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The Big Lebowski (1998)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 7.2/10
Reviews Counted: 82
Fresh: 66 | Rotten: 16

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

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.

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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

Directed By: Joel Coen , Ethan Coen

Written By: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

In Theaters: Mar 6, 1998 Wide

On DVD: Oct 27, 1998

Gramercy Pictures

The Big Lebowski Trailer & Photos

Cast

Jeff Bridges
The Dude
John Goodman
Walter Sobchak
Julianne Moore
Maude Lebowski
Steve Buscemi
Donny
David Huddleston
The Big Lebowski
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Brandt
Peter Stormare
Nihilist
Flea
Nihilist
Leon Russom
Malibu Police Chief
Sam Elliott
The Stranger
Tara Reid
Bunny Lebowski
John Turturro
Jesus Quintana
David Thewlis
Knox Harrington
Ben Gazzara
Jackie Treehorn
Aimee Mann
Nihilist
Dom Irrera
Tony the Chauffeur
Jon Polito
Private Snoop
Asia Carrera
Peter Siragusa
Christian Clemenson
Jack Kehler
Philip Moon
James G. Hoosier
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Richard Gant
Mark Pellegrino
Paris Themmen
Torsten Voges

Critic Reviews for The Big Lebowski

All Critics (82) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (16) | DVD (37)

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

November 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comments (15)

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Top 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

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

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 (7)

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top 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

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

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

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 (31)

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 (3)

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

One of the funniest films made.

July 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald

| Comment

Sacha Molitorisz

Sydney Morning Herald

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

John Manard

Super Reviewer

It's a fact that the 1990's wasn't the best decade for witty and smart comedy movies, but The Big Lebowski was an exception. It's a real shame the critics didn't embrace it because it's truly deserving of it's cult status. There's excellent chemistry between Bridges, Goodman and Buscemi and it's surprising "mumble"

January 30, 2012

Michael Miller

Super Reviewer

The Big Lebowski Quotes

View All

1. The Dude: Obviously, you are not a golfer!
– Submitted by Ravi P (4 days ago)
1. Bunny Lebowski: Uli doesn't care about anything. He's a Nihilist!
2. The Dude: Ah, that must be exhausting!
– Submitted by Ravi P (4 days ago)
1. Walter Sobchak: Smoky this is not Nam this is Bowling there are rules.
– Submitted by Daniel R (11 days ago)
1. Maude Lebowski: Vagina.
– Submitted by Lucas M (25 days ago)
1. Jesus Quintana: Nobody fucks with the Jesus.
– Submitted by Lucas M (25 days ago)

Character	Quote
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