The Coen Brothers have done (almost) it all. From their early career to their latest projects together, each of their movies is a unique work of art, making each viewing experience immersive, rewatch after rewatch.
Between several genres and recurrent collaborators, each of the films made by Joel and Ethan Coen has its charm. On Letterboxd, cinema fans have rated their best works, from hidden gems to popular titles.
Raising Arizona (1987) – 3.83
Stream On Hoopla Or Rent On AppleTV.
Raising Arizona isn’t the best Coen Brothers movie, but clearly the standards for their films are very high, so it’s still a great movie overall. With the lowest Letterboxd rating in this list, this film stars Nicolas Cage in one of his funniest roles, as he portrays H.I. McDunnough, an ex-con who kidnaps a baby with his partner.
The movie is still famous for its hilarious chase scene, where Cage runs on the road holding a pack of diapers.
A Serious Man (2009) – 3.83
Rent On AppleTV Or Youtube.
One Coen Brothers movie couldn’t encapsulate the entire catalog of the brothers. However, A Serious Man reunites many aspects that made their filmmaking well-liked. Creating a bridge between comedy and drama as well-crafted as usual, the duo tells the story of a physics teacher (Michael Stuhlbarg) who finds himself amidst a thread of complicated events in the 1960s.
While this film isn’t among the top ratings on Letterboxd, every cinema fan interested in the beloved duo might want to give this project a try, if not only for Stuhlbarg’s excellent performance.
Blood Simple (1984) – 3.87
Stream On HBO Max.
The Coen Brothers’ debut, Blood Simple features some of the elements they mastered later on: The focus on a small town and a chain of uncontrolled events that happen following a “domino effect”. In this story, the plot develops as the protagonist suspects his wife is having an affair.
Blood Simple is also the first collaboration of Frances McDormand and the duo (before she married Joel Coen), and like in many of her films, she delivers a superb performance. Even if this one isn’t as famous as their later projects, McDormand’s presence on screen makes it worth the experience.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – 3.9
Stream On Amazon Prime Video.
A quirky adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”, O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one of the funniest projects from the iconic pair. With the dynamic between Everett, Pete, and Delmar being a cinematic delight thanks to the hysterical performances of George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson respectively, this movie proves just how authentic the Coen Brothers can get.
While its Letterboxd rating isn’t among the highest, the film is a fan favorite, as it’s also mainly famous due to its soundtrack.
Miller’s Crossing (1990) – 3.91
Rent On DIRECTV Or AppleTV.
What started with the Coens picturing a fedora hat among the woods became one of their most acclaimed projects. While it doesn’t have one of the highest Letterboxd ratings, Miller’s Crossing remains timeless and one of the films that get better on a rewatch.
Gabriel Byrne plays the complex Tom, as he finds himself conflicted between Leo (Albert Finney) and Verna (Marcia Gay Harden). However, the thread of the story is defined by the love triangle that involves Bernie (John Turturro) and Mink (Steve Buscemi), as Turturro’s masterful performance is the movie’s highlight.
Barton Fink (1991) – 4.0
Rent On Amazon Video Or AppleTV.
If the Coen Brothers had a blueprint of the core principles of their filmmaking process, that blueprint would be Barton Fink. Facing difficulties as they were writing Miller’s Crossing, the duo wrote Barton Fink during the struggle, which says much about how honest the film feels.
Following the playwright Fink, the project is a critique of the “hellish” reality of Hollywood and it’s a unique cinema masterclass. John Turturro’s magnificent performance takes the Coens writing to the next level, justifying its acclaim.
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) – 4.0
Stream On Amazon Prime Video.
One of their most conventional movies, Inside Llewyn Davis follows the life of a singer in the 1960s. With a cast filled with Coen newcomers like Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan, the film also features recurrent collaborator John Goodman.
Exploring folk, the obstacles musicians faced at the time, and the dynamic between Davis and his cat, the visuals of this project might not even seem like a Coen Brothers production. However, it’s well-liked on Letterboxd, having one of the highest ratings of the duo’s filmography.
The Big Lebowski (1998) – 4.12
Stream On Peacock Or Rent On Youtube.
For those interested in the Coens’ projects, The Big Lebowski is a cinematic rite of passage. So well-liked among the Coen’s fans, and in general, it’s no surprise this film has such a high Letterboxd rating.
As The Dude (after all, he’s not the Lebowski the title refers to), Jeff Bridges is the moving force of the picture, with his performance having an everlasting impact. Bridges, John Turturro, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi contribute to the memorable aspect of The Big Lebowski, which really ties the Coen Brothers’ filmography together.
Fargo (1996) – 4.2
Stream On Amazon Prime Video.
Frances McDormand’s memorable portrayal, Roger Deakins’ cinematography, and Steve Buscemi’s fantastic deliveries: These are just some of the aspects that make Fargo iconic, so it’s no doubt why it has such a high rating among cinephiles.
Winner of several Oscars in 1997, this film remains an original, unpredictable crime story, and a fantastic representative of the elements preferred by the Coens. Fargo is enjoyable rewatch after rewatch, with the combo of clever dark humor and cold visuals showing the brothers’ talent in creating a unique atmosphere.
No Country For Old Men – 4.3
Stream On HBO Max.
Among many genres the duo played with, this Coen Brothers western is their film with the highest rating on Letterboxd. No Country For Old Men was acclaimed by the Academy, winning several Oscars in 2008, including Best Picture. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem, the movie follows Llewelyn Moss, a man who accidentally discovers two million dollars and decides to keep the money.
Chaos ensues as a killer hunts him after the stolen amount, and the rest is classic Coen Brothers storytelling. While fans of the beloved duo might disagree and debate which Coen Brothers movie is the best, The Dude was ultimately correct: Each cinema fan has their…opinion, man.
