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Fargo

Play trailer Poster for Fargo R 1996 1h 37m Comedy Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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Fargo

Fargo

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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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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Jul 10, 2026
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. Go to Full Review
Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Jun 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. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian Jun 10, 2021
5/5
Its brilliance [lies] in making the forces of law and order look as interesting and funny as the bad guys. Go to Full Review
Marc Horton Edmonton Journal Apr 15, 2026
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. Go to Full Review
Lee Bacchus The Province (Vancouver) Apr 14, 2026
4/4
Is Fargo the best American movie to hit theatres this year? You're darn tootin'. Go to Full Review
Jon Negroni Thank God for Movies Mar 9, 2026
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ryan L Jan 8, 2026 One of the greatest movies ever made. See more Wes Jan 16, 2025 This is such a fun movie by the Coen brothers. It is a slice of local color and black comedy. See more Rebecca L @RebeccaL 12 hrs ago I thought Fargo a good movie. It’s about this guy named Jerry who gets himself into a huge mess after hiring two guys to kidnap his wife so he can get ransom money from her rich dad. Of course, the whole plan goes wrong pretty fast, and things just keep getting worse from there. What I liked most about the movie was how it could be serious and funny at the same time. Some parts are pretty dark and violent, but then there are these awkward or random moments that are funny. Frances McDormand was probably my favorite part of the movie. Her character, Marge, is calm but she’s also smart and figures out what’s going on. I also liked the snowy setting because it gives the whole movie this cold and isolated feeling. It’s not a super fast-paced movie, but I never got bored because I wanted to see how everything would play out. I’d give Fargo a 5/5. It’s a weird movie, but in a good way. See more Ryan T @RT91888008 3 days ago Big cast, all put together well! See more Benjamin G @BxDxGx Sep 13, 2026 Finally, I watched this movie after hearing all about its rave reviews decades ago when it was winning Academy Awards. I’ve always liked a good murder crime/mystery type of film and this one doesn’t disappoint; at the time when it was released, I was too young for it to appeal to me. I didn’t find myself laughing out loud while watching it like everyone else raves about but I definitely picked up on its charm and found it to compliment the film well. The setting is unique offering a snowy small town vibe with Minnesotan accents and an astute cop that might often be typecasted as inept in other movies. The storyline gets right to the point and doesn’t skip a beat from there. For some reason I want Jerry who set the whole thing up to succeed but the way it ends is crafty with a good amount of nuance that can keep the film fresh during additional viewings. I think it’s an enjoyable film that I’d selectively recommend to others. See more Jotate P @Jotate13 Sep 12, 2026 It’s far from how good it’s sold. See more Read all reviews
Fargo

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Fargo

Fargo: Official Clip - Pancakes Fargo: Official Clip - Pancakes 0:55 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - Whoa, Daddy Fargo: Official Clip - Whoa, Daddy 3:41 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - A Little Bit of Money Fargo: Official Clip - A Little Bit of Money 2:01 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - Fake Phone Call Fargo: Official Clip - Fake Phone Call 1:29 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - Lundegaard's Dealership Fargo: Official Clip - Lundegaard's Dealership 1:54 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - Carl and the Parking Attendant Fargo: Official Clip - Carl and the Parking Attendant 1:04 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - Officer Lou's Police Work Fargo: Official Clip - Officer Lou's Police Work 1:40 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - The Wood Chipper Fargo: Official Clip - The Wood Chipper 1:55 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - A Finder's Fee Fargo: Official Clip - A Finder's Fee 3:31 Now Playing Fargo: Official Clip - Morning Sickness Fargo: Official Clip - Morning Sickness 2:09 Now Playing View more videos
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Movie Info

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)
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