Fargo (1996)

Fargo
Theatrical Performance
Domestic Box Office $24,567,751Details
International Box Office $26,635,756Details
Worldwide Box Office $51,203,507
Further financial details...

Synopsis

A pregnant police chief is investigating a series of homicides across the frozen tundra. Against a sprawling Minnesota landscape, a car salesman hires two criminals to kidnap his wife. But when the scheme goes sour, and wood chippers get involved, the haphazard kidnapping plot turns deadly serious.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$730,265 (3.0% of total gross)
Legs:8.73 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:48.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$7,000,000 (worldwide box office is 7.3 times production budget)
Theater counts:36 opening theaters/716 max. theaters, 9.5 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $59,870,578

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play
Vudu:Vudu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: March 8th, 1996 (Wide) by Gramercy
International Releases: June 7th, 1996 (Wide) (Australia)
January 14th, 2021 (Wide) (New Zealand)
June 11th, 2021 (Limited) (United Kingdom)
July 16th, 2023 (Limited), released as Fâgo (Japan)
August 14th, 2023 (Limited) (Australia)
... Show all releases
Video Release: March 4th, 1997 by MGM Video
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, language and sexuality
Running Time: 95 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Krrish
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Kidnap, Film Noir, Based on an UNTRUE Story, Body in a Trunk, Corrupt Cops, Police Procedural, Life in a Small Town, Crime Thriller, No Honor Among Thieves, Relationships Gone Wrong, In-Laws / Future In-Laws, 1997 Oscars Best Picture Nominee
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Working Title Films
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Biggest 57th Weekend Limited Release 3 $44,378 Apr 4, 1997 395
Biggest 56th Weekend Limited Release 3 $51,490 Mar 28, 1997 388
Biggest 55th Weekend Limited Release 4 $24,927 Mar 21, 1997 381
Biggest 51st Weekend Limited Release 3 $40,535 Feb 21, 1997 353
Biggest 24th Weekend Limited Release 72 $39,140 Aug 16, 1996 164
Biggest 23rd Weekend Limited Release 89 $42,350 Aug 9, 1996 157
Biggest 22nd Weekend Limited Release 95 $49,964 Aug 2, 1996 150
Biggest 19th Weekend Limited Release 90 $114,545 Jul 12, 1996 129
Biggest 18th Weekend Limited Release 71 $195,605 Jul 5, 1996 122
Biggest 12th Weekend Limited Release 82 $542,633 May 24, 1996 80
Biggest 11th Weekend Limited Release 92 $550,565 May 17, 1996 73
Biggest 7th Weekend Limited Release 80 $1,464,714 Apr 19, 1996 45
Biggest 6th Weekend Limited Release 76 $1,881,347 Apr 12, 1996 38
Biggest 5th Weekend Limited Release 70 $2,536,491 Apr 5, 1996 31
Easter (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 296 $6,484,697 Apr 5, 1996 31
Biggest 4th Weekend Limited Release 66 $2,704,652 Mar 29, 1996 24
Biggest 3rd Weekend Limited Release 44 $2,812,662 Mar 22, 1996 17
Top 1996 Theater Average 32 $20,285 Mar 8, 1996 3

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Mar 8, 1996 16 $730,265   36 $20,285   $730,265 1
Mar 15, 1996 14 $914,202 +25% 58 $15,762   $1,938,339 2
Mar 22, 1996 6 $2,812,662 +208% 412 $6,827   $5,152,178 3
Mar 29, 1996 8 $2,704,652 -4% 596 $4,538   $8,703,542 4
Apr 5, 1996 7 $2,536,491 -6% 716 $3,543   $12,160,219 5
Apr 12, 1996 10 $1,881,347 -26% 716 $2,628   $14,900,107 6
Apr 19, 1996 12 $1,464,714 -22% 699 $2,095   $16,962,127 7
Apr 26, 1996 14 $955,119 -35% 541 $1,765   $18,395,787 8
May 3, 1996 17 $694,131 -27% 418 $1,661   $19,402,943 9
May 10, 1996 17 $538,964 -22% 394 $1,368   $20,198,879 10
May 17, 1996 16 $550,565 +2% 410 $1,343   $20,976,052 11
May 24, 1996 14 $542,633 -1% 272 $1,995   $21,723,440 12
May 31, 1996 18 $254,919 -53% 209 $1,220   $22,091,471 13
Jun 7, 1996 21 $195,982 -23% 168 $1,167   $22,408,006 14
Jun 14, 1996 24 $146,600 -25% 152 $964   $22,647,573 15
Jun 21, 1996 26 $156,692 +7% 137 $1,144   $22,897,654 16
Jun 28, 1996 26 $155,225 -1% 156 $995   $23,135,126 17
Jul 5, 1996 27 $195,605 +26% 127 $1,540   $23,371,007 18
Jul 12, 1996 29 $114,545 -41% 106 $1,081   $23,561,322 19
Jul 19, 1996 36 $73,359 -36% 92 $797   $23,699,301 20
Jul 26, 1996 47 $45,318 -38% 58 $781   $23,788,316 21
Aug 2, 1996 41 $49,964 +10% 60 $833   $23,870,772 22
Aug 9, 1996 45 $42,350 -15% 45 $941   $23,944,035 23
Aug 16, 1996 48 $39,140 -8% 36 $1,087   $24,015,679 24
Feb 21, 1997 56 $40,535   72 $563   $24,303,383 51
Mar 21, 1997 53 $24,927   27 $923   $24,402,676 55
Mar 28, 1997 51 $51,490 +107% 53 $972   $24,475,469 56
Apr 4, 1997 56 $44,378 -14% 68 $653   $24,547,547 57

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Mar 8, 1996 17 $1,024,137   36 $28,448   $1,024,137 1
Mar 15, 1996 14 $1,315,379 +28% 58 $22,679   $2,339,516 2
Mar 22, 1996 7 $3,659,374 +178% 412 $8,882   $5,998,890 3
Mar 29, 1996 9 $3,624,838 -1% 596 $6,082   $9,623,728 4
Apr 5, 1996 7 $3,395,032 -6% 716 $4,742   $13,018,760 5
Apr 12, 1996 9 $2,478,653 -27% 716 $3,462   $15,497,413 6
Apr 19, 1996 11 $1,943,255 -22% 699 $2,780   $17,440,668 7
Apr 26, 1996 14 $1,268,144 -35% 541 $2,344   $18,708,812 8
May 3, 1996 17 $951,103 -25% 418 $2,275   $19,659,915 9
May 10, 1996 18 $765,572 -20% 394 $1,943   $20,425,487 10
May 17, 1996 15 $755,320 -1% 410 $1,842   $21,180,807 11
May 24, 1996 13 $655,745 -13% 272 $2,411   $21,836,552 12
May 31, 1996 17 $375,472 -43% 209 $1,797   $22,212,024 13
Jun 7, 1996 23 $288,949 -23% 168 $1,720   $22,500,973 14
Jun 14, 1996 22 $239,989 -17% 152 $1,579   $22,740,962 15
Jun 21, 1996 27 $238,939 n/c 137 $1,744   $22,979,901 16
Jun 28, 1996 26 $195,501 -18% 156 $1,253   $23,175,402 17
Jul 5, 1996 27 $271,375 +39% 127 $2,137   $23,446,777 18
Jul 12, 1996 29 $179,165 -34% 106 $1,690   $23,625,942 19
Jul 19, 1996 36 $117,056 -35% 92 $1,272   $23,742,998 20
Jul 26, 1996 40 $77,810 -34% 58 $1,342   $23,820,808 21
Aug 2, 1996 39 $80,877 +4% 60 $1,348   $23,901,685 22
Aug 9, 1996 41 $74,854 -7% 45 $1,663   $23,976,539 23
Mar 21, 1997 49 $46,230   27 $1,712   $24,423,979 55
Mar 28, 1997 51 $79,190 +71% 53 $1,494   $24,503,169 56

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens
Maximum
Screens
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
Australia 6/7/1996 $0 0 14 31 $22,301 10/20/2022
Japan 7/16/2023 $0000$0
New Zealand 1/14/2021 $2,013 2 2 10 $3,911 12/19/2022
United Kingdom 6/11/2021 $12,117 80 80 80 $12,117 6/16/2021
 
Rest of World $26,597,427
 
International Total$26,635,756 12/19/2022

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records


Leading Cast

Frances McDormand    Marge Gunderson
William H. Macy    Jerry Lundegaard
Steve Buscemi    Carl Showalter

Supporting Cast

Harve Presnell    Wade Gustafson
Peter Stormare    Gaear Grimsrud
Bruce Campbell    Soap Opera Actor
John Carroll Lynch    Norm Gunderson
Steve Reevis    Shep Proudfoot
Steve Park    Mike Yanagita
Kristin Rudrüd    Jean Lundegaard

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Joel Coen    Director
Ethan Coen    Producer
Ethan Coen    Screenwriter
Joel Coen    Screenwriter
Rick Heinrichs    Production Designer
Carter Burwell    Composer

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for April 1st, 2014

March 31st, 2014

The home market isn't terrible this week and there are a couple of releases on top that could sell well. However, it is not a very deep week and even the second page of the new releases over on Amazon.com has some releases I would call filler. Anchorman: The Legend Continues on 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack is the best-selling new release of the week and it is arguably the best as well. The Pirate Fairy on Blu-ray Combo Pack is the second best-selling new release of the week and also a contender for Pick of the Week. Meanwhile, I'm really looking forward to seeing Knights of Badassdom but the Blu-ray Combo Pack is still on its way. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for August 30th, 2011

August 30th, 2011

Summer is officially over, both at the box office and on the home market. Granted, the theatrical releases are still really weak, but the TV on DVD releases are starting to become overwhelming. There are several such releases that are worth picking up, but none rise to the level of Pick of the Week. For that I went with The Coen Brothers Blu-ray Box Set. However, if you've made the leap to Blu-ray, then The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D Blu-ray Combo Pack is worth an honorable mention. Meanwhile, there's a film called Norwegian Ninja coming out on DVD that has cult classic written all over it. I really hope the screener arrives soon. More...


  1. Summary
  2. News
  3. Box Office
  4. International
  5. Video Sales
  6. Cast & Crew
  7. Trailer

Synopsis

A pregnant police chief is investigating a series of homicides across the frozen tundra. Against a sprawling Minnesota landscape, a car salesman hires two criminals to kidnap his wife. But when the scheme goes sour, and wood chippers get involved, the haphazard kidnapping plot turns deadly serious.

Metrics

Opening Weekend:$730,265 (3.0% of total gross)
Legs:8.73 (domestic box office/biggest weekend)
Domestic Share:48.0% (domestic box office/worldwide)
Production Budget:$7,000,000 (worldwide box office is 7.3 times production budget)
Theater counts:36 opening theaters/716 max. theaters, 9.5 weeks average run per theater
Infl. Adj. Dom. BO $59,870,578

Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists


Watch Now On

iTunes:iTunes
Google Play:Google Play
Vudu:Vudu

Movie Details

Domestic Releases: March 8th, 1996 (Wide) by Gramercy
International Releases: June 7th, 1996 (Wide) (Australia)
January 14th, 2021 (Wide) (New Zealand)
June 11th, 2021 (Limited) (United Kingdom)
July 16th, 2023 (Limited), released as Fâgo (Japan)
August 14th, 2023 (Limited) (Australia)
... Show all releases
Video Release: March 4th, 1997 by MGM Video
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence, language and sexuality
Running Time: 95 minutes
Comparisons: vs. Krrish
Create your own comparison chart…
Keywords: Kidnap, Film Noir, Based on an UNTRUE Story, Body in a Trunk, Corrupt Cops, Police Procedural, Life in a Small Town, Crime Thriller, No Honor Among Thieves, Relationships Gone Wrong, In-Laws / Future In-Laws, 1997 Oscars Best Picture Nominee
Source:Original Screenplay
Genre:Thriller/Suspense
Production Method:Live Action
Creative Type:Contemporary Fiction
Production/Financing Companies: Working Title Films
Production Countries: United States
Languages: English

Ranking on other Records and Milestones

RecordRankAmountChart
Date
Days In
Release
Biggest 57th Weekend Limited Release 3 $44,378 Apr 4, 1997 395
Biggest 56th Weekend Limited Release 3 $51,490 Mar 28, 1997 388
Biggest 55th Weekend Limited Release 4 $24,927 Mar 21, 1997 381
Biggest 51st Weekend Limited Release 3 $40,535 Feb 21, 1997 353
Biggest 24th Weekend Limited Release 72 $39,140 Aug 16, 1996 164
Biggest 23rd Weekend Limited Release 89 $42,350 Aug 9, 1996 157
Biggest 22nd Weekend Limited Release 95 $49,964 Aug 2, 1996 150
Biggest 19th Weekend Limited Release 90 $114,545 Jul 12, 1996 129
Biggest 18th Weekend Limited Release 71 $195,605 Jul 5, 1996 122
Biggest 12th Weekend Limited Release 82 $542,633 May 24, 1996 80
Biggest 11th Weekend Limited Release 92 $550,565 May 17, 1996 73
Biggest 7th Weekend Limited Release 80 $1,464,714 Apr 19, 1996 45
Biggest 6th Weekend Limited Release 76 $1,881,347 Apr 12, 1996 38
Biggest 5th Weekend Limited Release 70 $2,536,491 Apr 5, 1996 31
Easter (All Movies, 3-Day, Inflation Adjusted) 296 $6,484,697 Apr 5, 1996 31
Biggest 4th Weekend Limited Release 66 $2,704,652 Mar 29, 1996 24
Biggest 3rd Weekend Limited Release 44 $2,812,662 Mar 22, 1996 17
Top 1996 Theater Average 32 $20,285 Mar 8, 1996 3

Leading Cast

Frances McDormand    Marge Gunderson
William H. Macy    Jerry Lundegaard
Steve Buscemi    Carl Showalter

Supporting Cast

Harve Presnell    Wade Gustafson
Peter Stormare    Gaear Grimsrud
Bruce Campbell    Soap Opera Actor
John Carroll Lynch    Norm Gunderson
Steve Reevis    Shep Proudfoot
Steve Park    Mike Yanagita
Kristin Rudrüd    Jean Lundegaard

For a description of the different acting role types we use to categorize acting perfomances, see our Glossary.

Production and Technical Credits

Joel Coen    Director
Ethan Coen    Producer
Ethan Coen    Screenwriter
Joel Coen    Screenwriter
Rick Heinrichs    Production Designer
Carter Burwell    Composer

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for April 1st, 2014

March 31st, 2014

The home market isn't terrible this week and there are a couple of releases on top that could sell well. However, it is not a very deep week and even the second page of the new releases over on Amazon.com has some releases I would call filler. Anchorman: The Legend Continues on 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack is the best-selling new release of the week and it is arguably the best as well. The Pirate Fairy on Blu-ray Combo Pack is the second best-selling new release of the week and also a contender for Pick of the Week. Meanwhile, I'm really looking forward to seeing Knights of Badassdom but the Blu-ray Combo Pack is still on its way. More...

DVD and Blu-ray Releases for August 30th, 2011

August 30th, 2011

Summer is officially over, both at the box office and on the home market. Granted, the theatrical releases are still really weak, but the TV on DVD releases are starting to become overwhelming. There are several such releases that are worth picking up, but none rise to the level of Pick of the Week. For that I went with The Coen Brothers Blu-ray Box Set. However, if you've made the leap to Blu-ray, then The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D Blu-ray Combo Pack is worth an honorable mention. Meanwhile, there's a film called Norwegian Ninja coming out on DVD that has cult classic written all over it. I really hope the screener arrives soon. More...

Compare this performance with other movies…

Domestic Cumulative Box Office Records

Weekend Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Mar 8, 1996 16 $730,265   36 $20,285   $730,265 1
Mar 15, 1996 14 $914,202 +25% 58 $15,762   $1,938,339 2
Mar 22, 1996 6 $2,812,662 +208% 412 $6,827   $5,152,178 3
Mar 29, 1996 8 $2,704,652 -4% 596 $4,538   $8,703,542 4
Apr 5, 1996 7 $2,536,491 -6% 716 $3,543   $12,160,219 5
Apr 12, 1996 10 $1,881,347 -26% 716 $2,628   $14,900,107 6
Apr 19, 1996 12 $1,464,714 -22% 699 $2,095   $16,962,127 7
Apr 26, 1996 14 $955,119 -35% 541 $1,765   $18,395,787 8
May 3, 1996 17 $694,131 -27% 418 $1,661   $19,402,943 9
May 10, 1996 17 $538,964 -22% 394 $1,368   $20,198,879 10
May 17, 1996 16 $550,565 +2% 410 $1,343   $20,976,052 11
May 24, 1996 14 $542,633 -1% 272 $1,995   $21,723,440 12
May 31, 1996 18 $254,919 -53% 209 $1,220   $22,091,471 13
Jun 7, 1996 21 $195,982 -23% 168 $1,167   $22,408,006 14
Jun 14, 1996 24 $146,600 -25% 152 $964   $22,647,573 15
Jun 21, 1996 26 $156,692 +7% 137 $1,144   $22,897,654 16
Jun 28, 1996 26 $155,225 -1% 156 $995   $23,135,126 17
Jul 5, 1996 27 $195,605 +26% 127 $1,540   $23,371,007 18
Jul 12, 1996 29 $114,545 -41% 106 $1,081   $23,561,322 19
Jul 19, 1996 36 $73,359 -36% 92 $797   $23,699,301 20
Jul 26, 1996 47 $45,318 -38% 58 $781   $23,788,316 21
Aug 2, 1996 41 $49,964 +10% 60 $833   $23,870,772 22
Aug 9, 1996 45 $42,350 -15% 45 $941   $23,944,035 23
Aug 16, 1996 48 $39,140 -8% 36 $1,087   $24,015,679 24
Feb 21, 1997 56 $40,535   72 $563   $24,303,383 51
Mar 21, 1997 53 $24,927   27 $923   $24,402,676 55
Mar 28, 1997 51 $51,490 +107% 53 $972   $24,475,469 56
Apr 4, 1997 56 $44,378 -14% 68 $653   $24,547,547 57

Daily Box Office Performance

Weekly Box Office Performance

DateRankGross% ChangeTheatersPer TheaterTotal GrossWeek
Mar 8, 1996 17 $1,024,137   36 $28,448   $1,024,137 1
Mar 15, 1996 14 $1,315,379 +28% 58 $22,679   $2,339,516 2
Mar 22, 1996 7 $3,659,374 +178% 412 $8,882   $5,998,890 3
Mar 29, 1996 9 $3,624,838 -1% 596 $6,082   $9,623,728 4
Apr 5, 1996 7 $3,395,032 -6% 716 $4,742   $13,018,760 5
Apr 12, 1996 9 $2,478,653 -27% 716 $3,462   $15,497,413 6
Apr 19, 1996 11 $1,943,255 -22% 699 $2,780   $17,440,668 7
Apr 26, 1996 14 $1,268,144 -35% 541 $2,344   $18,708,812 8
May 3, 1996 17 $951,103 -25% 418 $2,275   $19,659,915 9
May 10, 1996 18 $765,572 -20% 394 $1,943   $20,425,487 10
May 17, 1996 15 $755,320 -1% 410 $1,842   $21,180,807 11
May 24, 1996 13 $655,745 -13% 272 $2,411   $21,836,552 12
May 31, 1996 17 $375,472 -43% 209 $1,797   $22,212,024 13
Jun 7, 1996 23 $288,949 -23% 168 $1,720   $22,500,973 14
Jun 14, 1996 22 $239,989 -17% 152 $1,579   $22,740,962 15
Jun 21, 1996 27 $238,939 n/c 137 $1,744   $22,979,901 16
Jun 28, 1996 26 $195,501 -18% 156 $1,253   $23,175,402 17
Jul 5, 1996 27 $271,375 +39% 127 $2,137   $23,446,777 18
Jul 12, 1996 29 $179,165 -34% 106 $1,690   $23,625,942 19
Jul 19, 1996 36 $117,056 -35% 92 $1,272   $23,742,998 20
Jul 26, 1996 40 $77,810 -34% 58 $1,342   $23,820,808 21
Aug 2, 1996 39 $80,877 +4% 60 $1,348   $23,901,685 22
Aug 9, 1996 41 $74,854 -7% 45 $1,663   $23,976,539 23
Mar 21, 1997 49 $46,230   27 $1,712   $24,423,979 55
Mar 28, 1997 51 $79,190 +71% 53 $1,494   $24,503,169 56

Box Office Summary Per Territory

Territory Release
Date
Opening
Weekend
Opening
Weekend
Screens
Maximum
Screens
Theatrical
Engagements
Total
Box Office
Report
Date
Australia 6/7/1996 $0 0 14 31 $22,301 10/20/2022
Japan 7/16/2023 $0000$0
New Zealand 1/14/2021 $2,013 2 2 10 $3,911 12/19/2022
United Kingdom 6/11/2021 $12,117 80 80 80 $12,117 6/16/2021
 
Rest of World $26,597,427
 
International Total$26,635,756 12/19/2022

International Cumulative Box Office Records


Worldwide Cumulative Box Office Records