15 Classic Coen Brothers Quotes to INSPIRE

Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen have cemented themselves as one of the most influential filmmaking duos of all time. Through an array of acclaimed movies including Fargo (1996), True Grit (2010) and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), the brothers have a reputation for blending genres and writing convoluted plots with eccentric characters. In order to bask in the wisdom of this iconic filmmaking duo, we’ve compiled 15 amazing Coen brothers quotes that are sure to inspire all budding screenwriters and filmmakers.

Coen Brothers – Dynamic Duo

Born and raised in Minnesota, Joel and Ethan Coen had a keen interest in cinema during their childhood. Inspired by the movies they watched on television, Joel bought a Vivitar Super 8 camera to shoot home movies, starring their friends.

For many years the Directors Guild of America (DGA) regulations prevented the brothers from sharing directorial credit due to the rule that only one person may be credited director. To work around this, the pair agreed that Joel would be credited as director, Ethan credited producer and both given the screenwriting credit. “Roderick Jaynes”, a pseudonym they shared, was credited as editor.

Joel enrolled in the undergraduate film program at New York University before landing himself a job as an assistant editor on low budget horror movies. Ethan took a different direction, studying Philosophy at Princeton University. After Ethan graduated, the brothers started writing independent films, their first being Blood Simple (1984), financed with funds raised by themselves.

Blood Simple, a dark thriller blended with crime and horror; established their stylistic trademarks. Meanwhile, fast-paced comedy Raising Arizona (1987) showcased their versatility. The latter, distributed by 20th Century Fox, started their progression from independent films to working with major studios.

Despite numerous awards including four Oscars, the brothers had disappointment too. The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) lost $14 million at the box office and received mixed reviews. And despite critical acclaim since, The Big Lebowski (1998) initially underperformed.

It is undeniable that hard work led to their success. And a dedication to making their own productions with little financial support caught the eyes of major studios, bringing opportunities to further their profile whilst still remaining auteurs.

We’ve compiled 15 amazing Coen brothers quotes to give an insight into the creative minds of the Coen brothers and inspire your own creative process.