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The Big Lebowski

Play trailer 2:33 Poster for The Big Lebowski R Released Mar 6, 1998 1h 57m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 192 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski who insists on being called "the Dude," a laid-back, easygoing burnout who happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife owes a lot of dangerous people a whole bunch of money -- resulting in the Dude having his rug soiled, sending him spiraling into the Los Angeles underworld.
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The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski

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Critics Consensus

The Big Lebowski's shaggy dog story won't satisfy everybody, but those who abide will be treated to a rambling succession of comic delights, with Jeff Bridges' laconic performance really tying the movie together.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Romney Sight & Sound The Big Lebowski is at once utterly inconsequential and a blow for a cinematic slacker aesthetic. Jun 8, 2023 Full Review Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting 25 years later, the movie where every detail matters and doesn’t matter at all, is as hilarious as ever – and more poignant, man. Rated: 5/5 Mar 23, 2023 Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post With their inspired, absurdist taste for weird, peculiar Americana, the Coens have defined and mastered their own bizarre subgenre. No one does it like them and, it almost goes without saying, no one does it better. Jan 24, 2023 Full Review Cory Woodroof For the Win (USA Today) It’s just one of the most original films ever made, perhaps the best world the Coens imagined and the one filled with its best characters. Feb 22, 2024 Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times Bridge's thespian mastery, via the slacker zeitgeist of our time, converts The Dude's funniest lines into a readily-understood language of everyday desperation. This ultimately begat the religion of Dudeism. Which makes 'Lebowski' an important movie. Rated: 4/5 Apr 21, 2023 Full Review Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine The Coen Brothers introduced the world to The Dude, Jesus, Walter, Maude, and a fantasia of burnt-out ex-hippie in a Raymond Chandler plot. (25th anniversary) Rated: 5/5 Mar 19, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alex K. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! THE THEATER WAS FULL OF PEOPLE!!! THE BEST COMEDY EVER!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review David M A classic and a must-watch at least once a year. First time seeing in a theatre! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/23/22 Full Review Judith R The Big Lebowski was a funny movie to watch, it covered lots of different aspects of what a good movie is, I loved how it all started because ‘dude’ which was a mistake of the real big lebowski which was a powerful man, it all started because burglars entered the “dudes” house and completely trashed his beautiful rug and proceeded to urinate on his rug then and dump his head in a toilet. The film was always moving forward and so many things happened to the main characters that the whole time I felt like I was on a run and felt like one thing and another thing just kept coming up. I also really liked the parts where he would get knocked out and would fly to random places and it just seemed like he would go through a whole adventure. The movie reminded me of the movies dumb and dumber as I felt like there was always something to laugh about and just enjoy in the show. When the dude kept going back and his horrible scenes just brought pain and more pain then just leaving it alone. Soon after the piss on his rug ‘dude’ goes back to get a brand new rug but then is put in more problems. I can see how it is a cult film because no way is this a bad movie at all, I see it as just a movie that stays on amazon prime or a streaming platform like that and not progress at all although it did bad I don’t see why I just think the actors were lower lever but it is definitely a movie that I would watch if I didn’t have anything to watch. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/21/24 Full Review Avery C This week’s movie of the week was the classic The Big Lebowski (1988), directed by Joel Coen and starring the awesome Jeff Bridges and John Goodman—two actors I love, so it’s no surprise I was into this movie. From the jump, the movie grabs your attention, diving straight into the action. It’s basically a comedic detective drama built on one giant misunderstanding that snowballs into even more misunderstandings, completely flipping the main character’s life upside down. The whole thing is ridiculous in the best way, especially since all The Dude really cares about is getting his rug back. That absurd focus makes the movie even funnier. The trio of The Dude (Jeff Bridges), Walter (John Goodman), and Donny are comedy gold. The Dude’s chill, “whatever happens, happens” attitude, Walter’s over-the-top intensity, and Donny’s lovable cluelessness make every scene hilarious. The movie’s quirky humor, sharp dialogue, and goofy yet oddly relatable story keep you entertained the whole two hours. It’s also crazy how much this film has become a cult classic—still loved by generations decades later. The stoner comedy vibes are strong, and the visuals are great, but it’s not just for stoners. Even if that’s not your thing, the jokes and cast make it worth watching. The soundtrack is a vibe, the characters are unforgettable, and it’s the kind of movie that sticks with you. This movie will definitely make you giggle and I would totally watch it again or recommend to a friend! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/21/24 Full Review Andy R This movie was hilarious. All the characters in the movie were extremely funny. The fact that this movie leads up to a man wanting his rug back is so funny. The trio the Dude, Walter, and Donny are pure comedy gold. The movie was just full of laughs and it all started over a rug which is super absurd. It's so funny that the dude is always just staying chill like if he was high the whole time or he's just a chill guy. The dialog in the movies is just right, the humor is perfect and the characters are unforgettable. If you're looking for a movie that's hilarious, chaotic, and surprisingly deep under all the silliness, this one’s for you. The movie can be quite confusing but its worth the watch. I never really understand why Walter was always trying to prove that he is always right. At some point in the movie you're just sitting there and thinking whats the plot of this movie. I think the film wanted to leave us with the message that we should never retaliate in anger and to be more reasonable and patient about stuff. The soundtrack in this film was also really good. I can see why they call this film a classic, you really get drawn to the characters as each one differs in personality. I’ll definitely be watching this movie over again because its the kind of film that sticks with you. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone who appreciates quirky humor. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review Kelly A The Coen Brothers’ Gigantic Cult Classic film The Big Lebowski is not just a film; it’s a way of life. How can one ignore the endless quibble and quotes, the dialogue and the Mad Lebowski Character, it is the oddness and the deep absurdity of the film that makes it interesting. It is a comedy that is said to buck all narrative conventions as chaos is its form of joy. The centerpiece of the movie would undoubtedly be Jeffrey ‘Dude’ Lebowski played by the great Jeff Bridges, an extremely calm person who somehow gets embroiled in an unusual kidnapping plot. The Dude’s life philosophy; ‘we just go about doing things’, is quite amusing and rather profound on some levels. The madness is rubberized by Bridges’ lackadaisical performance which enables one to relate to Dude, however insane the plot gets. The Big Lebowski has jokes that are nonsensical and calm at the same time. The Coens bring the lightning in their films as shown through John Goodman and his violent role of Walter Sobchak and the non threatening Carvalho in Steve Buscemi's portrayal of Donny. The combination of bumbling between the three is always fun to watch along with the Coens style quirky humor and situational comedy. Whether it's because of its humor, characters, or philosophical undertones, The Big Lebowski is one of those films that pays back with repeated viewings. It's an experience as much as a story, and for those willing to embrace its weirdness, it's an unforgettable ride. It's safe to say this film is cool dude! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Big Lebowski

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Cast & Crew

The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Bunch of Amateurs The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Bunch of Amateurs 2:12 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - These Men Are Cowards The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - These Men Are Cowards 2:47 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Donny's Ashes The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Donny's Ashes 2:14 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - The Bereaved The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - The Bereaved 1:41 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - I'm the Dude The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - I'm the Dude 2:57 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Is This Your Homework, Larry? The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Is This Your Homework, Larry? 2:25 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - You're Entering a World of Pain The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - You're Entering a World of Pain 2:21 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - He Peed On My Rug The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - He Peed On My Rug 2:12 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Nobody F's With Jesus The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Nobody F's With Jesus 2:22 The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Where's the Money, Lebowski? The Big Lebowski: Official Clip - Where's the Money, Lebowski? 1:48 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Jeff Bridges plays Jeff Lebowski who insists on being called "the Dude," a laid-back, easygoing burnout who happens to have the same name as a millionaire whose wife owes a lot of dangerous people a whole bunch of money -- resulting in the Dude having his rug soiled, sending him spiraling into the Los Angeles underworld.
Director
Joel Coen
Producer
Ethan Coen
Screenwriter
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Distributor
Gramercy Pictures
Production Co
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating
R (Drug Content|Brief Violence|Pervasive Strong Language|Sexuality)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.4M
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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