The Best Frances McDormand Movies

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Updated August 11, 2023 752 votes 148 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Frances McDormand Movies
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List of the best Frances McDormand movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Frances McDormand's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Frances McDormand movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Frances McDormand movies will be at the top of the list. Frances McDormand has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Frances McDormand movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Frances McDormand films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Frances McDormand role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Frances McDormand performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

List contains films like Almost Famous and Beyond Rangoon.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Frances McDormand movies?" and "What are the greatest Frances McDormand roles of all time?"

Frances McDormand has worked with many famous directors, including big names like Michael Bay and Robert Altman. Frances McDormand has been in some really popular films, and is right up there with stars like Rachel Weisz and Tom Wilkinson in terms of fame and success.

Most divisive: Darkman
Ranked by
  • Fargo
    1

    Fargo

    Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy
    56 votes
    • Released: 1996
    • Directed by: Joel Coen
    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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  • Blood Simple
    2

    Blood Simple

    John Getz, Frances McDormand, M. Emmet Walsh
    20 votes
    • Released: 1984
    • Directed by: Joel Coen
    "Blood Simple" was the first feature film from Joel and Ethan Coen. This is the newly restored and re-edited director's cut of the film, introduced by Mortimer Young. The stylish crime thriller premiered at film festivals in 1984. "Blood Simple" begins deep in the heart of Texas, where a jealous saloon owner hires a cheap divorce detective to kill the saloon owner's younger wife and her bartender lover. But the detective gets a better idea: he follows the two lovers, and...
  • Burn After Reading
    3

    Burn After Reading

    George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich
    22 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
    In Burn After Reading, chaos ensues when a disc containing memoirs of a former CIA analyst (John Malkovich) falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees, Linda (Frances McDormand) and Chad (Brad Pitt). Their ill-conceived attempts to exploit their find thrust them into the world of espionage. The Coen Brothers' dark comedy intertwines these characters with a paranoid federal marshal (George Clooney) and his cheating wife (Tilda Swinton). This film, acclaimed for its stellar ensemble cast and biting humor, won the 2008 Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion award for best film.

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  • Mississippi Burning
    4

    Mississippi Burning

    Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand
    19 votes
    • Released: 1988
    • Directed by: Alan Parker
    Set in the volatile era of civil rights movement, Mississippi Burning is a gripping crime drama. When three civil rights workers go missing in Jessup County, Mississippi, FBI agents Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe) and Rupert Anderson (Gene Hackman) are dispatched to investigate. The film navigates the murky waters of racial bigotry as the agents grapple with an uncooperative town steeped in prejudice. Directed by Alan Parker, this politically charged movie won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated for six others including Best Picture. The narrative is taut, the characters unforgettable, making Mississippi Burning a striking depiction of a tumultuous time in American history.

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  • Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
    5

    Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

    Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Lee Pace
    23 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Bharat Nalluri
    It's 1939 and governess Guinevere Pettigrew finds herself out of work and on the bread line. Middle-aged and running out of options, Miss Pettigrew takes an uncharacteristic gamble when, after being refused work at an employment agency,she steals the details of a juicy assignment and pursues the job herself.

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  • Almost Famous
    6

    Almost Famous

    Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson
    30 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Cameron Crowe
    Almost Famous is a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama directed by Cameron Crowe. It follows the journey of 15-year-old William Miller (Patrick Fugit), an aspiring rock journalist who gets his big break when he lands an assignment for Rolling Stone magazine. He goes on tour with emerging band Stillwater, led by charismatic frontman Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) and experiences the highs and lows of the '70s rock scene. The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and features a breakout performance from Kate Hudson as groupie-with-a-heart-of-gold, Penny Lane.

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