Over the span of nearly three decades, the Coen brothers wrote, directed, and produced over twenty movies. Their movies include several signature traits, such as casting familiar faces, such as Jeff Bridges, Frances McDormand, John Goodman, and John Turturro. They typically portray eccentric characters who are introduced by a voice-over narration.
Joel and Ethan Coen typically make gripping period pieces that are both hilarious and violent. Their latest movie was The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs (2018), but it is unfortunately not as glorious as their earlier work.
10 'Inside Llewyn Davis' (7.5)
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) is a tragicomedy that stars Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, and John Goodman. The titular Llewyn Davis is a struggling NYC-based singer who sleeps on his friends' couches and seems to have no luck in life. The movie premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for several Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.
Fans of plot-less movies, cats, and beautiful scores (including Justin Timberlake) will definitely enjoy this comedic drama.
9 'The Man Who Wasn't There' (7.5)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) is a story about Ed Crane (Billy Bob Thorton) who decides to blackmail his wife's (Frances McDormand) boss Big Dave (James Gandolfini) so he could invest the money and turn his life around. The Coen brothers never leave the soundtrack to chance. This dark crime film is accompanied by Beethoven's piano sonatas.
Even though both brothers worked on the movie, only Joel Coen received an award at Sundance Film Festival. He is credited as a director, while Ethan is credited as a producer.
8 'True Grit' (7.6)
Next up is True Grit (2010), a Western starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. The Coen brothers' take on the story is considered much better than the 1969 version of the movie, which starred John Wayne. Jeff Bridges portrayed US Marshal Rooster Cogburn, a man who was hired to track down a man who murdered Mattie Ross' (Hailee Steinfeld) father.
It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, but much to everybody's surprised, won none.
7 'Blood Simple' (7.6)
Blood Simple (1984) is neo-noir crime movie and the Coens' directorial debut. It's as violent as it is funny. A bartender is sleeping with his boss's wife. Meanwhile, the boss hired a detective since he was worried that his wife is cheating on him. When he finds out, all hell breaks loose.
Considering they had a really low budget and that they had never been on a movie set prior to filming Blood Simple, the Coens truly outdid themselves. It's pretty high on this list, but Joel thinks it's a bad movie.
6 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' (7.7)
In O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson donned prison uniforms and set out on a hilarious adventure in hopes to find a hidden treasure. It was inspired by Odyssey, an ancient Greek epic poem about Odysseus' eventful journey back home from Troy.
5 'Miller's Crossing' (7.7)
In the beginning of their career, the Coen brothers loved making neo-noir movies. Above else, Miller's Crossing (1990) is a gangster movie and as usual, it's a period piece. It's set in the prohibition era and it revolves around a feud between the Irish and the Italian mob. The movie's protagonist is Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne), a man who finds himself playing both sides.
4 'Barton Fink' (7.7)
After Miller's Crossing, the Coen brothers once again cast John Turturro to play Barton Fink, a neurotic playwright who moves to Hollywood for a job. While there, he meets a quirky, yet lovable salesman Meadows (John Goodman). As always though, something goes horribly wrong.
Genre-wise, Barton Fink (1990) is a psychological thriller and it's set in 1941.
3 'No Country For Old Men' (8.1)
No Country For Old Men (2007) is one of the top three Coen brothers movies and certainly their best thriller. Javier Bardem plays Anton Chigurh, a psychopatic hitman who kills everybody who gets in his way - unless a coin flip decides otherwise. He is after Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) who just so happened to stumble upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone bad and took two million dollars that were left there.
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No Country For Old Men is both gripping and hypnotic at the same time. It won an Academy Award for Best Picture as well as the Best Supporting Actor.
2 'Fargo' (8.1)
Fargo (1996) is a comedic thriller about a kidnapping plot gone wrong. It is set in the ever-so friendly Minnesota and it is by many considered the Coen brothers best movie. Frances McDormand won an Academy Award for the Best Actress. She portrayed Marge Gunderson, the police chief investigating the mysterious murder case that was a direct result of the kidnapping.
In 2014, a TV series with the same title premiered on FX. It is set in the same universe as the movie and it received positive reviews.
1 'The Big Lebowski' (8.1)
The Big Lebowski (1998) is the Coen brothers' funniest, best, and most famous movie. It's also Jeff Bridges' favorite role he ever played. The movie is, again, based on a hilarious misunderstanding: Jeff 'the Dude' Lebowski, a laid-back slacker, is mistaken for a millionaire and kidnapped.