Raising Arizona

19871987
PG-13PG-13
1h 34m

Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona (1987)

We're rootin' and tootin' about the Coen Brothers' new movie, but wasn't this supposed to be their first TV mini-series? On your IMDbrief, we look at the misunderstood, misanthropic masterwork that is, 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.'

'Buster Scruggs': The Coen Bros.' Misunderstood, Misanthropic Masterwork

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.

Directors
- Joel Coen
- Ethan Coen(uncredited)
Writers
- Ethan Coen
- Joel Coen
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 4 nominations

Videos3

Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona

'Buster Scruggs': The Coen Bros.' Misunderstood, Misanthropic Masterwork

'Buster Scruggs': The Coen Bros.' Misunderstood, Misanthropic Masterwork

A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers

A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers

Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, and T.J. Kuhn in Raising Arizona (1987)

Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona (1987)

Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona (1987)

Nicolas Cage in Raising Arizona (1987)

Nicolas Cage at an event for Raising Arizona (1987)

Raising Arizona (1987)

Raising Arizona (1987)

Raising Arizona (1987)

1 sheet movie poster

16 x 21 Mini Movie Poster

Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, and T.J. Kuhn in Raising Arizona (1987)

Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, and T.J. Kuhn in Raising Arizona (1987)

Directors
- Joel Coen
- Ethan Coen(uncredited)
Writers
- Ethan Coen
- Joel Coen
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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Arizona Raised

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

7.3

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes. —Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>

arizona desert state name in title arizona phoenix arizona diaper 297 more

Taglines
- A comedy beyond belief.
Genres
- Comedy
- Crime
Certificate
- PG-13
Parents guide

Trivia
According to Ethan Coen, Nicolas Cage was crazy about his Woody Woodpecker haircut and that it reacted to H.I.'s stress level. The bigger the danger he's in, the bigger the wave in his hair gets.

Goofs
HI and Edwina's Chevy alternates between a 72 Impala 4 door post sedan and a 1974 4 door hardtop quite blatantly throughout the film.

Quotes
Gale: All right, ya hayseeds, it's a stick-up. Everybody freeze. Everybody down on the ground.
Feisty Hayseed: Well, which is it, young feller? You want I should freeze or get down on the ground? Mean to say, if'n I freeze, I can't rightly drop. And if'n I drop, I'm a-gonna be in motion. You see...
Gale: Shut up!
Feisty Hayseed: Okay then.
Gale: Everybody down on the ground!
Evelle: Y'all can just forget that part about freezin' now.
Gale: Better still to get down there.
Evelle: Yeah, y'all hear that, don't ya?
[Everybody lays down. Gale looks at the now-empty teller windows]
Gale: Shit! Where'd all the tellers go?
Teller's voices: We're down here, sir.
Evelle: They're on the floor as you commanded, Gale.

Crazy credits
filmed on location in Valley of the Sun, Arizona -- a great place to raise your kids

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Heat/Lethal Weapon/Lily Tomlin/Raising Arizona (1987)

Soundtracks
Down In The Willow Garden
by Arthur Gorson
(C) Copyright Charlie Munroe 1957, 1972
Performed by Holly Hunter

Top review

8/10

A Coen Classic

The Coen Brothers first "masterpiece" black comedy was a 1987 surprise hit that raised the bar in the comedy genre. Future Academy Award winners Cage and Hunter star in what may be one of the most original stories ever to come out of Arizona. Goodman shows the world he can be funny as the misunderstood and somewhat crazy escaped convict. Cage and Hunter have so much love to give, they steal a baby from Mr. Arizona himself. A modern day (80's) fantasy that chooses an interesting setting to tell its tale. The hilarious innocence is non-stop as Raising Arizona showcases relationship, friendship, vanity, ignorance, and the search for peace and forgiveness. Who knows....maybe it was Utah?

helpful•53

27

caspian1978
Jul 31, 2004

Release date
- April 17, 1987 (United States)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Arizona Junior
Filming locations
- Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Production company
- Circle Films
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $6,000,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $22,847,564
Opening weekend US & Canada
- $36,240
- Mar 15, 1987
Gross worldwide
- $29,180,280

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 34 minutes
Color
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby Stereo
Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1

The Coen Brothers Consider This Their Worst Movie

The Coen Brothers Consider This Their Worst Movie

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Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter in Raising Arizona (1987)

Top Gap

By what name was Raising Arizona (1987) officially released in India in English?

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