Odd story as expected from those directors and a spectacular performance by main actress Frances McDormand.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Robert G

It's ok. The only likable character is Buscemi, who is everything we've come to expect from him but he doesn't get enough screen time. He's goofy, funny and can sometimes be a little scary when angry. Frances McDormand is pretty good although it's a bit ridiculous she figures out what happened in mere seconds while being a pregnant dontcha know gee golly housewife. Was that supposed to be funny? It's a little clever at best. The ancillary characters are typical Coen weird and the plot is pretty simple.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

John Z

This film is a masterpiece of direction, acting, and music. Anyone interested in the making of films should see, and carefully study, this magnificent movie many, many times.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Dani G

Funny and clever. Simple but intelligent. The movie that gave the Coens the recognition they deserved.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/29/24

Full Review

Jack V

Stupid and unrealistic, but easy to watch. The acting and directing is good.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/08/24

Full Review

Chris P

So much fun! Have watched this several times now. Love the pace of the folks

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/01/24

Full Review

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Joel Coen

Director

Frances McDormand

Marge Gunderson

Steve Buscemi

Carl Showalter

William H. Macy

Jerry Lundegaard

Peter Stormare

Gaear Grimsrud

Harve Presnell

Wade Gustafson

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Fargo: Official Clip - Pancakes

0:55

Fargo: Official Clip - Whoa, Daddy

3:41

Fargo: Official Clip - A Little Bit of Money

2:01

Fargo: Official Clip - Fake Phone Call

1:29

Fargo: Official Clip - Lundegaard's Dealership

1:54

Fargo: Official Clip - Carl and the Parking Attendant

1:04

Fargo: Official Clip - Officer Lou's Police Work

1:40

Fargo: Official Clip - The Wood Chipper

1:55

Fargo: Official Clip - A Finder's Fee

3:31

Fargo: Official Clip - Morning Sickness

2:09

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Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

The North Dakota setting is icily evocative, the supporting characters perfectly pitched (remember Marge's old flame Mike Yanagita?), while the air of sadness that blankets the film like snow adds genuine profundity.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 14, 2021

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Its brilliance [lies] in making the forces of law and order look as interesting and funny as the bad guys.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 10, 2021

Full Review

Danny Leigh

Financial Times

McDormand aside, the secret might be the perfect pitch of the black comedy, the two elements in rare harmony.

Rated: 5/5

Jun 9, 2021

Full Review

Sarah Cortinaz

InSession Film

Fargo begins with a thunderous orchestral score by Carter Burwell as it beckons the audience towards the tragic events that are about to unfold.

Rated: A+

Apr 23, 2024

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

Fargo is a masterwork, one of the best films we’ve ever gotten to dissect the uneasy balance behind good and evil in a world where everyone might come across as nice.

Feb 22, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Coen brothers get back to basics with Fargo by going back to their home state of Minnesota for one of the best films in their career.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 15, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

"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.

Director: Joel Coen
Executive Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Production Co: Gramercy Pictures, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Strong Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.5M
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Stereo, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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