IMDb >
Fargo (1996)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsFargo (1996) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 6) |
|
Overview
User Rating:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
8 March 1996 (USA)
more
Tagline:
A homespun murder story. more
Plot:
Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of pregnant Marge Gunderson. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars.
Another 52 wins
&
30 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(105 articles)
Film Weekly on Harry Brown and the Coen brothers
(From The Guardian - Film News. 12 November 2009, 2:57 AM, PST)
Movie Review: A Serious Man
(From The Movie Fanatic. 2 November 2009, 1:29 AM, PST)
(From The Guardian - Film News. 12 November 2009, 2:57 AM, PST)
Movie Review: A Serious Man
(From The Movie Fanatic. 2 November 2009, 1:29 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The Best Effort From A Number Of People
more (640 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | William H. Macy | ... | Jerome 'Jerry' Lundegaard |
 | Steve Buscemi | ... | Carl Showalter |
 | Peter Stormare | ... | Gaear Grimsrud |
 | Kristin Rudrüd | ... | Jean Lundegaard |
| Harve Presnell | ... | Wade Gustafson |
 | Tony Denman | ... | Scotty Lundegaard |
 | Gary Houston | ... | Irate Customer |
| Sally Wingert | ... | Irate Customer's Wife |
| Kurt Schweickhardt | ... | Car Salesman |
| Larissa Kokernot | ... | Hooker #1 |
 | Melissa Peterman | ... | Hooker #2 |
| Steve Reevis | ... | Shep Proudfoot (as Steven Reevis) |
 | Warren Keith | ... | Reilly Diefenbach (voice) |
| Steve Edelman | ... | Morning Show Host |
| Sharon Anderson | ... | Morning Show Hostess |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence, language and sexuality.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
98 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) |
New Zealand:R18 |
USA:R (certificate #34206) |
Denmark:15 |
Canada:16+ (Quebec) |
Philippines:R-18 |
Brazil:18 |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:MA |
Belgium:KT |
Chile:18 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:-12 |
Germany:16 (bw) |
Hong Kong:III |
Iceland:16 |
Ireland:18 |
Italy:VM14 |
Japan:R-15 |
Netherlands:16 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:18 |
Portugal:M/16 |
Singapore:M18 (re-rating) |
Singapore:R(A) (original rating) |
South Korea:18 |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
None of the movie scenes, either exterior or interior, were actually filmed in Fargo. The bar exterior shown at the beginning of the movie is located in Northeast Minneapolis.
more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: Shadow at lower left during zoom into Marge's bed.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Jerry Lundegaard: I'm, uh, Jerry Lundegaard.
Carl Showalter: You're Jerry Lundegaard?
Jerry Lundegaard: Ya. Shep Proudfoot said...
Carl Showalter: Shep said you'd be here at 7:30. What gives, man?
Jerry Lundegaard: Shep said 8:30.
Carl Showalter: We've been sitting here an hour. He's
[motioning to Gaer]
Carl Showalter: peed three times already.
Jerry Lundegaard: I'm sure sorry. Shep told me 8:30. It was a mix-up, I guess.
more
Jerry Lundegaard: I'm, uh, Jerry Lundegaard.
Carl Showalter: You're Jerry Lundegaard?
Jerry Lundegaard: Ya. Shep Proudfoot said...
Carl Showalter: Shep said you'd be here at 7:30. What gives, man?
Jerry Lundegaard: Shep said 8:30.
Carl Showalter: We've been sitting here an hour. He's
[motioning to Gaer]
Carl Showalter: peed three times already.
Jerry Lundegaard: I'm sure sorry. Shep told me 8:30. It was a mix-up, I guess.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Deadly Mantis (#9.4)" (1997)
more
FAQ
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?Did a Japanese woman die because she believed the movie was true?
Was Fargo based on a true story?
more
more (640 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Fargo (1996) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| A History of Violence | Bad Boys II | Pulp Fiction | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | Before the Devil Knows You're Dead |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Crime section |
| IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
I didn't see this in the theater but saw it the first week it was out for rental, and have enjoyed it ever since. In fact, I probably enjoy this more each time I view it. It's a sick movie, though, make no mistake about that. However, it holds a strange fascination, probably because of the odd characters.
About the story: first, it is NOT a true story as indicated in the movie. That's a lie. It's a fictional kidnapping-turned into murder story with a few bloody scenes, lots of profanity (most of it by Steve Buscemi) and a comedy. Yup, this is pure "black comedy." It's dark humor mixed in with a parody about the way the Scandanavian people in the upper Midwest supposedly speak.
Both William H. Macy and Frances McDormand have some wonderful facial expressions along with their accents. Those two and Buscemi are the lead characters and all three "are a trip." Macy is hilarious; the best character in here, in my opinion. The more I watch this film, the funnier he gets. It's also the best role, I assume, ever for McDormand who was never a star before - or since - this movie. Her character in here, "Marge Gunderson," elevates this movie from just another modern-day sick crime movie, to an original. It's nice to see a wonderful husband-wife relationship, too, as is shown here with her and husband "Norm" (John Lynch).
You have this clean, old-fashioned lady cop (McDormand), a middle-of-the-road bungling car salesman (Macy) and two extreme low-life killers in "Carl Showalter" (Buscemi) and "Gaear Grimsrud" (Peter Stormare) all combining to make this story a mixture not only of people but genres. Other minor characters are strange, too, led by one of Marge's old high school acquaintances "Mike Yanagita" (Steve Park). Add to that some equally-bizarre music (slow violins) and you have this unusual story that brings out the morbid fascination in us viewers.
So, I guess what I am saying is this movie truly is an original, the best film the Coen Brothers have ever made and maybe the rest roles ever for the three main actors, McDormand, Macy and Buscemi.