Parents' Guide to Fargo

Movie R 1996 103 minutes
Fargo Movie Poster: Cross-stitch-like image of a dead body face-down in the snow, with a crashed car upside down nearby

Common Sense Media Review

By Heather Boerner , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Dark, gritty, and brilliant comedy is extremely violent.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Fargo Trailer
  • Fargo Movie: Chief of Police Marge Gunderson leans over a dead body in the snow
  • Fargo Movie: Jeff Lundegaard sits at a bar in front of a row of empty bottles
  • Fargo Movie: A flashlight spotlights Carl's face from inside a car as he looks up out the window, presumably at an off-screen police officer

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 20 parent reviews

Parents say that the film contains inappropriate elements such as strong language, minimal but impactful sexual content, and violence, but overall many believe that older children or teens can handle it. The humor, dark themes, and artistic direction are often praised, making it a favorite among those who appreciate the unique storytelling style of the directors.

  • language concerns
  • sexual content
  • dark humor
  • artistic direction
  • suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
 

 

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age 14+

Based on 38 kid reviews

Kids say that the 1996 film directed by the Coen brothers is a darkly comedic masterpiece that masterfully blends humor with graphic violence, leaving viewers both entertained and disturbed. The well-crafted performances, particularly by Frances McDormand and Steve Buscemi, coupled with its unique storyline set in Minnesota, showcase the film as both a critical success and a cautionary tale about the consequences of crime and moral failures.

  • dark humor
  • graphic violence
  • strong language
  • memorable performances
  • unique storytelling
Summarized with AI
 

 

See all 38 kid reviews

What's the Story?

Car salesman Jerry Lundegaard's (William H. Macy) life in FARGO is out of control. On the surface, he's a stoic North Dakotan. Inside, he's so desperate for money that he's arranged for criminals Carl (Steve Buscemi) and Gaear (Peter Stormare) to kidnap his wife for ransom, hoping to get the money from his wealthy but disapproving father-in-law. But everything goes wrong. Jerry can't reach Carl and Gaear when he wants to call off the kidnapping. Then a deal worth nearly $1 million falls through. A car loan company is snooping around the fraudulent papers Jerry used to get $320,000. After the kidnapping, his gruff father-in-law wants to handle it himself. More importantly, his wife is terrorized, and Carl and Gaear, being basement-level criminals, manage to kill three people on their way out of town. When chief of police Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) gets the case, she unravels the scheme with cleverness and disarming Minnesota charm.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 20 ):
Kids say ( 38 ):

This iconic film has fleshed-out characters whose tragedies are immediately clear from the beginning. Fargo's tone communicates a feeling of isolation as writer-directors Joel and Ethan Coen build to their terrible conclusion. In other words, it's deliciously watchable, terribly violent, and definitely not for kids. The movie was nominated for and received several Academy Awards for a reason—this is a well-told, well-paced, and well-acted thriller. McDormand won the Oscar for her portrayal of the pregnant police chief, and the film introduced viewers to a funny and sad Macy as pitiful car salesman Jerry.

Fargo starts out by warning viewers that the story, set in 1987 Fargo, North Dakota, is true: The survivors have asked that their names be changed but, "out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred." Though it's widely known that Fargo isn't actually a true story, what unfolds is the kind of banal evil and commonplace crime that makes it onto television daily on programs like American Justice. The difference here is in the masterful storytelling and excellent acting.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Coen Brothers' movies and how Fargo stacks up. What are some recurring themes of their films? What do you like, or not like, about Coen Brothers movies?

  • What character strengths does chief of police Marge Gunderson demonstrate? How is perseverance important to solving complicated problems?

  • While the movie's opening claims that the movie is based on true events, the credits say that it's a work of fiction. The Coens themselves have been vague on any specific similar incidents that mirror what happens in the movie. Was it misleading to have that label at the beginning of the movie, or was it another way to give the movie a sense of "reality"?

  • Does Fargo represent women well? Which female characters stand out? What makes the film's women—like chief of police Marge Gunderson, or Jerry's wife, or the sex workers interviewed by Gunderson—"good" or "bad" portrayals of women?

  • Did you like the characters of Shep Proudfoot and Mike Yanagita? Did you notice any stereotypes about them? Why are watching stereotypes in movies harmful in real life?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Fargo Movie Poster: Cross-stitch-like image of a dead body face-down in the snow, with a crashed car upside down nearby

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