Raising Arizona

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Raising Arizona

PG-13

1987

1h 33m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

65 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

An ex-con and an ex-cop meet, marry and long for a child of their own. When it is discovered that Hi is unable to have children they decide to snatch a baby. They try to keep their crime a secret, while friends, co-workers and a bounty hunter look to use the child for their own purposes.

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Critics Consensus

A terrifically original, eccentric screwball comedy, Raising Arizona may not be the Coens' most disciplined movie, but it's one of their most purely entertaining.

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Peter Keough

Chicago Reader

Coens have not achieved the maturity needed to appreciate the vision of a Capra or Sturges, and their gifts are too rich and deep for the likes of Heckle and Jeckle.

Rated: 2/4

May 9, 2022

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Raising Arizona is no big deal, but it has a rambunctious charm.

Jan 14, 2013

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

To their old fascination with Sunbelt pathology, to their side-winding Steadicam and pristine command of screen space, the Coens have added a robust humor, a plot that keeps outwitting expectations and a...dollop of sympathy for their forlorn kidnapers.

Mar 13, 2009

Full Review

John Ferguson

Radio Times

From the audacious pre-credits sequence onwards, the pace never slackens for a second.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2025

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Two features into their career, Raising Arizona shows that the Coens are as effective with comedies as they were with neo-noir.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 7, 2024

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Josh Slater-Williams

Vague Visages

A distinct calling card for their more overtly comedic instincts; a frenetic farce that combines slapstick sensibilities and giddy playfulness with the English language...

Nov 14, 2023

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Robin O

Though Raising Arizona is one of their funniest and most accessible films, it is also among their most introspective.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

Full Review

Recneps .

The best “Nicolas Cage plays a criminal who kidnaps a baby to raise as his own child with his police officer wife” movie I’ve ever seen. Incredibly funny, and the cast all do great jobs, even in the more serious moments. I honestly can’t wait to rewatch it, because I think I might genuinely love this film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Jason H

This was the first Coen Brothers movie I watched, way back in 1987. It certainly wasn't the last.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

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Todd B

I feel like this is a complete movie with a little bit of everything, comedy, action (that is comedic), little bit of a scary villain, unique music, tugging at heartstrings. Somehow Nicholas Cage's and John Goodman's combined yelling during a fight scene is something that will always stay with me.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

Full Review

Eric W

Start to finish, not a dull moment in the entire movie. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

Michael B.

Does the pope wear a funny hat?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

Full Review

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Joel Coen

Director

Nicolas Cage

H.I. McDonnough

Holly Hunter

Edwina "Ed" McDonnough

Trey Wilson

Nathan Arizona, Sr.

John Goodman

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William Forsythe

Evelle Snopes

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Synopsis

An ex-con and an ex-cop meet, marry and long for a child of their own. When it is discovered that Hi is unable to have children they decide to snatch a baby. They try to keep their crime a secret, while friends, co-workers and a bounty hunter look to use the child for their own purposes.

Director: Joel Coen
Producer: Ethan Coen
Screenwriter: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Circle Films, Inc.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 1987, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $21.1M
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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