O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Kernel Score: 84% · 4,506 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Released: 2000-08-30
Runtime: 107 minutes
Is O Brother, Where Art Thou? worth watching?
Worth watching. A loose, funny Depression-era road comedy about three escaped convicts, with a folk and bluegrass soundtrack that does a lot of the work. It's more shaggy and whimsical than the Coens' darker crime films.
Watch it if you
- like the Coen brothers' offbeat humour
- enjoy music-driven period pieces
- want a laid-back comedy with odd characters
Skip it if you
- need a tight plot
- expect the Coens' bleaker, more violent side
Best for: Easygoing night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou?
- Stream: Prime Video
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In the deep south during the 1930s, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that this PG-13 comedy follows escaped convicts on a treasure hunt with some fraud and seduction themes.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes chase sequences and depictions of a lawman pursuing escaped convicts.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: A little — Depression-era setting includes some period-typical drinking.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like O Brother, Where Art Thou?
If you liked O Brother, Where Art Thou?, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Big Lebowski (1998) — 89%: Another Coen comedy full of eccentric characters and quotable lines.
- Fargo (1996) — 86%: Coen crime story mixing dark humour with a strong sense of place.
- Barton Fink (1991) — 85%: Coen oddity that's funny, strange and stubbornly its own thing.
- The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) — 86%: Quieter Coen crime tale with great period atmosphere.
- Some Like It Hot (1959) — 89%: Classic comedy of men on the run in a tight spot.
- No Country for Old Men (2007) — 94%: Coen at their most severe, if you want the darker side.
Director
Cast
- George Clooney as Everett
- John Turturro as Pete Hogwallop
- Tim Blake Nelson as Delmar O'Donnell
- John Goodman as Big Dan Teague
- Holly Hunter as Penny
- Chris Thomas King as Tommy Johnson
- Charles Durning as Pappy O'Daniel
- Del Pentecost as Junior O'Daniel
- Michael Badalucco as George Nelson
- J.R. Horne as Pappy's Staff
O Brother, Where Art Thou? FAQ
Is O Brother, Where Art Thou? worth watching?
Worth watching. A loose, funny Depression-era road comedy about three escaped convicts, with a folk and bluegrass soundtrack that does a lot of the work. It's more shaggy and whimsical than the Coens' darker crime films.
Where can I watch O Brother, Where Art Thou??
In the US you can stream O Brother, Where Art Thou? on Prime Video and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is O Brother, Where Art Thou? OK for kids?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that this PG-13 comedy follows escaped convicts on a treasure hunt with some fraud and seduction themes.
What movies are like O Brother, Where Art Thou??
If you liked O Brother, Where Art Thou?, try The Big Lebowski, Fargo, Barton Fink and The Man Who Wasn't There.