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Raising Arizona

Play trailer Poster for Raising Arizona PG-13 Released Mar 1, 1987 1h 33m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker Raising Arizona is no big deal, but it has a rambunctious charm. Jan 14, 2013 Full Review 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 Cory Woodroof For the Win (USA Today) It’s a joyous satire about what it takes to raise a baby in a chaotic world and a slick crime caper with unforgettable characters and quirks. Feb 22, 2024 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B I get why the movie has endured (besides the enjoyably excessive style the performances are all appropriately maximalist) and while it is isn't my personal favorite of the Coen's work it is still a strong comedy. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/08/24 Full Review John C When you think about it... it's strange that Nicolas Cage hasn't really done more comedy in his career. His manic, over-acting style certainly lends itself to some humorous outlandish performances that are so extreme that you can only laugh at them. Here, in an early Coen brothers film, Cage plays 'Hi' - a petty small town criminal who tries to change his ways when he marries a local police woman 'Ed' (Holly Hunter). Don't think too closely about how an officer of the law could be so easily attracted to such a loser and just get to the part where they find they can't have children. Therefore, they decide to kidnap one of five babies a local wealthy businessman has recently fathered. Yeah, it's all not quite as 'believable' as some of the Coen brothers' later films, but, if you just allow yourself to go with it, you'll certainly have some fun. Of course Cage overacts, but then so do many other characters in the film, all of which mainly relying on behaving like one stereotype or another. John Goodman in on the cast list, but possibly comes across as a little underused when considering what else he could have brought to the script. Besides the cast and the completely ludicrous plot, I think 'Raising Arizona's' main selling point is its weirdness. It's certainly not a 'conventional' film and you really will wonder where it's going at times. The crazy direction mixed with the sheer randomness of the screenplay really does make it compulsive viewing and you'll soon find yourself being able to forgive the bits in the story that are slightly less believable than the rest (mainly certain 'character motivation choices' here and there). There are moments that will definitely make you laugh out loud and if you're looking for a film that feels like a B-movie with an A-list cast, or just a fan of the Coen brothers and what to see where they've 'evolved' from, then definitely give this one a go. It's certainly held up over time and is worth a watch every now and again. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Thomas R Not a bad movie, not a masterpiece. Just a good, fun movie that's a great watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review Mason M This is nowhere near a mature film, but it is one of the Coen's most simply entertaining. Raising Arizona is a hilarious absurdist comedy, with one of the craziest premises and set-ups I've ever seen in a film. This could've easily been a tiring movie, but it's charm and unique style makes Raising Arizona a great film. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review Michael V Their lawless years are behind them. Their child-rearing years lay ahead... Raising Arizona is a 1987 American crime comedy film written, directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen 👶 Not bad, but not my favourite either 😐 Meh, it passed the time. Just. 😐 👍🏼👎🏼 Disliked the basic premise which coloured the rest of the movie… When a childless couple--an ex-con and an ex-cop--decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/24/24 Full Review Mark B Joel and Ethan Coen’s best! The single most quotable movie ever made. “Are you gonna breast feed him ma’am? You appear to be capable.” If you don’t get this movie maybe you should stick with Beavis and Butthead. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Raising Arizona

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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