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IMDbPro

Fargo

  • 19961996
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
667K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
579
78
Fargo (1996)
Trailer for Fargo Only Be version
Play trailer0:32
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Thriller
Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of the quite pregnant Marge Gunderson.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
667K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
579
78
  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Ethan Coen
    • Joel Coen
  • Stars
    • William H. Macy
    • Frances McDormand
    • Steve Buscemi
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Ethan Coen
    • Joel Coen
  • Stars
    • William H. Macy
    • Frances McDormand
    • Steve Buscemi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 234Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #171
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 83 wins & 58 nominations total

    Videos12

    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:17
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:17
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 2:08
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:32
    Fargo
    Fargo
    Trailer 0:30
    Fargo
    'Fargo' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:34
    'Fargo' | Anniversary Mashup
    Where 'Star Trek 4' Should Boldly Go
    Clip 4:16
    Where 'Star Trek 4' Should Boldly Go
    'Buster Scruggs': The Coen Bros.' Misunderstood, Misanthropic Masterwork
    Clip 3:23
    'Buster Scruggs': The Coen Bros.' Misunderstood, Misanthropic Masterwork
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    The Rise of Oscar Winner Frances McDormand
    Clip 3:57
    The Rise of Oscar Winner Frances McDormand

    Photos135

    Frances McDormand and James Gaulke in Fargo (1996)
    Steve Buscemi in Fargo (1996)
    Steve Buscemi and Steve Reevis in Fargo (1996)
    Frances McDormand in Fargo (1996)
    Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, and Kristin Rudrüd in Fargo (1996)
    Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare in Fargo (1996)
    Frances McDormand and James Gaulke in Fargo (1996)
    William H. Macy in Fargo (1996)
    William H. Macy in Fargo (1996)
    William H. Macy in Fargo (1996)
    Frances McDormand in Fargo (1996)
    William H. Macy and Harve Presnell in Fargo (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Jerry Lundegaardas Jerry Lundegaard
    Frances McDormand
    Frances McDormand
    • Marge Gundersonas Marge Gunderson
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Carl Showalteras Carl Showalter
    Peter Stormare
    Peter Stormare
    • Gaear Grimsrudas Gaear Grimsrud
    Kristin Rudrüd
    Kristin Rudrüd
    • Jean Lundegaardas Jean Lundegaard
    Harve Presnell
    Harve Presnell
    • Wade Gustafsonas Wade Gustafson
    Tony Denman
    Tony Denman
    • Scotty Lundegaardas Scotty Lundegaard
    Gary Houston
    Gary Houston
    • Irate Customeras Irate Customer
    Sally Wingert
    • Irate Customer's Wifeas Irate Customer's Wife
    Kurt Schweickhardt
    • Car Salesmanas Car Salesman
    Larissa Kokernot
    • Hooker #1as Hooker #1
    Melissa Peterman
    Melissa Peterman
    • Hooker #2as Hooker #2
    Steve Reevis
    Steve Reevis
    • Shep Proudfootas Shep Proudfoot
    • (as Steven Reevis)
    Warren Keith
    Warren Keith
    • Reilly Diefenbachas Reilly Diefenbach
    • (voice)
    Steve Edelman
    • Morning Show Hostas Morning Show Host
    Sharon Anderson
    • Morning Show Hostessas Morning Show Hostess
    Larry Brandenburg
    Larry Brandenburg
    • Stan Grossmanas Stan Grossman
    James Gaulke
    James Gaulke
    • State Trooperas State Trooper
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The snow plow that drives past the motel at the end of the film was not part of the script. Signs in the area warned motorists not to drive through due to filming, but a state employee ignored them.
    • Goofs
      Jean Lundegaard dials 911 from a phone in the upstairs bathroom. A few seconds later, the phone is disconnected. While modern 911 systems could automatically identify the address, that was not the case in 1987. The dispatcher might not have been able to take any further action.
    • Quotes

      Marge Gunderson: [to Gaear] So, that was Mrs. Lundegaard on the floor in there. And I guess that was your accomplice in the wood chipper. And those three people in Brainerd. And for what? For a little bit of money? There's more to life than a little money, you know. Don'tcha know that? And here ya are, and it's a beautiful day. Well. I just don't understand it.

    • Crazy credits
      A symbol similar to the Artist Formerly Known as Prince is in the credits as "victim in field", but it is not him, it is J. Todd Anderson, the storyboard artist.
    • Alternate versions
      Polygram Filmed Entertainment sold most of its film library to MGM in 1999. As a result, when the video and DVD were re-issued by MGM video, the MGM lion logo was added to the beginning of the film.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Up Close and Personal/Muppet Treasure Island/Fargo/Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam/The Young Poisoner's Handbook (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Do You Know the Way to San Jose
      Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

      Published by Blue Seas Music, Inc. and JAC Music Co., Inc.

      Recording courtesy Alshire International

      Muzak heard playing while Marge and Norm Gunderson are at an all-you-can-eat buffet

    User reviews1K

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Thank's a bunch for this one
    Fargo is a great piece of movie. It has a strong story and a strong cast. It's down to earth and believable.

    Jerry Lundegaard is in some trouble. He hires two small time crocks from Fargo to kidnap his wife. The plan is for her father to pay off and for Jerry to take the money. Things don't exactly goes as planned as they kill three people and get a pregnant Chief on their tail.

    The Coen brothers have does a terrific job on this movie. It's a well written, original story with an original setting and it doesn't try to be anything it isn't. Just a few characters, a simple plot and small scale. They stay away of clichés and don't even remotely try to mix in anything of that regular Hollywood crap. They manage to capture the mood, the people and the action pretty good. The characters are great, they're reasonable and believable. They manage to keep it serious, but not too serious and put inn a joke here and there.

    The actors are great. They way they manage to put on a happy smile and make it seem polite and a little, but not all too false in a great way. William H. Macy is great as Jerry Lundegaard. He gives a little nervous, kind of boy scout performance and it fits perfect. Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare makes two great small time losers. Buscemi is great as a small, funny looking, constant talking bad guy and Stormare fits the big silent, violent, psychopath type really good and they act these characters all the way out. Kristin Rudrüd does a good job as Jean Lundegaard and Harve Presnell as the rich dad is always a winner.

    The cinematography is good. All of the shots are good looking and some of them are original, cool and extra good looking. All of the shots are well composed, the lightning is good, but not much out of the ordinary. There are a nice play with the colors in some shots involving the snow.

    The score is really nice. The theme is a little sad and so is the movie. It's moody and supports the action and fits the settings very well. It's used in a classical way between the action and that works very well, it makes the action seem more real and more close.

    Fargo is a original movie out of the ordinary. The story is good, well written and it's well brought to life and captured. The Coen brothers has made a timeless and very enjoyable movie. See it!
    helpful•55
    11
    • Stibbert
    • Nov 12, 2005

    FAQ11

    • What was Carl Showalter doing in the car park (the one he didn't want to park in) with the white car, he was removing the snow from the number plate... why?
    • Is "Fargo" based on a true story?
    • Did a Japanese woman die because she believed the movie was true?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 5, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thị Trấn Fargo
    • Filming locations
      • Grafton, North Dakota, USA
    • Production companies
      • PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,611,975
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $730,265
      • Mar 10, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $60,611,975
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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