Raising Arizona
Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona

1987Movie94 minEnglish

When a childless couple—an ex-con and an ex-cop—take one of a wealthy family’s quintuplets to raise as their own, their lives grow more complicated than anticipated.

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Insights

IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes90%
Metacritic77/100
Google Users89%
Director: Joel Coen, Ethan CoenGenres: Comedy, Crime

Plot Summary

A childless couple, an ex-con named H.I. and a former prison librarian named Edwina, kidnap one of five newborn "super-quintuplets" born to a local furniture magnate. Their dream of a happy family quickly unravels as they face a series of chaotic events, including the arrival of H.I.'s former cellmates and a bounty hunter on their trail.

Critical Reception

Raising Arizona was met with widespread critical acclaim for its unique blend of dark humor, quirky characters, and innovative visual style. Reviewers praised the Coen Brothers' distinctive directorial voice and the stellar performances from the ensemble cast, particularly Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter. It is widely regarded as a classic of quirky American independent cinema.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its inventive visual style and rapid-fire, quirky dialogue.
  • Lauded for its unique brand of dark comedy and eccentric characters.
  • Applauded for the standout performances, especially from Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter.

Google audience: Audiences largely enjoyed the film's distinctive comedic style and memorable characters. Many found the movie hilarious and original, appreciating its offbeat humor and the energetic performances. Some viewers found the pacing or style to be a bit too eccentric, but the overall sentiment is highly positive.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival (1987).

Fun Fact

The Coen Brothers initially conceived the story as a more straightforward crime drama, but it evolved into a comedy during the writing process as they developed the characters and their absurd situations.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Ne...

**Another honorable addition to the Cohen Brothers' remarkable filmography.** I've seen several films by the Cohen Brothers and this one, far from being one of the most quotable when talking about them, is full of qualities that deserve ...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"H.I" (Nicolas Cage) is an habitual petty criminal who gradually falls in love with the police officer "Ed" (Holly Hunter) who has to take his mug shots every time he is apprehended. Finally determined to go straight, they marry and he take...