# O Brother, Where Art Thou?

> 2000 film directed by Ethan and Joel Coen

**Wikidata**: [Q501874](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q501874)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Brother,_Where_Art_Thou?)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/o-brother-where-art-thou

## Summary

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a film that blends multiple genres, including buddy film, comedy film, treasure hunt film, crime film, musical film, and road movie[1][2].

## Summary
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?* is a 2000 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Ethan and Joel Coen. It is a loose adaptation of Homer's *Odyssey*, set in the rural American South during the Great Depression, and produced by studios in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.

## Key Facts
- **Title**: O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- **Release Year**: 2000
- **Directors**: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- **Production Companies**: Touchstone Pictures, Working Title Films, StudioCanal, Universal Pictures, Mercury Films
- **Countries of Origin**: United States, United Kingdom, France
- **Release Dates**: May 13, 2000 (Cannes Film Festival), October 19, 2000 (United States), October 20, 2000 (United Kingdom), December 22, 2000 (Wider release)
- **Runtime**: 103 minutes
- **Genres**: Comedy film, Musical film, Crime film, Drama film, Buddy film, Road movie, Crime comedy film, Thriller film
- **Box Office Gross**: $71,870,729 (worldwide), $45,512,588 (United States)
- **Budget**: $26,000,000
- **IMDb ID**: tt0190590
- **Wikidata ID**: Q134630
- **Aliases**: O Brother, Where Are Thou?, O Brother, Where Are You?
- **Website**: [studio.go.com/movies/obrother](http://studio.go.com/movies/obrother)
- **Instance of**: Film
- **Sitelink Count**: 52 (Wikipedia language editions)

## FAQs
**What is *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* about?**  
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?* is a film that follows three convicts—Ulysses Everett McGill, Pete Hogwallop, and Delmar O'Donnell—on a journey through the rural South during the Great Depression. Their quest to find a hidden treasure parallels Homer’s *Odyssey*, with the film blending comedy, music, and adventure.

**Who directed *O Brother, Where Art Thou?*?**  
The film was directed by the Coen brothers—Joel Coen and Ethan Coen—who are also known for films like *Fargo* and *No Country for Old Men*. They wrote and produced the film in collaboration with several international production companies.

**What genres does *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* belong to?**  
It is classified under multiple genres including comedy film, musical film, crime film, drama film, buddy film, road movie, and crime comedy film. The film's blend of humor, music, and adventure reflects its diverse genre influences.

**What is the significance of the soundtrack in *O Brother, Where Art Thou?*?**  
The soundtrack, featuring traditional American folk, gospel, and bluegrass music, became a cultural phenomenon. It contributed significantly to the film's identity and commercial success, winning a Grammy Award and selling over 7.5 million copies in the United States.

**What awards and recognition did *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* receive?**  
The film received critical acclaim and commercial success, with its soundtrack winning a Grammy. It was also nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song. The film has been cited in numerous "best of" lists and retrospectives.

**What is the runtime of *O Brother, Where Art Thou?*?**  
The film has a runtime of 103 minutes, making it a compact yet rich narrative experience.

**Where was *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* produced and released?**  
It was produced by a collaboration of American, British, and French companies: Touchstone Pictures, Working Title Films, StudioCanal, Universal Pictures, and Mercury Films. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2000 and was released in the United States and the United Kingdom later that year.

## Why It Matters
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?* is significant for its unique blend of historical storytelling, musical heritage, and cinematic artistry. The film revitalized interest in traditional American folk and bluegrass music, with its soundtrack becoming a commercial success and earning critical acclaim. It also stands as a modern reinterpretation of classical literature, using Homer’s *Odyssey* as a framework to explore themes of perseverance, identity, and redemption in the American South. The film's success demonstrated the enduring appeal of genre-blending narratives and cross-cultural production efforts.

## Notable For
- **Musical Renaissance**: The film sparked a revival of interest in American folk and bluegrass music, with its soundtrack selling over 7.5 million copies in the U.S.
- **Grammy-Winning Soundtrack**: The soundtrack won a Grammy Award and featured artists like Alison Krauss and the Cox Family.
- **Genre Fusion**: Combines elements of comedy, musical, crime, drama, and road movie genres into a single narrative.
- **International Production**: A collaborative effort between production companies from the United States, United Kingdom, and France.
- **Cannes Premiere**: Debuted at the prestigious 2000 Cannes Film Festival, highlighting its artistic merit.
- **Academy Award Nominations**: Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song, underscoring its creative and cultural impact.
- **Cultural Homage**: A modern cinematic interpretation of Homer’s *Odyssey*, reimagined in Depression-era Mississippi.
- **Box Office Success**: Grossed over $71.8 million worldwide against a $26 million budget.

## Body

### History and Development
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?* was conceived and directed by the Coen brothers—Joel and Ethan Coen—known for their stylized storytelling and genre-blending films. The movie is loosely based on Homer’s *Odyssey*, transplanted into rural Mississippi during the Great Depression. The film follows Ulysses Everett McGill and his companions on a journey filled with adventure, music, and misfortune.

The film was produced through a collaboration between Touchstone Pictures (United States), Working Title Films (United Kingdom), StudioCanal (France), Universal Pictures (United States), and Mercury Films (United Kingdom). It premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and was released commercially in October 2000 in the U.S. and U.K., with a wider release in December 2000.

### Production and Creative Team
The Coen brothers served as directors, writers, and producers, with Joel Coen additionally credited as cinematographer and editor. The film starred George Clooney as Ulysses Everett McGill, with a supporting cast including John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson. The production featured a blend of practical and digital effects, with filming locations primarily in Mississippi.

### Genre and Themes
The film is categorized under multiple genres:
- **Comedy Film**: Known for its humorous and satirical tone.
- **Musical Film**: Features a rich soundtrack of traditional American folk and bluegrass music.
- **Crime Film**: Incorporates elements of crime and heist narratives.
- **Drama Film**: Explores themes of identity, family, and redemption.
- **Buddy Film**: Highlights the camaraderie and conflicts between the three protagonists.
- **Road Movie**: Follows a journey-based narrative structure.
- **Crime Comedy Film**: Blends crime and humor.
- **Thriller Film**: Includes suspenseful sequences and dramatic tension.

### Soundtrack and Cultural Impact
The soundtrack, produced by T Bone Burnett, became a cultural phenomenon. It featured artists like Alison Krauss, the Cox Family, and the Fairfield Four. The album won a Grammy Award and sold over 7.5 million copies in the United States. The music played a central role in the film's identity and contributed significantly to its commercial success.

### Release and Distribution
The film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the U.S. on October 20, 2000. It grossed $71,870,729 worldwide, with $45,512,588 earned in the United States. The production budget was $26 million, making it a profitable venture.

### Awards and Recognition
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?* received two Academy Award nominations:
- **Best Adapted Screenplay**
- **Best Original Song** ("Man of Constant Sorrow")

The film has been cited in numerous retrospectives and "best of" lists, particularly for its soundtrack and genre-blending narrative.

### Related Entities and Collaborations
- **Touchstone Pictures**: American production company responsible for distribution.
- **Working Title Films**: British production company with a long-standing collaboration with Universal Pictures.
- **StudioCanal**: French production and distribution company.
- **Universal Pictures**: Major American film studio.
- **Mercury Films**: British production company involved in the film's financing and production.

### Legacy and Influence
The film's success demonstrated the global appeal of genre-blending narratives and cross-cultural production efforts. Its soundtrack remains a landmark in American folk music revival, and its narrative continues to influence filmmakers and musicians alike.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/)
2. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=29785.html)
3. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film742046.html)
4. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-29785/)
5. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/bracie-gdzie-jestes)
6. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
7. [Source](https://europeanfilmawards.eu/en_EN/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.5621)
8. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/o-brother-where-art-thou)
9. Swedish Film Database
10. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/fullcredits)
11. Freebase Data Dumps
12. Museum of Modern Art online collection
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. Letterboxd
15. The Movie Database
16. O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Rotten Tomatoes
17. The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures
18. BFI Film & TV Database
19. Lexicon of international films
20. IMDb
21. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/releaseinfo)
22. [Source](http://www.sfi.se/sv/svensk-filmdatabas/Item/?itemid=44010&type=MOVIE&iv=Basic)
23. [Source](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=obrotherwhereartthou.htm)
24. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/2000.98.0.html)
25. BBC Things
26. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/parentalguide)
27. [The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/O-Brother-Where-Art-Thou#tab=summary)
28. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0190590/)
29. Kinopoisk
30. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/o-brother-where-art-thou/)
31. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
32. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
33. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/100423)
34. Online-Filmdatenbank
35. Bechdel Test Movie List
36. mymovies.it
37. europeanfilmawards.eu
38. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/3361-9367-AEF7-189F-45AB-M)
39. Danish Film Database
40. TheTVDB
41. Trakt.tv
42. FilmVandaag.nl