This year marks the 40th anniversary of Blood Simple, the first theatrical release from Joel and Ethan Coen. Through four decades of cinema, the Coen brothers have proven themselves as both screenwriters and directors with the 18 films they’ve worked on together, and the three films they directed by themselves, including Ethan Coen’s recently released road comedy Drive-Away Dolls.
Since the Coen brothers haven’t collaborated since 2018, it’s unknown if they’re planning to make movies together again at any point in the future. But even if that chapter of their lives is closed, they’ve left an indelible mark on the industry. To celebrate four decades of the Joel and Ethan Coen’s films, we’ve assembled this list of the 10 best Coen brothers movies.
10. A Serious Man (2009)
When it comes to black comedy, the Coen brothers can’t get enough of it. A Serious Man doesn’t dive into crime the way that many of the Coen brothers’ other movies do. But it does put Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) through trials that would break any other man. Not that Larry wasn’t a bit broken to begin with. His wife, Judith Gopnik (Sari Lennick), wants to leave him so she can marry a widower, Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed). Larry’s son, Danny (Aaron Wolff), is also having trouble with a bully at school, and Larry’s prospects for landing tenure as a teacher are looking grim.
Larry’s attempt to find solace in his Jewish faith only seems to lead to more tragedy. If he can change his perspective, perhaps Larry might find the answers that he’s looking for.
9. Raising Arizona (1987)
The Coen brothers’ signature sense of humor really came to the forefront in Raising Arizona. Nicolas Cage (Longlegs) and Holly Hunter star as Herbert I. (H.I.) “Hi” McDunnough and Edwina “Ed” McDunnough, an unlikely couple who are deeply in love. Ed’s a former policewoman and Hi’s a habitual offender who reformed for Ed’s sake.
Because the couple can’t have a child of their own, they decide to steal one of the quintuplet sons of Nathan Arizona Sr. (Trey Wilson). For all of their faults, Hi and Ed really love Nathan Jr., but they aren’t the only ones looking to hang on to him. And this entire misadventure may push the love that Hi and Ed have for each other to its breaking point.
8. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Only true cinema lovers have seen Preston Sturges’ Sullivan’s Travels, the film that inspired the Coen brothers to use the name O Brother, Where Art Thou? for their own movie. In the earlier flick, fictional director John L. Sullivan wanted to make O Brother, Where Art Thou? as a serious film about the plight of America’s downtrodden. The Coens went in a more comedic direction, which is especially appropriate since Sullivan comes to realize that his comedies are just as important as his dramas.
The film riffs on The Odyssey by setting the story in America during 1937, as Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) convinces Pete (John Turturro) and Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) to escape from a chain gang in order to recover a hidden treasure before a valley is flooded. But the only treasure that Ulysses really wants is his ex-wife, Penny Wharvey-McGill (Holly Hunter). Through their misadventures, Ulysses, Pete, and Delmar accidentally become radio stars as the Soggy Bottom Boys and thwart the KKK. The folk music in this film is infectiously joyful, much like the movie itself.
7. The Big Lebowski (1998)
It’s easy to mistakenly believe that The Big Lebowski is named for its most iconic character, Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges). But mistaken identity is at the heart of this crime comedy, as the Dude’s chill is ruined by men who angrily demand money from Jeffrey “The Big” Lebowski (David Huddleston). The criminals don’t even apologize when they realize that the Dude is the wrong Lebowski, and that’s just rude.
Shortly thereafter, the Big Lebowski’s trophy wife, Bunny (Tara Reid), is apparently kidnapped, and the Dude is roped into delivering the ransom. All the Dude really wants is to do is bowl with his buddies, Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) and Theodore Donald “Donny” Kerabatsos (Steve Buscemi). Yet once he gets involved with the other Lebowski’s affairs, the Dude is targeted by everyone who wants to get their hands on the ransom money.
6. Barton Fink (1991)
Barton Fink shares its name with its leading character, who is portrayed in the film by frequent Coen brother performer John Turturro. In 1941, Barton is a Broadway scribe who has a chance to be a Hollywood screenwriter, if he can get past his crippling writer’s block. His hotel neighbor, Charlie Meadows (John Goodman), is also making unusually loud noises in the room next door.
Out of desperation, Barton turns to secretary and ghost writer, Audrey Taylor (Judy Davis), for help with his script. However, their one night together leads Barton into an even more dire situation with a serial killer. And the cops believe that Barton might be working with the man they’re looking for.
5. True Grit (2010)
Hailee Steinfeld had her breakthrough role at only 13 years old in the Coen brothers’ remake of True Grit. After her father is murdered by Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), Mattie Ross (Steinfeld) is willing to do anything to bring his killer to justice. She turns to Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) for help, raising enough money to hire him.
However, Mattie’s insistence upon accompanying Rooster leads him to leave without her. This forces Mattie to make a new alliance with Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon). Once Mattie and LaBoeuf catch up with Rooster, their conflicting personalities cause a lot of tension between them. But if they don’t stick together, then Tom and his partner-in-crime, “Lucky” Ned Pepper (Barry Pepper), may turn the tables on all of three of them.
4. Blood Simple (1984)
Blood Simple was the first full-length feature film by the Coen brothers, and while it’s not as well-known as their later movies, it’s a pretty fantastic neo-noir story on its own. John Getz stars as Ray, a man who is in love with his boss’ wife, Abby (Frances McDormand). And by the time this attraction is consummated, private detective Loren Visser (M. Emmet Walsh) is already taking pictures to show Abby’s husband, Julian Marty (Dan Hedaya).
When Julian orders Loren to kill Ray and Abby, it sets off an unexpected chain of events. Loren doesn’t stick to the script, and that may have fatal consequences for everyone involved in this seedy affair.
3. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
The title of Inside Llewyn Davis also happens to be the name of the album of the main character, Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac). And Llewyn simply can not catch a break in this movie. No one’s buying his record, and he’s couch-surfing in the early 1960s because he has no other options.
Llewyn also has a knack for self-destructive decisions, which may cost him one of the last friendships that he has. Jean Berkey (Maestro‘s Carey Mulligan) tells Llewyn that she is pregnant and the baby may have been fathered either by him or by her husband, Jim Berkey (Justin Timberlake). As Llewyn goes to raise the money for Jean’s abortion, he learns the hard way that there’s still room for him to fall even further.
2. Fargo (1996)
Fargo was the awards season darling of 1996 films, although it only won two Oscars, including Best Actress for Frances McDormand. For a generation of moviegoers, this is the film that defined the Coen brothers. It also spawned the Fargo series on FX, even though the Coen brothers aren’t directly involved with writing or directing that show.
The film follows Marge Gunderson (McDormand), a local sheriff who is investigating the abduction of Jean Lundegaard (Kristin Rudrüd). Jean’s husband, Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy), has been embezzling money from the family business and he came up with the abduction scheme to get himself out of trouble. However, Jerry’s problems only magnify when the kidnappers he hired, Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), prove to be both murderous and inept as they leave a trail of bodies behind for Marge to follow.
1. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Since No Country for Old Men is the only Coen brothers movie to win Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars, it’s the obvious choice to be No. 1. But it’s also the most deserving, thanks to its riveting performances by Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin. Bardem is especially noteworthy for his Oscar-winning turn as Anton Chigurh, one of the best villains of all time.
The film adapts Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, and follows a man named Llewelyn Moss (Brolin) who comes across a drug deal gone wrong. More importantly, Moss finds the briefcase full of money that was supposed to pay for the drugs. Moss’ decision to keep the drug money is why mob assassin Anton Chigurh is sent to get it back at all costs. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Jones) is just trying to keep the peace, but he’s unprepared for the violence that unfolds when Chigurh, Moss, and a Mexican drug cartel clash over the money.
