A “masterpiece” dark comedy / crime thriller that one fan hailed as the “greatest” film ever is streaming now in the UK. Fargo (1996) focuses on police chief Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand) the pregnant police chief in a small community in Minnesota. Horror strikes the snowy, sleepy town when a botched kidnapping ends triggers a series of brutal killings, with Marge determined to get to the bottom of the case.

The cast also includes William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, and Peter Stormare. It was written and directed by the Coen Brothers, known for modern classics like The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men, and is among their most highly-regarded films. Fargo was critically acclaimed and won two Oscars, for Best Actress (McDormand) and Best Original Screenplay (the Coens).

A series of the same name which is based on the film hit the small screen in 2014. A Reddit user posting on the site’s popular r/movie subreddit said: “Fargo is the greatest film ever made. Change my mind.”

They said in their opinion it’s “just an objectively perfect movie”. “This is by far the Coen Brothers best work, even better than No Country For Old Men, feel free to debate me on that.

“The writing is brilliant, every character is so emotionally raw and authentic, the setting is beyond attractive, and the dialogue is by far the best of any movie.”

Fans have taken to IMDb to laud the film which exemplifies the Coen brothers’ love of genre-bending and stark tonal shifts, with one writing in 2009, “I imagine popular opinion now holds that “No Country for Old Men” is the best Coen brothers movie ever made, but for me this 1996 crime thriller will live on as their masterpiece.”

Another hailed it as “magnificent”, saying the “weather plays a crucial role in the film, it feels like the character itself”.

A third said Fargo is “brilliant in every way!”. “Bang on cinematography, top notch acting and masterful direction,” they added.

A fourth wrote: “What can be said of Fargo that has not been said before? Fargo is a film that cannot be cornered with any easy definition.

“The Coen brothers have defined themselves with a style that is unique and refreshing and Fargo stands as one of their masterworks.

“Equal parts crime-caper, drama and comedy, Fargo takes its audience on a journey where every turn is a breath of fresh air and every line of dialog is something that you could never translate to another film.”

The film has a 15 certificate and features injury detail, sex, language, and violence – so viewer discretion is advised.

Fargo was added to Amazon Prime in the UK on Friday, July 31. It’s also streaming on Mubi and is available to rent or buy on other platforms.