Blood Simple

Play trailer

Blood Simple

R

Released Jul 7, 1984

1h 37m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

112 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

"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...

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Brutally violent and shockingly funny in equal measure, Blood Simple offers early evidence of the Coen brothers' twisted sensibilities and filmmaking ingenuity.

Read Critics Reviews

Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

Blood Simple is entirely self-concious, and good for it.

Dec 6, 2022

Full Review

Adam Nayman

The Ringer

What holds up best about Blood Simple, besides its vice-tight plotting and the rotten charisma of M. Emmet Walsh's evil, manipulative private eye Visser, is the sheer exuberance of the Coens's visual style.

Apr 15, 2019

Full Review

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Blood Simple is a reminder that the Coens are formalist film-makers first, with keen noses for composition and taut, structured storytelling, as well as masters of black comedy.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 8, 2017

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

A modern classic.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2025

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

It’s easy to presume Joel and Ethan Coen had to grow into their exceptional attunement to the invisible forces of the universe that either jolt us awake or lull us into deceptively comforting slumber. Nope. They've been in command of that from the jump.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 27, 2025

Full Review

Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

It’s shockingly accomplished in terms of tone and technique (for being a first feature) and haunted by one of Carter Burwell’s best piano scores.

Jan 22, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

Justin T

This is a tragic black comedy of a thriller. It involves a lot of thought which means that it can be slow in places and requires some patience. The ending is very good and well done. Sadly up until the ending I just wanted something to happen. The production and so on was all really good as you might expect. I just can’t help but think that I wasn’t the right audience for the film, I really felt like it needed something more engaging, be it violence, characters, action, anything so that it is less pondering.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Alain E

Still remains very strong if you like this type of cynical entertainment. The introduction says that it has been reedited and I guess I will have find my old DVD to see what changes were made. Especially enjoyable is the late Michael Emmet Walsh.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Heather R

I hated everything about this movie! They writing and editing were abysmal. I don't get the high ratings!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

CodyZamboni Z

Coen's first movie is impressive, compelling, and a bit trashy. Fine performances, nice plot twists, kept me on my toes. As major misunderstandings of the truth, totally screws with the character's poor decision making. Coens show lots of style with fancy camerabatics. An eerie music score helps underscore all the mayhem.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

Jonathan O

Absolutely outstanding dark comedy-drama independent film ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Joel Coen

Director

John Getz

Ray

Frances McDormand

Abby

M. Emmet Walsh

Private Detective

Dan Hedaya

Julian Marty

Samm-Art Williams

Meurice

52 Pick-Up

58%

48%

52 Pick-Up

Watchlist

Cutter's Way

92%

70%

Cutter's Way

Watchlist

Manhunter

94%

77%

Manhunter

Watchlist

Mississippi Burning

79%

90%

Mississippi Burning

Watchlist

Frantic

77%

64%

Frantic

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Coen Brothers’ Blood Simple Boldly Announced One of the Most Original Filmmaking Duos Ever

On DVD This Week: Neighbors 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and More

Definitive Coen Brothers Movies

View more photos

Synopsis

"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...

Director: Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: USA Films
Production Co: River Road
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 1984, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 2016
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.7M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now