All Of The Best Coen Brothers Films

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Updated June 25, 2021 10.1K votes 1.8K voters 55.5K views
Over 1.8K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of All Of The Best Coen Brothers Films
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Vote up your favorite movies made by the Coen brothers.

With more than 1,800 movie fans casting their votes, this list of the best Coen brothers films is a testament to their unique vision and talent. Joel and Ethan Coen have become two of the most celebrated directors in Hollywood history, with an impressive filmography that spans everything from crime thrillers to screwball comedies.

Their movies are renowned for their sharp wit, memorable characters, and dark themes. From The Big Lebowski's slacker charm to No Country For Old Men's gripping suspense, these are films that stay with viewers long after they've left the theater.

Featuring some of the biggest stars in Hollywood - George Clooney in O Brother Where Art Thou?, Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski - as well as lesser-known actors who shine on screen like Frances McDormand and Javier Bardem, there's something here for everyone. With iconic scenes including John Turturro dancing around a bowling alley or Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading, each movie offers its own unique brand of entertainment value. Whether you're looking for laughs or thrills (or both), these films will deliver every time. So why not check out our list today? Vote up your favorites and discover what makes them so special.

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  • Fargo
    1

    Fargo

    Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy
    1,282 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Joel Coen

    Awards: Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay

    Fargo, a dark comedy-crime film, is an unforgettable journey into the frozen heart of Minnesota. Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), a car salesman in Minneapolis, hatches a desperate scheme involving his wife and two bumbling criminals, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare). The plan backfires when it attracts the attention of Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), the pregnant police chief of Brainerd. McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of Gunderson, whose tenacious investigation unravels the plot amidst the snow-swept landscapes. The film's unique blend of horror and humor has earned it a cult following and multiple awards, including two Academy Awards.

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  • The Big Lebowski
    2

    The Big Lebowski

    Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore
    1,361 votes
    • Released: 1998
    • Directed by: Joel Coen
    In the quirky comedy The Big Lebowski, Jeff Lebowski (Jeff Bridges), also known as The Dude, gets unwittingly entangled in a complex kidnapping case. A case of mistaken identity lands him in hot water when two thugs mistake him for a millionaire with the same name. John Goodman portrays his volatile bowling buddy, Walter Sobchak, who takes it upon himself to solve the convoluted mystery. Julianne Moore plays a pivotal role as Maude Lebowski, adding an artistic and eccentric twist to the plot. The film, directed by the Coen brothers, is an offbeat blend of satire, slapstick humor, and crime drama that won a British Academy Film Award.

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  • No Country for Old Men
    3

    No Country for Old Men

    Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
    1,308 votes
    • Released: 2007
    • Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

    Awards: Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay; Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay Motion Picture

    In the atmospheric drama No Country for Old Men, a hunter, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong in the Texas desert. He seizes an opportunity, snagging a briefcase full of cash. This act triggers a violent chain reaction as relentless hitman Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) begins to hunt him down. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), an aging lawman, struggles to preserve a fading sense of justice in this brutal, new world. This film, praised for its stark realism and suspenseful storytelling, won four Academy Awards including Best Picture.

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  • O Brother, Where Art Thou?
    4

    O Brother, Where Art Thou?

    George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson
    1,101 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Joel Coen
    In the uniquely styled film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) leads a motley crew of escaped convicts through 1930s Mississippi. Pete Hogwallop (John Turturro) and Delmar O'Donnell (Tim Blake Nelson) accompany him in an ambitious quest for hidden treasure. The unlikely trio navigates a landscape as rich in folklore as it is in danger, meeting a colorful cast of characters along their way. This Coen Brothers' cinematic odyssey, inspired by Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', marries comedy with drama and won a Grammy for its distinctive soundtrack.

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  • Raising Arizona
    5

    Raising Arizona

    Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson
    984 votes
    • Released: 1987
    • Directed by: Joel Coen
    In the offbeat comedy Raising Arizona, H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage), a repeat offender, falls for prison officer Edwina (Holly Hunter). Their longing for a child leads them to kidnap one of a wealthy businessman's quintuplets, setting off a chain of wild and wacky events. This quirky blend of crime, humor, and farce is directed by the Coen Brothers, known for their unique storytelling style. The film's eccentric characters and unpredictable plot twists make it an unforgettable entry in the landscape of American cinema. Despite its madcap premise, at its heart, it explores themes of love, family, and morality.

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  • Miller's Crossing
    6

    Miller's Crossing

    Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, Marcia Gay Harden
    775 votes
    • Released: 1990
    • Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
    When the Italian Mafia threatens to kill a crooked bookie (John Turturro), Irish mob boss Leo O'Bannon (Albert Finney) refuses to allow it, chiefly because he's dating the bookie's sister, crafty gun moll Verna Bernbaum (Marcia Gay Harden). Leo's right-hand man, Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), is also seeing Verna on the sly, and when he's found out is obliged to switch sides, going to work for the Italian mob amidst a dramatically escalating gang war over liquor distribution.

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