Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to get hurt... until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge, a coffee-drinking, parka-wearing - and extremely pregnant - investigator who'll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her small-time investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom... you betcha!
Acting
McDormand's maternity as moral anchor; Macy's sweating desperation.
Direction
Coens turn Minnesota flatness into existential dreadscape.
Cinematography
Roger Deakins makes blinding white snow feel claustrophobic.
Director
Joel Coen
Frances McDormand
Marge Gunderson
William H. Macy
Jerry Lundegaard
Steve Buscemi
Carl Showalter
Peter Stormare
Gaear Grimsrud
Harve Presnell
Wade Gustafson
John Carroll Lynch
Norm Gunderson
Kristin Rudrüd
Jean Lundegaard
Bruce Bohne
Lou
Steve Reevis
Shep Proudfoot
Steve Park
Mike Yanagita
Gary Houston
Irate Customer
Sally Wingert
Irate Customer's Wife
Larissa Kokernot
Hooker #1
Melissa Peterman
Hooker #2
Tony Denman
Scotty Lundegaard
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The 'based on a true story' card is complete fiction—Joel Coen called it an attempt at 'making a true story.'
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