Fargo

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Fargo

R

1996

1h 37m

Comedy

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

113 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

"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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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Jul 10

5/5

Fargo remains gripping decades later not just for its craft and darkly comic story but for the way it turns myth-making – storytelling and deception – into its central preoccupation.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

06/14/2021

5/5

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.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

06/10/2021

5/5

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

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Marc Horton

Edmonton Journal

Apr 15

5/5

The dialogue is as good as it can get, funny because it is so accurate and true -- and as ordinary as the chat we have with the neighbor as we shovel the sidewalk.

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Lee Bacchus

The Province (Vancouver)

Apr 14

4/4

Is Fargo the best American movie to hit theatres this year? You're darn tootin'.

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Jon Negroni

Thank God for Movies

Mar 9

10/10

30 years after the Cutlass emerged from the blizzard, Fargo is still the most honest American movie I know about the relationship between small human failure and catastrophic harm.

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Ryan L

Jan 8

One of the greatest movies ever made.

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Wes

01/16/2025

This is such a fun movie by the Coen brothers. It is a slice of local color and black comedy.

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Russell H

@RT85733992 Jul 20

I enjoyed the politeness and accents as humor angle as well as the atmosphere and 90s vibe. It just moved a little slow and my mind drifted away a few times.

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Kyle S

@RT67393021 Jul 19

The Coen Brothers just know how to make great movies and this one of their greatest hits. Beautifully shot and so well written. It’s dark, funny, twisted and cozy all in one go. The small town setting in a cold Minnesota winter combined with the quirky character traits of the locals is amazing. Frances McDormand’s performance is so unforgettably well done with Marge’s character. This movie will forever hold up.

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Vik D

@vikdamone Jul 17

It's weird, hilarious, and somehow both cozy and terrifying at the same time. The characters are unforgettable, the writing is brilliant, and every awkward conversation feels like it could explode into chaos at any second. A snow-covered crime story with a wicked grin and a whole lot of personality.

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Jennifer M

@buttonsthecat Jul 10

This movie was really boring and not even funny when it tried to be. I actually had to watch it in separate days to complete it. There were some shocking events toward the end, but it's not that great of a movie. It's overrated and doesn't deserve the current rating it has. I don't think it's worth a watch.

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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

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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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
Producer: Ethan Coen
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
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Stereo, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)