Ranking The Coen Brothers Movies From Worst To Best

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is unusual in this list in that it is not in fact a true feature film, but more a collection of short films which all fit into the same Western motif. The film is the most recent effort to date by the Coen’s and features six short stories of varying themes that are connected by the setting.

At its best, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is some of the finest work the Coens have ever done (Tom Waits’ grizzled prospector digging for gold a particular highlight) and is as beautiful as it is poignant throughout. The similar setting allows the films to feel connected and makes it feel like a whole piece.

Perhaps the only thing keeping The Ballad of Buster Scruggs from achieving a higher placing on this list is just the inconsistency in the quality of the tales it tells. The eponymous Ballad of Buster Scruggs is entertaining no doubt, but does not hold up to the exceptional quality of story of the aforementioned Tom Waits played prospector or James Franco’s amiable outlaw. However this does not stop The Ballad of Buster Scruggs from being a fantastic collection of shorts worthy of the good Coen name.