Fargo (1996 film)

Fargo

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1996 (1996)
Founder	Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Products	Film

Fargo is a 1996 dark comedy crime movie crafted by Joel and Ethan Coen, who wrote, directed, produced, and edited the film. The cast includes Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, and Peter Stormare. The storyline centers on police chief Marge Gunderson (McDormand) as she investigates a triple homicide linked to car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (Macy), who hires two criminals to abduct his wife for ransom.

Shot in the United States during late 1995, Fargo debuted at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or. Joel Coen earned the Best Director award (Prix De La Mise En Scène). The film was met with both critical acclaim and commercial success, with particular praise directed at its direction, screenplay, and performances by McDormand, Macy, and Buscemi. At the 69th Academy Awards, it garnered seven nominations including Best Picture and Best Director; McDormand won Best Actress, while the Coens took home Best Original Screenplay.

In 1998, the American Film Institute recognized it among the 100 greatest American films (although it was removed from the list in 2007). In 2006, it was chosen for inclusion in the U.S. National Film Registry due to its cultural and historical importance. Inspired by the movie, an FX television series produced by the Coens premiered in 2014 to widespread critical praise.

Plot

Set in 1987, Jerry Lundegaard works as an executive sales manager at a Minneapolis car dealership owned by his father-in-law Wade Gustafson. Desperate for money, Jerry devises a plan to have his wife Jean kidnapped to demand ransom funds. Acting on advice from Shep Proudfoot—a mechanic recently released on parole—Jerry contacts Gaear Grimsrud and Carl Showalter in Fargo, North Dakota. They agree to carry out the kidnapping in exchange for a new Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and half of an $80,000 ransom Jerry plans to extract from Wade.

After believing he has secured a $750,000 loan from Wade for a real estate venture, Jerry attempts to call off the scheme. However, Wade intends to manage the loan himself and offers Jerry only a finder's fee. Despite this change, Carl and Gaear proceed with abducting Jean and take her to a secluded cabin near Moose Lake. While traveling near Brainerd, a state trooper stops them due to missing temporary license tags; after refusing Carl’s bribe and discovering Jean in the vehicle, Gaear kills the trooper along with two witnesses.

Pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson from Brainerd leads the investigation, which connects back to Wade’s dealership. She uncovers ties to Shep and observes suspicious activity at motels involving the kidnappers. Meanwhile, Jerry informs Wade that the kidnappers now demand $1 million and will negotiate solely through him. Following three murders linked to the case, Carl insists Jerry deliver the full ransom amount. Shep assaults Carl for attracting police attention with their actions. Wade attempts to pay the ransom but is killed by Carl after refusing to hand over money without proof of Jean’s safety.

Carl discovers that the ransom case contains $1 million; he keeps $80,000 for himself and Gaear while burying the remainder. Marge meets Mike Yanagita—who had tried reconnecting with her—and learns that he fabricated stories about his wife’s death due to mental illness. Returning to investigate Wade’s dealership further, Marge grows suspicious of Jerry’s denials concerning missing vehicles and notifies state police.

At their cabin hideout, Carl finds that Gaear has killed Jean because she was making too much noise. The two argue over possession of the Cutlass Ciera; after Carl insults Gaear and attempts to leave with the car, Gaear kills him with an axe. Acting on a tip-off, Marge arrives in Moose Lake just as Gaear is disposing of Carl’s body using a woodchipper. She wounds Gaear during his arrest and takes him into custody. Jerry is apprehended at a motel near Bismarck, North Dakota.

Meanwhile, Marge’s husband Norm shares news that his mallard painting was selected for a 3-cent postage stamp issue and discusses stamp denominations with Marge as they prepare for their upcoming child’s arrival.

Casting

Initially, the Coen brothers contemplated William H. Macy for a minor part, but his audition impressed them enough to invite him to try out for the role of Jerry Lundegaard. Macy's determination led him to travel to New York to pursue the role, declaring, "I want this." Ethan Coen highlighted Jerry's character as multifaceted—both naive and deceitful, yet fundamentally innocent, often taken aback when his plans unravel.

To embody Marge Gunderson, Frances McDormand undertook thorough preparation, which included learning firearm handling, consulting with a pregnant police officer, and collaborating with co-star John Carroll Lynch to craft an elaborate character background. She also drew from her sister’s experience as a chaplain in a women's maximum-security prison to inform Marge’s demeanor.

Filming

Fargo was shot during the winter of 1995, mainly in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and Pembina County, North Dakota. Due to insufficient snowfall in central and southern Minnesota, scenes requiring snow were filmed in northern Minnesota and northeastern North Dakota, though none were actually shot in the cities of Fargo or Brainerd. Cinematographer Roger Deakins utilized an Arriflex 35 BL-4 camera for the production.

Prominent filming spots included The King of Clubs pool hall and bar located in northeast Minneapolis (which was demolished in 2003 to make way for affordable housing), Wally McCarthy Oldsmobile in Richfield (now occupied by Best Buy’s headquarters), and a 24-foot tall Paul Bunyan statue erected specifically for the film on Pembina County Highway 1 near Bathgate, North Dakota. The Blue Ox motel and truckstop scenes were filmed at Stockmen's Truck Stop in South St. Paul, which remains operational. Ember's restaurant in St. Louis Park—hometown of the Coens—has since been converted into a medical outpatient facility.

The strip club where Marge interviews call girls was created by combining two venues: the exterior shots were taken at the Lakeside Club in Mahtomedi, while interiors were filmed at the Loch Ness Lounge in Houlton, Wisconsin. The kidnappers’ hideout near Moose Lake was situated on Square Lake close to May, Minnesota; its cabin was moved to Barnes, Wisconsin in 2002. Interior shots of police headquarters were captured at the Edina police station prior to its reconstruction. The Carlton Celebrity Room in Bloomington had closed before filming began; José Feliciano’s scene was instead recorded at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre near Minneapolis.

The ransom exchange occurred across two adjoining parking garages on South 8th Street in Minneapolis. Kitchen scenes featuring the Lundegaard family were filmed inside a private residence on Pillsbury Avenue; meanwhile, the house where Mr. Mohra refers to the "funny looking little guy" is located in Hallock, northwest Minnesota. The motel scene outside Bismarck where police apprehend Jerry was shot at the Hitching Post Motel in Forest Lake, north of Minneapolis.

Although no filming took place directly within Fargo city limits, the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau exhibits original scripts and props from Fargo, including the iconic wood chipper.

Music

Consistent with most Coen brothers’ films—except Inside Llewyn Davis—the score for Fargo was composed by Carter Burwell. The principal musical theme draws inspiration from the Norwegian folk tune "The Lost Sheep" ().

Songs featured throughout the film include Merle Haggard’s "Big City," Boy George’s "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," José Feliciano’s live rendition of "Let's Find Each Other Tonight," Chuck Mangione’s "Feels So Good," an instrumental version of "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," and a piano adaptation of Blood, Sweat & Tears’ "Sometimes in Winter." These tracks primarily serve as diegetic background music played on radios and are not part of the official soundtrack release.

The 1996 soundtrack issued by TVT Records combined selections from Fargo alongside music from Barton Fink.

Assertions of factual foundation

The movie begins with a declaration that it is based on a true story set in Minnesota during 1987, with names altered to respect survivors' privacy. The Coen brothers acknowledged that the screenplay drew inspiration from a real criminal incident but stressed that the character portrayals are fictionalized. Joel Coen remarked that framing the narrative as factual enables viewers to more readily accept creative liberties within the story.

Over time, the Coens have modified their statements on this matter. Joel Coen conceded that the murders depicted did not actually take place in Minnesota, contrary to the initial claim. Some speculated a connection to St. Paul lawyer T. Eugene Thompson, who was convicted in 1963 for contracting a hitman near the Coens’ hometown; however, they denied any knowledge of this case. Following Thompson’s passing in 2015, Joel Coen confirmed the plot was entirely invented.

The special edition DVD notes that inspiration was drawn from the 1986 homicide of Helle Crafts, whose spouse disposed of her remains using a wood chipper.

Verification by Snopes determined that the "true story" assertion was a typical Coen brothers’ jest lacking factual support and highlighted that a disclaimer about fictitious characters appears at the film’s conclusion.

Regional accent

The depiction of "Minnesota nice" and the unique regional dialects made a significant cultural impact, with locals recounting frequent tourist requests to hear lines such as "Yah, you betcha." Dialect coach Liz Himelstein characterized the accent as "an additional character," employing audio recordings and on-site visits to prepare the cast. Another coach, Larissa Kokernot—who also performed in the film—explained that the small-town Minnesota accent is influenced by Nordic and Swedish heritage, lending it a melodic quality. She instructed McDormand on embodying the "Minnesota nice" attitude and its typical head nodding. The heightened accents used by Macy’s and McDormand’s characters are less prevalent within the Twin Cities, where over 60% of Minnesota’s population resides; this urban area’s speech exhibits the Northern Cities Vowel Shift, common across parts of the Northern United States extending to Rochester, New York.

Release

Fargo had its debut at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or, with Joel Coen receiving the top directing honor, the Prix de la mise en scène. It also screened at international events such as Pusan, Karlovy Vary, and Naples festivals. In 2006, Fargo Film Festival commemorated the film’s tenth anniversary by projecting it onto Fargo’s tallest building at that time, the Radisson Hotel.

The U.S. theatrical rollout started on March 8, 1996, launching in 36 theaters and earning $1,024,137 during its opening week. By its third week, it expanded to 412 venues with cumulative earnings reaching $5,998,890. The total domestic box office grossed $24.3 million. Internationally, releases occurred in Canada (April 5), UK (May 31, $2.3 million), Australia (June 6, $1.5 million), Spain (June 20, $1.8 million), France (September 4, $3.9 million), and Germany (November 14, $2.4 million). The film accumulated roughly $36 million overseas, resulting in an approximate worldwide gross of $60.6 million.

Reception

On the review platform Rotten Tomatoes, Fargo boasts a 95% approval rating from 111 critics, averaging a score of 8.8 out of 10. The site's critical summary describes the film as "violent, quirky, and darkly humorous," praising it for its unique crime narrative and McDormand’s exceptional performance. Meanwhile, Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 88/100 based on 26 critic reviews, signifying "universal acclaim." Audience feedback gathered by CinemaScore assigned the film a "B+" grade.

Arnold Wayne Jones of the Dallas Observer commended the Coen brothers for their directing and writing, describing it as an "illuminating blend of emotion and intellect." Lisa Schwarzbaum from Entertainment Weekly applauded McDormand’s acting, labeling the movie "rich, witty, and immensely satisfying." Anthony Lane in The New Yorker emphasized how McDormand’s portrayal elevated the film beyond mere caricature. Mike Clark of USA Today highlighted her "uproariously clever and lively" performance alongside Roger Deakins’ cinematography as essential to the film’s impact.

In contrast, Richard Corliss of Time critiqued the film’s use of the Minnesota accent and felt it lacked the cinematic flair present in earlier Coen projects. On the other hand, Janet Maslin of The New York Times regarded Fargo as "more stylish and entertaining" than Blood Simple. Film critic James Berardinelli awarded it three out of five stars, appreciating the Coens’ creative aims but finding it somewhat hard to connect with.

John Simon from The National Review called Fargo the Coen brothers’ finest work up to that point but noted that its combination of noir, black comedy, and farce resulted in an uneven tone.

Both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert named Fargo the best movie of 1996; Ebert later placed it fourth in his ranking of the decade's best films. The film was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2006. In 2010, the Independent Film & Television Alliance recognized it among their "30 Most Significant Independent Films" over three decades. The Writers Guild of America ranked its screenplay as the 32nd greatest ever written.

Doug Burgum, future governor of North Dakota and CEO during his company Great Plains Software's IPO coinciding with the film's release, recalled investor meetings frequently dominated by inquiries about Fargo. He noted that their office humorously replaced paper shredders with woodchippers in homage to the film.

The February 2020 edition of New York Magazine included Fargo in its list titled "The Best Movies That Lost Best Picture at the Oscars."

Accolades

rowspan=7 style="vertical-align:top;" |Golden Satellite Awards rowspan=7 style="vertical-align:top;" |January 15, 1997 style="vertical-align:top;" | Satellite Award for Best FilmFargoTemplate:Won
Satellite Award for Best Director Joel Coen Template:Won
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Frances McDormand Template:Won
Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture William H. Macy Template:Nom
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Steve Buscemi Template:Nom
Satellite Award for Best Editing Roderick Jaynes Template:Nom
Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay Joel and Ethan Coen Template:Nom rowspan=6 style="vertical-align:top;" | 12th Independent Spirit Awards, March 22, 1997: Best Film Fargo (won), Director Joel Coen (won), Male Lead William H. Macy (won), Female Lead Frances McDormand (won), Screenplay Joel and Ethan Coen (won), Cinematography Roger Deakins (won) rowspan=4 style="vertical-align:top;" | December 1996: Best Film Fargo (Runner-up), Director Joel Coen (Runner-up), Actress Frances McDormand (Runner-up), Screenplay Joel and Ethan Coen (won) rowspan=3 style="vertical-align:top;" | National Board of Review, 1996: Top Ten Films (#3), Director Joel Coen (won), Actress Frances McDormand (won) National Film Registry: Fargo added December 27, 2006 rowspan=2 style="vertical-align:top;" | New York Film Critics Circle, January 5, 1997: Best Film Fargo (won), Actress Frances McDormand (nom) Producers Guild of America Awards, March 12, 1997: Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures Ethan Coen (nom) rowspan=3 style="vertical-align:top;" | Saturn Awards, July 23, 1997: Best Action or Adventure Film Fargo (won), Actress Frances McDormand (nom), Director Joel Coen (nom) rowspan=2 style="vertical-align:top;" | Screen Actors Guild Awards, February 22, 1997: Female Lead Frances McDormand (won), Supporting Actor William H. Macy (nom) Writers Guild of America Awards, March 16, 1997: Best Original Screenplay Joel and Ethan Coen (won) rowspan=4 style="vertical-align:top;" | London Film Critics Circle, March 2, 1997: Film of the Year Fargo (won), Director of the Year Joel Coen (won), Screenwriter of the Year Joel and Ethan Coen (won), Actress of the Year Frances McDormand (won) Bodil Awards, 1997: Best American Film Joel Coen (won)

Award⁣	Ceremony Date⁣	Category⁣	Recipient⁣	Outcome⁣	Ref.⁣
Academy Awards⁣	March 24, 1997⁣	Best Picture⁣	Ethan Coen	Template:Nom⁣	⁣
		Best Director⁣	Joel Coen⁣	Template:Nom
		Best Actress⁣	Frances McDormand⁣	Template:Won⁣
		Best Supporting Actor⁣	William H. Macy⁣	Template:Nom⁣
		Best Original Screenplay⁣	Joel and Ethan Coen⁣	Template:Won⁣
		Best Cinematography⁣	Roger Deakins⁣	Template:Nom⁣
		Best Film Editing⁣	Roderick Jaynes⁣	Template:Nom⁣
American Film Institute	1998	AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies	Fargo	Template:Center
	June 13, 2000	AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs	Fargo	Template:Center
	June 2003	AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains	Marge Gunderson	Template:Center
American Cinema Editors	1996	Best Edited Feature Film	Roderick Jaynes	Template:Nom
American Society of Cinematographers	1996	Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography	Roger Deakins	Template:Nom
BAFTA Film Awards	April 29, 1997	Best Direction	Joel Coen	Template:Won
		Best Film	Fargo	Template:Nom
		Best Actress in a Leading Role	Frances McDormand	Template:Nom
		Best Original Screenplay	Joel and Ethan Coen	Template:Nom
		Best Cinematography	Roger Deakins	Template:Nom
		Best Editing	Roderick Jaynes	Template:Nom
Belgian Film Critics Association	1997	Grand Prix	Fargo	Template:Nom
Cannes Film Festival	May 1996	Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Director	Joel Coen	Template:Won
		Palme d'Or	Fargo	Template:Nom
Critics' Choice Awards	January 20, 1997	Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture	Fargo	Template:Won
		Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress	Frances McDormand	Template:Won
Golden Globe Awards	January 19, 1997	Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy	Fargo	Template:Nom
		Golden Globe Award for Best Director	Joel Coen	Template:Nom
		Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical	Frances McDormand	Template:Nom
		Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay	Joel and Ethan Coen	Template:Nom

Home media

The film Fargo has been made available on various platforms including VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray formats, as well as digital downloads via services like iTunes Store. Its initial home video release occurred on October 1, 1996, featuring a pan-and-scan VHS edition. A collector’s widescreen VHS version was also issued that included a promotional snow globe replicating the iconic woodchipper scene.

On June 25, 1997, PolyGram Video released the DVD edition. Following Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s acquisition of PolyGram’s pre-March-31-1996 catalog rights, MGM reissued the VHS under their "Contemporary Classics" label in 2001. MGM later introduced a "Special Edition" DVD on September 30, 2003; this release featured subtle subtitle changes and digitally modified opening credits. This version was incorporated into several box sets dedicated to the Coen brothers’ works as well as double-feature DVD collections.

The Blu-ray format became available on May 12, 2009; a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack followed in 2010. To commemorate MGM’s ninetieth anniversary in filmmaking, a remastered version scanned at a resolution of four thousand pixels was reissued on Blu-ray in 2014. On August 8, 2017, Shout! Factory issued a limited Steelbook edition celebrating the film’s twentieth anniversary with only ten thousand copies produced. Most recently, on November 7, 2023, Shout! Factory released a combined Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray set.

Television series

Main article: Fargo (TV series)

In 1997, a pilot episode intended to launch a television adaptation based on the movie was filmed; it was set shortly after the events depicted in Brainerd. Edie Falco starred as Marge Gunderson while Bruce Bohne reprised his role as Officer Lou. Directed by Kathy Bates without involvement from the Coen brothers themselves, this pilot eventually aired in 2003 within Trio network's series titled Brilliant But Cancelled.

A subsequent television adaptation titled Fargo, with executive production by the Coens themselves, premiered on FX in April of 2014. The first season garnered widespread critical praise and audience approval. Set within the same fictional world as the original film but featuring distinct characters and storylines each season unfolds during different time periods. One episode from season one called "Eating the Blame" revisited buried ransom money as a minor plot element. Later seasons were released on October 12, 2015; April 19, 2017; September 27, 2020; with a fifth season debuting November 21, 2023.

See also

• Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, a story about a young Japanese woman fixated on Fargo, believing its events to be factual.
• Suicide of Takako Konishi

Further reading

• A compilation of academic essays exploring the film’s significance and influence.

External links

• Template:IMDb title
• Template:TCMDb title
• Essay on Fargo by Daniel Eagan featured in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to Landmark Movies published by A&C Black in 2010 [1]