The Big Kahuna

Play trailer

The Big Kahuna

R

Released Apr 28, 2000

1h 30m

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

78 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Wonderful adaptation of the stage play.

Read Critics Reviews

Will Self

London Evening Standard

It doesn't matter how much he pirouettes, paces, prowls and postures, there's something just a tad too effete about Spacey's performance to make Larry as dangerous a presence as he needs to be.

Dec 26, 2017

Full Review

Paul Tatara

CNN.com

You probably don't need to run out to a theater to see The Big Kahuna.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Jack Mathews

New York Daily News

The performances are first-rate, particularly that of DeVito as The Big Kahuna's version of Willy Loman.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

David Thorpe

Out Magazine

[Facinelli's] perfect performance boldly proves that a handsome young man is a symbol of real hope, even to straight guys.

May 27, 2022

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

Sometimes profanely funny, sometimes intensely dramatic, The Big Kahuna is a richly amusing and provocatively insightful film that builds to a profoundly powerful cumulative impact.

Aug 6, 2014

Full Review

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Read all reviews

Godfrey D

Its a really good movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Bulgantamir B

The director is a good person with experience

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/11/24

Full Review

Бавуу Э

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie with an amazing performance from Kevin spacey - I miss him . Movie had strong glengary glenross vibes 4.5/5

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/21

Full Review

Audience Member

A great film with a noticeably above average performance from Kevin Spacey. Hopefully he’ll get back to his acting days soon because no matter what you think of him personally, he will always be one of the best actors of this century

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/05/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Slow paced and thoughtful, it has the marks of a stage play turned into a movie, which it is. The three main characters are drawn well and everyone else is landscape. A decent movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Swanbeck

Director

Kevin Spacey

Larry Mann

Danny DeVito

Phil Cooper

Peter Facinelli

Bob Walker

Paul Dawson

Bellboy

George F. Miller

Hotel patron

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - In Search of the Grand Kahuna

2:28

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - Big Shots

3:03

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - Bigger Than God

3:00

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - An Honest Man

3:22

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - Dreams of God

3:05

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - We Talked About Christ

3:43

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - Why God Created Wives

2:03

The Big Kahuna: Official Clip - B.S. Detector

2:47

View more videos

Bulworth

77%

68%

Bulworth

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Bulworth

Dinner Rush

91%

85%

Dinner Rush

Watchlist

Outside Providence

52%

65%

Outside Providence

Watchlist

Primary Colors

80%

64%

Primary Colors

Watchlist

American Beauty

87%

93%

American Beauty

Watchlist

TRAILER

for American Beauty

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

Director: John Swanbeck
Producer: Elie Samaha, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Stevens
Screenwriter: Roger Rueff, Roger Rueff
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Franchise Pictures, Trigger Street Productions
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.2M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now