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The Big Lebowski (1998)

 -  Comedy | Crime  -  6 March 1998 (USA)
8.2
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Ratings: 8.2/10 from 316,081 users   Metascore: 69/100
Reviews: 937 user | 207 critic | 22 from Metacritic.com

"Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.

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Title: The Big Lebowski (1998)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Woo, Treehorn Thug
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Nihilist #1, Uli Kunkel / 'Karl Hungus'
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Nihilist #2, Kieffer
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Nihilist #3, Franz
Jimmie Dale Gilmore ...
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Marty
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Storyline

When "The Dude" Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, two thugs urinate on his rug to coerce him into paying a debt he knows nothing about. While attempting to gain recompense for the ruined rug from his wealthy counterpart, he accepts a one-time job with high pay-off. He enlists the help of his bowling buddy, Walter, a gun-toting Jewish-convert with anger issues. Deception leads to more trouble, and it soon seems that everyone from porn empire tycoons to nihilists want something from The Dude. Written by J. Lake

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

It takes guys as simple as the Dude and Walter to make a story this complicated... and they'd really rather be bowling. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Crime

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive strong language, drug content, sexuality and brief violence | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

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Language:

| | |

Release Date:

6 March 1998 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Big Lebowski  »

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$5,200,000 (Non-US) (24 April 1998)

Gross:

£1,462,880 (UK) (19 June 1998)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

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Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In an early draft of the script, The Dude's source of income was revealed. He was an heir to the inventor of the Rubik's Cube. It was Joel Coen's idea to drop this and never say. See more »

Goofs

When the nihilists are ordering pancakes in the restaurant, the female nihilist orders "Heidelbeer Pfannkuchen" (blueberry pancakes) which one of the other nihilists incorrectly translates to the waitress as "lingonberry pancakes." (This may be because the nihilists don't care enough to get her order right.) See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
The Stranger: [voiceover] Way out west there was this fella... fella I wanna tell ya about. Fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least that was the handle his loving parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. Mr. Lebowski, he called himself "The Dude". Now, "Dude" - that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I ...
See more »

Crazy Credits

Baby Wranglers: Howls/Giggles/Marmots See more »


Soundtracks

"Mucha Muchacha"
Written by Juan García Esquivel (as Juan Garcia Esquivel)
Performed by Juan García Esquivel (as Esquivel)
Published by MCA-Duchess Music Corporation (BMI)
Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Coen brothers unabashedly out of control! A plethora of fun!
17 August 1998 | by (Bethlehem, PA) – See all my reviews

The Coen brothers are up there with my very favorite filmmakers (Scorsese, Kubrick, Carpenter). I am very fond of their work. Throughout their irreverent career, they have explored different subjects and themes. Their best stories evolve from kidnapping schemes in films like "Raising Arizona " and "Fargo", one of my very favorites. I thought that film was fervently free. I was so ever wrong. It's as if the Coen Brothers have celebrated their complete breakthrough success (Academy Award winners), and now are willing to do whatever they please. "The Big Lebowski" is a film so meandering, so wonderfully novel, that I found myself missing the many other sporadic jokes as I was heaving from laughter. The film is basically about mistaken identity, eccentric characters, and a soiled rug. This film extols the bowler, the allies, even the pins. We experience an actual bowling ball POV, as the Dude (Jeff Bridges) hallucinates. This film has nihilists, feminists, millionares, paedophiles, drugged out hippies, underachieving students, incompetent criminals, pornographers and 'Nam veterans. This movie is open to anything , anything... Some people are turned off by absurd looniness, because it's so grandiosely different. Yet who couldn't chuckle, if not explode, when a bowler dressed in a tight purple suit licks a bowling ball's finger hole, and the camera pans down to reveal his name as Jesus! I will disclose no more, but urgently recommend you to traverse to your nearest video abode and rent this true escapists' feature. Abandon all solemn inhibitons, though! One can not keep a straight face whilst watching.


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