Top 11 Coen Brothers Movies

CJ Tiernan
Oct 4, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Oct 16, 2025

By CJ Tiernan

The Coen Brothers, comprised of actual brothers Joel and Ethan, have created an untouchably eclectic oeuvre. They can go broad and slapstick or dark and understated. They have a very unique sense of humor that helps to cut their often violent films' tension to pieces with a wood chipper. They can just as easily pull the rug out from under you. Apart from recurring cast members, you never really know what you're in for when you plop down on the sofa to watch one of this teams works of art. Below is a list of my 11 very favorite movies created by Joel and Ethan Coen. I have had the pleasure of watching every single movie they've done together and 10 of them fall in my Top 500 movies of all time. These guys know what they're about and they deliver time and again.

1. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

The main trio of George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson are a non-stop riot. This movie is a loose adaptation of the Odyssey. The Coen brothers transport the tale to the southern U.S. in the 1930s, and manage to add musical numbers and a menagerie of scene-stealing character actors. Come for the music (the soundtrack won album of the year at '02 Grammys), stay for the beautiful cinematography courtesy of Roger Deakins (16-time Academy Award Nominee, won for 1917 and Blade Runner 2049).

2. Fargo (1996)

William H. Macy gives one of my favorite performances ever in this movie. The story is so delicious. His character attempts to ransom his own wife for money from his boss, who is also his father-in-law. As has been known to happen in a Coen Brothers movie, things go sideways. The Minnesotan accent takes the steering wheel and veers toward the pancakes house in this delightful flick. Oh, and Frances McDormand won an Oscar for her portrayal of pregnant police chief Marge Gunderson. She is an all-timer!

3. The Ladykillers (2004)

This is probably my most controversial pick on this list (having The Big Lebowski as low as I do is probably the only other legitimate candidate). The Coen Brothers go broad in this one. Really broad. But I need you to understand that I absolutely love that. Tom Hanks and J.K. Simmons are so much fun in this movie. Caper that goes awry. Check. Movie star with a delightfully ridiculous accent. Check. If you want to write a book report: go watch Tenet. If you want to laugh: watch this movie.

4. No Country for Old Men (2007)

"Aw, hells bells. They even shot the dog." This quote provides insight into one of the greatest villains in film history: Anton Chigurh. Javier Bardem rightfully won an Academy Award for his portrayal, but the Coen Brothers brought this monster to life in such sinister detail. The opening murder scenes give way effortlessly to the coin toss scene, which is so deliciously Coen Brothers it belongs in a museum. The way the sprawling Texas landscape lends to the isolated feeling that there is nowhere to hide from this evil man is good to last drop.

5. Raising Arizona (1987)

This movie features Nic Cage and Holly Hunter as a young married couple comprised of a cop and a robber. That is actually about the least weird thing in the movie. They can't conceive, so they attempt to steal a baby from a wealthy couple with a perceived surplus. And off to the Coen Brothers-flavored races we go! Alright you hayseeds: do yourself a favor and a lot 94 minutes of your life to watching this movie.

6. Burn After Reading (2008)

Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, J.K. Simmons, and George Clooney. If my goal here is to list reasons to see this movie, I just gave you five. The Coen Brothers take a misunderstanding and turn it up to 11. Pitt and McDormand serve as 2 air-headed gym employees who happen upon what they believe to be a disc containing government secrets and attempt to spin a profit. Hijinx ensue.

7. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

The Coen Brothers co-wrote this movie with Sam Raimi, he of Evil Dead and Tobey Maguire Spider-Man fame. As such, we are treated to the presence of Bruce Campbell in this one. Yay! In this film, Tim Robbins (who released The Shawshank Redemption the same year) plays an effervescent, if dimwitted, mailroom clerk that is elevated to company big-wig in a crooked stock price scheme. He cheerfully brandishes a hand-drawn circle to anyone who will listen and utters simply, "you know: for kids." His wholesomeness juxtaposed against the greed of the capitalistic and opportunistic board is very satisfying.

8. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Hand up. This was my introduction to Adam Driver. I could not get enough of him in this movie. The scene where they're recording "Please, Mr. Kennedy" is a real treat. If you enjoy his comedic chops, be sure to do yourself a favor and watch "Logan Lucky." The music in the film is so beautiful, and the melancholy of the main character, played to arresting perfection by Oscar Issac, haunts every track. Justin Timberlake and Carey Mulligan are also great. The story of a man, whom you follow for 2 hours only to end up right back where he started, is devastating but poetic.

9. The Big Lebowski (1998)

When I was in high school, I watched this movie for the first time. It opened up my eyes to an endless stream of quotes that my friends had been hurtling at one another that kept whipping over my head. It's possibly one of the most quotable movies in history. I could start listing a bunch of them but I gotta shout out John Goodman. I've gotten this far on a Coen Brothers list and haven't given a shout out to the man featured in like half-a-dozen of their movies (second only to Frances McDormand, who is married to Joel, in number of collaborations with the Brothers Coen). His turn in this one, as a Vietnam War veteran named Walter Sobchak, steals the show. At least, that's just, like, my opinion, man.

10. Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

A third Clooney joint! George Clooney never has crazier eyes than when he stars in a Coen Brothers movie. This is a pretty true-to-form Rom Com. Clooney plays a lawyer who specializes in ironclad prenups. Catherine Zeta-Jones stars as a gold-digger. Sparks fly between them. Worth the watch for their performances, plus those of Geoffrey Rush, Edward Herrmann (the dad in Richie Rich), and Billy Bob Thornton. Also, spoiler alert: there are twists along the way..

11. Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Channing Tatum is a scene-stealer in this one. He gets to flex is dance skills (as showcased in the Step Up and Magic Mike movies) and his comedy chops (as showcased in 21/22 Jump Street). The movie takes place during the heyday of Hollywood in the '50s, and follows a fixer (Josh Brolin) who attempts to keep stories about his studios' stars various indiscretions hush-hush. The movie also features Jonah Hill, George Clooney (again!), Tilda Swinton, and introduces us to Alden Ehrenreich (Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story). As usual, the Coen Brothers masterfully balance high stakes with hijinx.

Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Final Thoughts

The Coen Brothers are adept at tapping into seemingly any genre and extracting a unique perspective on humanity and 2 heaping scoops of humor. I love the weirdness of their movies because they showcase the reason movies are great: they entertain us while allowing us to see something new in something old. If you've never dipped your toes into the Co-Bro waters, I highly recommend it. If you have, hopefully I've suggested something new for you. As I said at the top, I've seen all of their movies, so I will leave my ranking of their remaining movies below. Please feel free to share your own rankings in the comments. Thanks!