The Coen brothers have a unique style that has helped them develop a pᴀssionate fan base, but there are some other movies that their fans might also enjoy. The best Coen brothers movies encompᴀss a range of genres, from their thrilling westerns like True Grit to their crime comedies like The Big Lebowski. Still, there are some factors which unite their films.

Coen brothers movies are often feted for their snappy dialogue, mysterious, twisty plots and eccentric characters. The directing duo have also shown a keen interest in different American regions and how people from across the country behave. If a film can capture these elements and strike a similarly dark tone, there’s a good chance that fans of the Coen brothers will appreciate it.

10

In Bruges (2008)

Martin McDonagh Is Another Master Of Dark Comedy

In Bruges was Martin McDonagh’s first feature-length film, and it announced his arrival as a master of dark comedy, just like the Coens. In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen who travel to the picturesque medieval city of Bruges, only to find out that one has been ordered to kill the other.

The constant bickering between the two ᴀssᴀssins in In Bruges is reminiscent of the fractious dynamic between the two kidnappers in Fargo. Farrell and Gleeson are both brilliant, but it’s Ralph Fiennes who steals the show when he turns up as their foul-mouthed and short-tempered boss. He doesn’t factor in the story until relatively late, but he’s still one of the funniest comedy movie villains.

9

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Frances McDormand Delivers One Of Her Funniest Performances

A few of Martin McDonagh’s movies are good fits for fans of the Coen brothers. As well as In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri stands out as a brilliant dark comedy with a splash of chaotic violence. It stars Frances McDormand as a woman who hires some billboards to put pressure on the local police department after her daughter is Sєxually ᴀssaulted and murdered.

Many of Frances McDormand’s best movies have come from her collaborations with her husband Joel Coen, but she won her second Academy Award for Three Billboards, and it’s as funny as her performances in Fargo, Burn After Reading or any other Coens movie. Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell are also perfectly suited to McDonagh’s fiery dialogue.

8

The Ladykillers (1955)

The Coens’ Great Folly Doesn’t Come Close To The Original

Fans of the Coens will probably know about the one great misstep in their career. Their 2004 remake of The Ladykillers starring Tom Hanks usually falls to the bottom of rankings of their filmography. Fortunately, the original is still just as funny as ever, and it’s worth watching to find out what the Coens saw in it.

The Ladykillers is a hilarious British crime caper starring Alec Guinness as the leader of a group of bank robbers. Before he was known as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Guinness proved himself to be one of Britain’s funniest actors with movies like Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob and The Ladykillers. These all share the Coen brothers’ darkly comedic style.

7

The Death Of Stalin (2017)

Armando Iannucci’s Dark Satire Turns Violent

The Death of Stalin tells the story of the frantic succession struggle that Stalin left in his wake, but it doesn’t attempt to appear historically authentic. The actors mostly speak in their natural accents, and their dialogue also sounds decidedly modern, which draws a parallel between the Soviet Union and the political in-fighting in the western world today.

The Death of Stalin is a political satire told on a personal level, similar to Burn After Reading in some ways. It’s also a brilliant ensemble comedy with a cast that rivals any that the Coens have ever ᴀssembled. For fans of British dark comedy, it’s an absolute must-watch.

6

The Third Man (1949)

The Classic Noir Thriller Inspired The Coens’ More Dramatic Work

Joel and Ethan Coen supposedly took their cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld to a screening of The Third Man for inspiration before filming their debut feature Blood Simple. The film’s stark black-and-white pH๏τography also seems to be a touchstone for The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Miller’s Crossing makes a more overt reference to The Third Man in its ending.

The Third Man is a stunning film noir thriller about a writer who travels to Vienna to find a dilapidated, bombed-out city, far from the Bohemian paradise of Freud, Schiele and Mozart. The symbol of the towering ferris wheel sums up the directionless drifting of society. This creates the ideal backdrop for a crime thriller, and it reflects how most Coen brothers movies have a clear sense of place.

5

Out Of Sight (1998)

Steven Soderbergh’s Stylish Thriller Remains Underrated

Out of Sight has been overshadowed by Ocean’s Eleven, which Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney made three years later, but it deserves a lot more love. Fans of the Coen brothers will appreciate the movie’s twisty crime plot and dry wit, and it’s also good to see frequent Coen collaborator Clooney in a familiar role.

Soderbergh’s infectious style of dialogue works brilliantly in Out of Sight, as he pivots from tense crime thrills to breezy romantic comedy with ease. Clooney and Jennifer Lopez strike up a dazzling chemistry as a thief and a detective, setting up the kind of twisty caper that the Coens love.

4

The Nice Guys (2016)

Shane Black’s Dark Crime Comedy Has Grown A Cult Following

The Nice Guys ends by teasing a sequel, as the two private investigators decide to go into business together. Unfortunately, the film’s poor box office performance meant that any talk of a follow-up was swiftly curtailed. The Nice Guys has established a considerable cult following since then, which makes its commercial failure even more frustrating.

The Nice Guys is the kind of complex, intelligent mystery comedy that could easily have come from the Coen brothers. At the heart of the comedy is some surprising chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, who bounce off of each other wonderfully.

3

The Lobster (2015)

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Strange Style Is Often Great For Comedy

Yorgos Lanthimos’ movies can all be recognized immediately, because they share the same unsettling tone. This can be used for psychological horror, like in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, but it’s also perfect for dark comedy, in which the strangely inhuman characters reflect the most violent and base elements of humanity.

The Lobster is probably Lanthimos’ funniest movie overall, thanks to a ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan masterclass from Colin Farrell and a script that constantly squeezes the best out of a unique sci-fi premise. The Lobster is a cynical meditation on modern romance, showing the ways that love has been warped and clouded out by other concerns.

2

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

The British Caper Fits In With The Coens’ Crime Comedies

A Fish Called Wanda is a pitch-black comedy about the fallout of a London jewel heist, with a dysfunctional band of criminals scheming against one another to get their hands on the loot. It shares a lot in common with many of the Coen brothers’ best crime comedies. It has the frantic energy of Fargo, the goofy charms of Raising Arizona and the eccentric ensemble cast of The Big Lebowski.

A Fish Called Wanda is also a must-watch for fans of Monty Python, since it stars both Michael Palin and John Cleese. It’s more grounded and gritty than any of the Monty Python movies ever were, but the madcap style and clever wordplay is all the same. The British actors are joined by Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis, which makes A Fish Called Wanda a hilarious clash of cultures.

1

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Elliot Gould Stars As A Wry, Funny Marlowe

There have been plenty of different Philip Marlowe movies over the years, and different actors have brought their own unique strengths to Raymond Chandler’s iconic detective. Elliot Gould’s version of Marlowe is much funnier than most. However, the story is just as gripping and mysterious as any by Chandler.

The Long Goodbye probably wouldn’t be very funny at all if not for Gould. The story touches on some heavy topics, including suicide, alcoholism and grief, but Gould’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan nonchalance is always a bright spot. His Marlowe seems like a man out of time, and it’s easy to see shades of Lebowski in his clumsy investigation.