# Raising Arizona

> 1987 film by the Coen Brothers

**Wikidata**: [Q670439](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q670439)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_Arizona)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/raising-arizona

## Summary

Raising Arizona is a 1987 American comedy crime film directed by the Coen Brothers, featuring Nicolas Cage in his first leading film role. The film blends multiple genres including comedy, action, crime, black comedy, and thriller elements, telling the story of a recently paroled ex-con who attempts to steal a baby from a wealthy Arizona family. It represents the Coen Brothers' second feature film and established their distinctive visual and narrative style.

## Key Facts

- **Title:** Raising Arizona
- **Publication Dates:** March 6, 1987; May 28, 1987; March 13, 1987
- **Creators:** Coen Brothers (American filmmakers)
- **Lead Actor:** Nicolas Cage (American actor, citizenship: United States)
- **Country of Production:** United States
- **Genres:** Comedy film, action film, crime film, black comedy film, comedy drama, thriller film, crime comedy film
- **Wikidata Description:** 1987 film by the Coen Brothers
- **Wikipedia Title:** Raising Arizona
- **Sitelink Count:** 40

## FAQs

**What genres does Raising Arizona combine?**

Raising Arizona spans multiple film genres, functioning simultaneously as a comedy film, action film, crime film, black comedy film, comedy drama, thriller film, and crime comedy film. This genre-blending approach became a hallmark of the Coen Brothers' filmmaking style.

**Who directed and starred in Raising Arizona?**

The film was directed by the Coen Brothers, an American filmmaking duo, and starred Nicolas Cage in his first major leading role in a feature film. Cage's performance established him as a distinctive screen presence in American cinema.

**When was Raising Arizona released?**

Raising Arizona premiered in 1987 with multiple release dates throughout the year, including March 6, May 28, and March 13, 1987. These staggered releases were typical of independent films seeking theatrical distribution during that era.

**What is the setting of Raising Arizona?**

The film is set in the United States, specifically in Arizona, which provides the distinctive desert landscape and Southwestern American setting that characterizes much of the film's visual identity.

**How is Raising Arizona categorized in knowledge bases?**

In Wikidata, Raising Arizona is classified as a film (a sequence of images that give the impression of movement, stored on film stock) and is connected to 40 other Wikipedia articles through sitelinks, indicating its relevance within the broader knowledge graph.

## Why It Matters

Raising Arizona matters as the film that announced the Coen Brothers as a major creative force in American cinema. It established many of the thematic and stylistic elements that would define their subsequent work: eccentric characters, darkly comic scenarios, innovative visual storytelling, and a distinctive blend of genres that defied easy categorization. The film provided Nicolas Cage with his breakthrough leading role, launching a career that would span decades and include Academy Award-winning performances.

The film's success demonstrated that independent American cinema could achieve both critical acclaim and commercial viability while operating outside traditional Hollywood formulas. Its influence can be seen in subsequent generations of filmmakers who adopted similar approaches to genre deconstruction and character-driven storytelling. Raising Arizona also helped establish the Coen Brothers' relationship with major studios and independent distributors, paving the way for their later successes including Fargo and No Country for Old Men.

From a cultural perspective, the film captured a particular moment in American cinema during the late 1980s, when independent filmmakers were increasingly finding audiences willing to embrace unconventional storytelling. Its blend of absurdist humor, crime narrative, and emotional depth created a template that has been widely imitated but rarely matched.

## Notable For

- First major leading role for Nicolas Cage, launching his distinguished film career
- Second feature film from the Coen Brothers, establishing their signature style
- Multi-genre classification spanning seven distinct film categories
- Early example of the Coen Brothers' distinctive visual and narrative approach
- Significant sitelink count of 40, indicating substantial knowledge base integration

## Body

### Production and Creators

Raising Arizona was directed by the Coen Brothers, an American filmmaking duo who have since become internationally renowned for their distinctive approach to cinema. The film marked their second feature-length work, following their debut with Blood Simple (1984). The Coen Brothers are known for their unique blend of dark comedy, crime narratives, and innovative visual techniques, all of which are present in Raising Arizona.

The film starred Nicolas Cage in his first leading role. At the time of production, Cage was an emerging American actor who would go on to have a prolific career spanning multiple decades. His performance in Raising Arizona showcased the intense, unconventional acting style that would become his trademark, establishing him as one of American cinema's most distinctive performers.

### Genre Classification and Narrative

Raising Arizona defies simple genre categorization, simultaneously functioning as a comedy film, action film, crime film, black comedy film, comedy drama, thriller film, and crime comedy film. This genre-blending approach reflects the Coen Brothers' tendency to subvert audience expectations and create works that resist easy classification.

The narrative follows a recently paroled ex-con who, after discovering that his wife cannot conceive, attempts to steal a baby from a wealthy Arizona family. The plot combines elements of crime storytelling with absurdist comedy and moments of genuine emotional depth, creating a unique cinematic experience that balances humor with darker thematic material.

### Release and Distribution

The film was released in the United States in 1987 with multiple theatrical release dates: March 6, May 28, and March 13. These staggered release patterns were common for independent films during this period, allowing filmmakers to build word-of-mouth momentum and target specific markets. The 1987 release placed the film within a specific moment in American cinema, during the late 1980s independent film renaissance.

### Cultural Significance

Raising Arizona represents an important milestone in the development of American independent cinema. The film's success demonstrated that audiences were receptive to unconventional storytelling approaches and genre-defying narratives. It helped establish the Coen Brothers as major creative voices in American film and paved the way for their subsequent critically acclaimed works.

The film's influence extends beyond its immediate commercial and critical success. It has become a reference point for subsequent filmmakers exploring similar territory, and its distinctive visual style and narrative approach have been widely imitated. The Coen Brothers' formula of combining dark humor with crime elements, eccentric characters, and innovative storytelling, first fully realized in Raising Arizona, has become one of the most recognizable styles in contemporary American cinema.

### Knowledge Base Integration

Within structured knowledge bases, Raising Arizona is connected to multiple related entities. It is linked to the concept of film as a medium, various genre classifications, the United States as its country of origin, the Coen Brothers as its creators, and Nicolas Cage as its lead actor. The sitelink count of 40 indicates substantial integration within the Wikipedia knowledge graph, reflecting the film's cultural and historical significance.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/)
2. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/arizona-junior)
3. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-1500/)
4. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=1500.html)
5. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film535744.html)
6. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/raising-arizona)
7. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/fullcredits)
8. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. The Movie Database
11. Raising Arizona. Rotten Tomatoes
12. [Raising Arizona (1987)Release Info. IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/releaseinfo)
13. [Source](http://www.zelluloid.de/filme/index.php3?id=3134)
14. [Raising Arizona (1987): Release Info. IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/releaseinfo)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/parentalguide)
17. [Raising Arizona (1987): Technical Specifications. IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/technical)
18. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/technical/)
19. [Box Office Mojo](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0093822/)
20. Kinopoisk
21. [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093822/parentalguide/#certificates)
22. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/raising-arizona/)
23. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
24. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
25. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/65324)
26. Online-Filmdatenbank
27. Bechdel Test Movie List
28. mymovies.it
29. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/85A9-8964-E132-B6E7-293E-7)
30. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/85649)
31. TheTVDB
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