30 Darn Tootin’ Facts About the Fargo Film
Turning 30 this year, the Coen Brothers’ film Fargo continues to hold a special place in pop culture, and here in Fargo-Moorhead. From its fictional “true story” opening to the iconic woodchipper now on display at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center, Fargo has left a lasting mark on film history and local tourism. To celebrate the milestone, here are 30 fascinating facts that even longtime fans may not know.
At a Glance: Fargo Film Facts:
- Fargo turns 30 in 2026
- The film is not a true story, despite its opening claim
- The iconic woodchipper is on display in Fargo-Moorhead
- The film won two Academy Awards and seven nominations
- Fargo is preserved in the National Film Registry
30 Things True Fans Should Know About the Film Fargo
1. Fargo Is Not a True Story
Although the film begins with the preface saying otherwise, the plot is pure fiction. Before the opening credits roll, audiences are greeted with the following: "This is a true story. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the survivors' request, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred." This is not real. The Coen brothers wrote it to engage the audience in the story further.
2. The Film May Incorporate Elements of Real-Life Crimes
In the film, William H. Macy's character, Jerry Lundegaard, hires some hitmen to kidnap his wife as a means of extorting his wealthy father-in-law. That plot bears some similarities to the story of T. Eugene Thompson, a St. Paul, Minnesota, lawyer who in 1963 was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill his wife. The Coens have long denied any connections between their film and this real-life crime. On the DVD commentary for Fargo, it's stated explicitly that at least one scene in the film was inspired by the 1986 murder of Danish-American stewardess Helle Crafts, whose husband murdered her and disposed of her body with a woodchipper.
3. Fargo Was a Box Office Success on a Small Budget
The film's worldwide gross was just a tad over $60 million, which is amazing given that Fargo cost just $7 million to make. That would make it cheaper than every other Coen brothers film aside from Blood Simple, the pair's 1984 debut.
4. Fargo Is Part of the National Film Registry's "Fantastic Five"
The National Film Registry is the Library of Congress's collection of films deemed to have cultural and historical value. Since 1988, only 675 films have been added to the collection, and all films must be at least 10 years old before being admitted. Only five feature films have ever been admitted to the registry in their first year of eligibility: Raging Bull, Do the Right Thing, Goodfellas, Toy Story, and, finally, Fargo in 2006.
5. No Scenes of Fargo Were Filmed in Fargo, North Dakota
You local fans may already know this, but no scenes were actually filmed in Fargo. It may represent everything we are up here, but Minnesota largely substituted in for North Dakota throughout the movie.
6. The Iconic Fargo Woodchipper Is on Display in Fargo-Moorhead
You may already know this, too. In case you've missed it, the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center is home to the famous woodchipper. You can take your picture with it and see some other awesome memorabilia. Come stop by next time you have a chance!
Why Fargo Matters to Fargo-Moorhead
While the film Fargo was largely shot in Minnesota, its cultural legacy lives on in Fargo-Moorhead. Fans can see the iconic woodchipper and other memorabilia at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center and purchase official woodchipper merchandise, making it a must-stop for movie lovers.
Woodchipper merchandise is available in limited quantities, with designs inspired by the iconic film moment.
Fans Visiting the Fargo Woodchipper
See how visitors and film fans stop by the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center to see the iconic Fargo woodchipper in person.
7. One Accent Coach Shaped the Film's Signature Minnesota Accents
Elizabeth Himelstein, an accent coach in Hollywood, was responsible for priming the Fargo cast with their rather thick accents for the film. Himelstein said that Fargo was unique among her many jobs because it was the one where audiences were supposed to notice the accent.
8. Fargo Earned Frances McDormand Her First Academy Award
And rightly so. The Coens also won for Best Original Screenplay.
9. William H. Macy Viewed Jerry Lundegaard as a Relatable Villain
Macy noted that his character was, more or less, the film's villain. But he didn't let that bother him, because, as he saw it, the Coens wrote his character so well that people would relate to him, even as he set in motion all the bad things that happen in the film.
10. The Fargo Theme Song Is Based on a Norwegian Folk Tune
The mournful theme is based on "The Lost Sheep," a Norwegian folk song.
11. Fargo Was Almost Adapted for Television in 1997
In 1997, a Fargo TV pilot had Edie Falco take over the role Frances McDormand played. Directed by Kathy Bates, the TV-friendly version of the movie wasn't picked up.
12. The FX Series Fargo Exists in the Same Fictional Universe as the Film
We won't spoil the series, but it's not meant as a reboot of the movie; it's a story set in a parallel universe. Consider adding the show to your list if you haven't already binged it.
13. The Woodchipper Scene Was Filmed at Square Lake, Minnesota
The infamous woodchipper scene took place at Square Lake, MN, just north of Rochester.
14. The Coen Brothers Are Midwest Natives
Have you ever wondered why they chose to pay homage to the Midwest? Turns out it's because their hometown is St. Louis Park, MN.
15. The Film's Fake Blood Recipe Was Unconventional
The Fargo blood recipe is as follows:
1 Large Jug of RV Anti-Freeze
2 Packages of Red Kool-Aid
1 Box of Strawberry Flavored Jello
1 Garbage Bag of Butcher Shop Leftovers
Yes, you read that recipe right.
16. A Bloody Fargo Snow Globe Was Once a Collector's Item
When the movie was first released, you could order the collector's edition, which was a widescreen VHS. This edition also included a snow globe depicting the woodchipper scene, which, when shaken, stirred up both snow and "blood".
17. Fargo Was Originally Released on VHS in Multiple Formats
If you purchased the standard movie, it came on a pan-and-scan VHS cassette. How cool would a cassette movie showing be? There's your Friday night plans!
18. Frances McDormand's Pregnancy Bump Was Made of Birdseed
When Frances McDormand played the pregnant cop Marge in Fargo, she wore a "pregnancy pillow" to simulate a baby bump. It was filled with birdseed that weighed out to about the same as a growing fetus, so McDormand didn't have to try to look pregnant deliberately – it just came naturally with the added weight.
19. Fargo Developed a Cult Following in Japan
Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is a film about a young Japanese woman who becomes obsessed with Fargo, believing the events it depicts to be real.
20. Fargo Contains References to Stanley Kubrick Films
In Fargo, Steve Buscemi's character Carl mentions "the old in-and-out," a slang term from A Clockwork Orange. The song "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" plays on a car radio at one point, which is a reference to its inclusion on the Full Metal Jacket soundtrack.
21. Jerry Lundegaard's Stutter Was Fully Scripted
Jerry Lundegaard's stuttering, halting, nervous way of speaking has led to a widespread misconception that William H. Macy improvised many of his lines in Fargo, but he hardly improvised any. In fact, every single one of Jerry's nervous stutters was rigorously scripted by the Coen brothers.
22. Minnesota's Mild Winter Created Challenges During Filming
When Fargo went into production during the winter of 1994 and 1995, Minnesota coincidentally experienced its sunniest, warmest winter on record.
That winter brought the state's lowest recorded snowfall. The whole point of the movie was to feel cold and unforgiving, so this was hardly convenient for the people in charge of composing each shot.
23. The Coen Brothers Kept the Film's Fictional Nature Secret During Production
The Coens wrote the story entirely as a work of fiction, but they were so committed to the "true story" lie that they let everyone on the cast and crew believe they were making a true-crime thriller. It wasn't until three weeks into shooting that the brothers revealed that the movie was fictional.
24. "Roderick Jaynes," the Film's Editor, Is a Coen Brothers Pseudonym
Because the Coens found having their names appear on screen as directors, writers, producers, and editors a bit tacky, they credit their editing work to the fictional "Roderick Jaynes," who's listed on all of their films outside of Raising Arizona and Miller's Crossing.
25. How the Fargo Woodchipper Became a Fargo-Moorhead Attraction
After Fargo was completed, Milo Durben, the Dolly Grip for the movie, purchased the wood chipper. Milo needed a wood chipper to chip up tree branches on his hobby farm in Minneapolis, MN. After a year of use, Milo retired the wood chipper to storage to preserve it as part of Fargo's history. While in storage, the Coen Brothers came to town while filming Serious Man, so Milo took a section of the wood chipper chute to the movie set for them to sign.
Many years later, in May 2011, the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau contacted Milo to ask whether he would support tourism in the area by allowing us to display the wood chipper at the F-M Visitors Center during National Tourism Week. He agreed and took it one step further by lending us his personal collection of Fargo memorabilia.
After realizing the woodchipper was a major attraction, the F-M Convention and Visitors Bureau purchased it from Milo. The woodchipper is now permanently on display at the F-M Visitors Center.
26. Fargo Premiered at the Cannes Film Festival
Fargo premiered at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the festival's highest honor, the Palme d'Or. While it didn't win the top prize, Joel Coen won the Prix de la mise en scène (Best Director Award), cementing the film's international prestige before it even reached wider American audiences.
27. Fargo Was Named One of the Greatest American Films by AFI
In 1998, the American Film Institute named Fargo the 84th greatest American film of all time. The films on the list spanned from 1915 to 1996, making Fargo one of the most recent films to make the prestigious ranking in its inaugural year.
28. The Main Cast Was Chosen Before the Script Was Finished
When writing Fargo, the Coen brothers had Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, and Peter Stormare specifically in mind for their roles. They wrote the characters with these actors' talents and quirks in mind, and all three were ultimately cast in the roles the Coens intended.
29. Fargo Received Seven Academy Award nominations.
Fargo received seven Academy Award nominations at the 69th Academy Awards in 1997, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for William H. Macy. It won two Oscars: Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Original Screenplay for Joel and Ethan Coen. This was McDormand's first Academy Award win, though she would go on to win two more for Best Actress.
30. Fargo Achieved Major Box Office Success as an Independent Film
Released in just 36 theaters on March 8, 1996, Fargo gradually expanded its reach, eventually playing in over 700 theaters. Its domestic box office totaled approximately $24.6 million, with international sales bringing the worldwide total to approximately $60.6 million, more than 8 times its $7 million production budget. For an independent film with such unusual subject matter and thick regional accents, this was a remarkable commercial achievement.
Fargo Film FAQs
Is the movie Fargo based on a true story?
No. Despite the opening text, Fargo is a fictional story written by the Coen brothers.
Where can I see the Fargo woodchipper?
The famous woodchipper is on permanent display at the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center.
Was Fargo filmed in Fargo, North Dakota?
No. The film was primarily shot in Minnesota, although it is closely associated with Fargo-Moorhead.
Why is Fargo important to Fargo-Moorhead?
The film has become a cultural touchstone, drawing fans to local attractions and film-related landmarks.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Fargo remains a landmark film known for its fictional “true story,” award-winning performances, and the iconic woodchipper that continues to draw fans to Fargo-Moorhead.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering Fargo for the first time, this anniversary is the perfect excuse to revisit a film that continues to define a genre and a region.
