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The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski (1998)

tomatometer

80

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 83
Fresh: 66 | Rotten: 17

Typically stunning visuals and sharp dialogue from the Coen Brothers, brought to life with strong performances from Goodman and Bridges.

62

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Critic Reviews: 13
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 5

Typically stunning visuals and sharp dialogue from the Coen Brothers, brought to life with strong performances from Goodman and Bridges.

audience

93

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 305,096

My Rating

Movie Info

The plot of this Raymond Chandler-esque comedy crime caper from the Coen Brothers (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen) pivots around a case of mistaken identity complicated by extortion, double-crosses, deception, embezzlement, sex, pot, and gallons of White Russians (made with fresh cream, please). In 1991, unemployed '60s refugee Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) grooves into his laid-back Los Angeles lifestyle. One of the laziest men in LA, he enjoys hanging with his bowling buddies, pompous

R, 1 hr. 58 min.

Comedy

,

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Oct 27, 1998

Gramercy Pictures

The Big Lebowski Trailer & Photos

More Trailers and Videos (1)

Cast

Critic Reviews for The Big Lebowski

All Critics (83) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (17) | DVD (37)

Adds up to considerably less than the sum of its often scintillating parts.

November 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comments (20)
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The result is a lot of laughs and a feeling of awe toward the craftsmanship involved. I doubt that there'll be anything else like it the rest of this year.

April 27, 2007 Full Review Source: New York Observer | Comment
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A typical Coen brothers film is like no film you've ever seen.

April 25, 2003 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | Comment
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As tempting as it is to completely dismiss The Big Lebowski, it's hard to do because the Coens are able to create wickedly funny eccentrics and possess the ability to energize certain actors to inhabit them completely.

February 14, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comments (11)
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Big Lebowski is a mess. But what a glorious, wonderfully-entertaining mess it is.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews | Comment
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A genial spoof about life on the unhinged margins of L.A. that's a lot more carefully constructed than it pretends to be.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Salon.com | Comment
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

...yet another in a long line of promising yet disappointing comedies from Joel and Ethan Coen...

February 20, 2012 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | Comments (5)
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

One of the funniest, coolest, most absurd cult films ever made, and one of the best from the dynamic duo - Joel and Ethan Coen.

January 29, 2012 Full Review Source: IGN DVD | Comment
R. L. Shaffer
IGN DVD

It's essential.

August 31, 2011 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comment
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

It's the whole proud, embarrassing sociopolitical, cultural heap of American history-and the American Century in particular-in two fleet, funny hours. [Blu-ray]

August 22, 2011 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

The Coens concoct an absurdist Chandler-esque mystery, drop in a couple hilarious dream fantasies, and even bring in a drawling Sam Elliot to narrate this tall tale like a western myth.

August 21, 2011 Full Review Source: MSN.com | Comment
Sean Axmaker
MSN.com

There are few films that genuinely get better with each successive viewing. The Big Lebowski is one of them.

August 15, 2011 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Michael Nordine
Slant Magazine

[VIDEO] You'd never guess that the movie is loosely based on Raymond Chandler's detective novel "The Big Sleep."

July 23, 2011 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | Comment
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

I'm not a fan of the Coen Brothers, but this is an entertaining enough diversion.

June 9, 2011 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | Comment
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy

A wild ride for adults only.

December 18, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Heather Boerner
Common Sense Media

To what do we owe the pleasure of the Coen Brothers' new joie de vivre and love for their fellow man?

August 21, 2009 Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | Comment
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Stylish and wickedly funny black comedy illuminated by a great performance from Jeff Bridges, and loaded with all the Coen brothers' trademark wit and flair.

May 6, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment
Film4 Source: Film4

As with Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski gives us a protagonist whose dopey innocence seems to be his only protection from the real world.

November 17, 2007 Comment
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

If it's all supposed to be in fun, why does it feel so much like an insult?

November 7, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comments (38)
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Bridges does more with his deflated body language than many comedians can manage by chewing the furniture.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

If nothing else, the Dude speaks for me when appraises the music of the Eagles.

July 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | Comments (4)
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Big Lebowski

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The Dude abides. Not much else I can say but what a great movie this is. One of the all time great cult films.

March 23, 2007
jmanard52
John Manard

Super Reviewer

A perfect 10. That's a bowling joke. And a double meaning. This movie is a perfect 10. If this movie was a woman, I'd be kind of grossed out.... But a little attracted. But this movie is a movie, not a woman.

March 31, 2012
Kevin Cookman
Kevin Cookman

Super Reviewer

The Big Lebowski Quotes

View All

    1. Walter Sobchak: The ringer cannot look empty.
    – Submitted by Diego T (12 hours ago)
    1. Malibu Police Chief: I don't like your jerk-off name, I don't like your jerk-off face, I don't like your jerk-off behavior, and I don't like you... jerk-off.
    – Submitted by Diego T (12 hours ago)
    1. Walter Sobchak: Has the whole world gone CRAZY? Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules? You think I'm fuckin' around, MARK IT ZERO!
    – Submitted by Diego T (12 hours ago)
    1. Walter Sobchak: Look, Larry. Have you ever heard of Vietnam?
    – Submitted by Pete H (21 hours ago)
    1. The Dude: Ha hey, this is a private residence man.
    – Submitted by Pete H (1 day ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • The Big Lewbowski Quote-A-Long (DE)
  • The Big Lewbowski Quote-A-Long (UK)
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