7.3/10
127,254
324 user 78 critic

Raising Arizona (1987)

PG-13 | | Comedy, Crime | 17 April 1987 (USA)
Raising Arizona Poster
Clip
3:23 | Clip
When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.

Directors:

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (uncredited)

Writers:

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson | See full cast & crew »
68
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Popularity
2,475 ( 10)
4 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage ... H.I. McDunnough
Holly Hunter ... Ed
Trey Wilson ... Nathan Arizona, Sr.
John Goodman ... Gale
William Forsythe ... Evelle
Sam McMurray ... Glen
Frances McDormand ... Dot
Randall 'Tex' Cobb ... Leonard Smalls
T.J. Kuhn ... Nathan Junior (as T.J. Kuhn Jr.)
Lynne Kitei Lynne Kitei ... Florence Arizona (as Lynne Dumin Kitei)
Peter Benedek ... Prison Counselor
Charles 'Lew' Smith Charles 'Lew' Smith ... Nice Old Grocery Man
Warren Keith ... Younger FBI Agent
Henry Kendrick ... Older FBI Agent
Sidney Dawson Sidney Dawson ... Ear-Bending Cellmate
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Storyline

Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes. Written by Scott Renshaw <as.idc@forsythe.stanford.edu>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

arizona desert | reference to arizona state university | phoenix arizona | diaper | neo screwball comedy | See All (159) »

Taglines:

Their lawless years are behind them. Their child-rearing years lay ahead... See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Crime

Certificate:

PG-13 | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This is one of the few Coen Brothers movies to not be edited by the brothers themselves (under the pseudonym Roderick Jaynes) along with Tricia Cooke. Michael R. Miller was the editor. See more »

Goofs

"It ain't armed robbery if the gun ain't loaded" is false. Even a toy gun that appears to be real suffices in Arizona to support a charge of armed robbery. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
H.I.: [voiceover] My name is H.I. McDonnaugh. Call me Hi.
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Crazy Credits

Baby Wrangler See more »

Connections

Featured in Teeth (1996) See more »

Soundtracks

Goofing-Off Suite
by Pete Seeger
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User Reviews

 
Still as good today
11 February 2020 | by paulwattriley – See all my reviews

Watched this again recently and still as good today as it was then.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the point of the tattoo shown on Leonard Smalls' arm?
Q: Is 'Raising Arizona' based on a book?
Q: What is HI's real name? How about Ed's?
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1987 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Raising Arizona See more »

Filming Locations:

Superior, Arizona, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,240, 15 March 1987

Gross USA:

$22,847,564

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,180,280
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Circle Films See more »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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