The 7 Best Coen Brothers Movies, Ranked
Has there ever been a pair of filmmaking siblings more universally decorated than the Coen brothers?
Arriving on the scene in the mid 1980s, the Coens climbed the ladder of the larger entertainment industry with prodigious speed, rising from a humble indie background to mainstream acclaim by the end of the decade. Combining their signature madcap dialogue with eccentric characters and plot twist-heavy narratives, the Coens have proven themselves more than capable at handling any genre that falls into their hands, be it comedy, crime, drama, or historical adventure.
From atmospheric Westerns to cult classic comedies, here are the Coen brothers’ greatest films to date, ranked in order from worst to best.
7. A Serious Man (2009)
Without a doubt the Coens’ most underrated movie, A Serious Man provides a sweeping look at one man’s personal plight in 1960s suburban Minnesota. Tackling such wide-ranging issues as orthodox religion, marital disputes, career frustrations, and a widening distance between estranged family members, A Serious Man’s grounded storyline is nevertheless brimming with relatable themes. Dark, funny, and existentially thought-provoking, it’s a fantastic dramedy that deserves far more attention from mainstream audiences.
6. Blood Simple (1984)
The debut effort from the Coens, Blood Simple also serves as one of the most influential indie dramas of the 1980s. Along with their close friend and contemporary Sam Raimi’s work on the Evil Dead series, the Coens utilized every penny of their threadbare budget with Blood Simple, contributing to a startling neo-noir thriller of almost Hitchcockian depth and simplicity. It may lack the fundamental humor of the Coens’ later work, but many of the foremost traits that came to be associated with the brothers’ name is on clear display here (the vividly-drawn characters, the tight script, the crosses and double-crosses, etc.).
5. True Grit (2010)
If anyone could hand in a remake that eclipsed the popularity of the original, it was bound to be the Coens. The second adaptation of Charles Portis’ monumental Western novel, the Coens managed to create a fully-formed portrait of the Old West with True Grit, right down to its unforgiving exploration of frontier law and order. Trading in a blustery John Wayne for an equally cantankerous Jeff Bridges, 2010’s True Grit is a splendid Western narrative that expounds upon the true cost of revenge.
4. The Big Lebowski (1998)
In many ways, one might accurately describe The Big Lebowski as the definitive cult movie. Spawning legions of fans, various international film festivals, and even entire religions, The Big Lebowski has achieved a coveted iconic status most directors could only dream about. Infusing a stoner comedy into a neo-noir mystery film, the Coens ushered in an anarchic comedy film the likes of which we seldom saw before.
3. Fargo (1996)
To this day, Fargo might very well be the most universally recognizable entry in the Coens’ expansive filmography. Earning the prestigious Academy Award for Best Picture at the 69th Oscars, it’s long since become a beloved staple of modern American cinema, perfectly blending dark comedy with unexpected plot developments. Bolstered by a scene-stealing Frances McDormand as the perpetually peppy police chief Marge Gunderson, Fargo is an eminently enjoyable movie from start to finish, featuring sharp writing, clever acting, and a lightning-fast pace.
2. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
We’ve all probably grappled with our individual talents, assessing our respective skills as we strive towards our lifelong dreams for the future. But what if our skills just weren’t good enough to warrant a career? What if our abilities can only get us so far? Such is the simple but haunting idea behind the Coens’ ingenious 2013 dark comedy drama, Inside Llewyn Davis. Loosely based on the life of folk singer Dave Van Ronk, Inside Llewyn Davis traces its title character’s hopeless search for fame, fortune, and musical success in 1960s Greenwich Village. Overcoming various obstacles in his creative endeavors, Inside Llewyn Davis conjures up as endearing a portrait of musical talent as Amadeus, ending on an embittered final note for Oscar Isaac’s wayward folk singer.
1. No Country for Old Men (2007)
Despite being known for their impressive original scripts, the Coens’ single best film ironically came courtesy of a pre-existing novel. Meticulously adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s best-selling neo-Western of the same name, No Country for Old Men brilliantly transposes the archetypical Western narrative to 1970s Texas. Opting for subdued minimalism in lieu of breathy dialogue, the Coens expertly retained all the components that made McCarthy’s work so fantastic in the first place, including its existential study of fate, chance, and the nature of evil in the modern world.