Fargo

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Fargo

R

1996

1h 37m

Comedy

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

112 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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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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Danny Leigh

Financial Times

06/09/2021

5/5

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

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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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Fahim Z

@fhmzhr May 21

Fargo is a masterclass in tone, perfectly blending pitch-black humor with a chilling, cold-blooded crime story. The Coen Brothers created an atmosphere that is as stark and biting as the Minnesota landscape it captures. The Highlights: Frances McDormand: Her performance as Marge Gunderson is legendary—a warm, grounded, and brilliantly sharp anchor in a sea of increasingly desperate and dim-witted criminals. The Atmosphere: The juxtaposition of polite, "Minnesota Nice" Midwestern charm against the backdrop of senseless, bungled violence is both hilarious and unsettling. The Script: It is taut, unpredictable, and features some of the most memorable dialogue in 90s cinema. The Verdict: It is a uniquely American masterpiece that balances dark satire with genuine suspense. While its deliberate, slow-burn pace might not be for everyone, it remains a quintessential viewing experience for any fan of gritty, character-driven thrillers.

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Brendan B.

@filmzone May 20

The Coen Brothers recipe: dry but funny characters, no real lead protagonist, events over narratives, and a big fucked up situation = a usually great movie. Except this time, it’s in the snow!

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Brian W

@RT98832516 May 16

Highly amusing and disturbing.

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Charles C.

@Squirt_Reynolds May 15

Nuke the Midwest asap

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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)