Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Blues Brothers

  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 2h 13m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
197K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,285
116
John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers (1980)
Jake Blues, just released from prison, puts together his old band to save the Catholic home where he and his brother Elwood were raised.
Play trailer4:27
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
Jake Blues rejoins with his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, out... Read allJake Blues rejoins with his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.Jake Blues rejoins with his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
197K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,285
116
  • Director
    • John Landis
  • Writers
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • John Landis
  • Stars
    • John Belushi
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • Cab Calloway
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Landis
  • Writers
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • John Landis
  • Stars
    • John Belushi
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • Cab Calloway
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 465User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 4:27
    Official Trailer
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26
    Video 29:04
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26

    Photos246

    Aretha Franklin in The Blues Brothers (1980)
    John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Ray Charles in The Blues Brothers (1980)
    "Blues Brothers" Dan Aykroyd, Ray Charles
    "Blues Brothers" Dan Aykroyd, Ray Charles, John Belushi
    "Blues Brothers" Ray Charles
    "The Blues Brothers" Ray Charles, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi
    "The Blues Brothers" Dan Aykroyd, Ray Charles, John Belushi
    Henry Gibson in The Blues Brothers (1980)
    Henry Gibson in The Blues Brothers (1980)
    John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Aretha Franklin in The Blues Brothers (1980)
    Carrie Fisher at an event for The Blues Brothers (1980)
    The Blues Brothers (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Belushi
    John Belushi
    • Joliet Jake Bluesas Joliet Jake Blues
    Dan Aykroyd
    Dan Aykroyd
    • Elwood Bluesas Elwood Blues
    Cab Calloway
    Cab Calloway
    • Curtisas Curtis
    John Candy
    John Candy
    • Burton Merceras Burton Mercer
    Tom Erhart
    • Prison Guardas Prison Guard
    Gerald Walling
    • Prison Guardas Prison Guard
    • (as Gerald Walling S.J.)
    Walter Levine
    • Prison Guardas Prison Guard
    Frank Oz
    Frank Oz
    • Corrections Officeras Corrections Officer
    Kathleen Freeman
    Kathleen Freeman
    • Sister Mary Stigmataas Sister Mary Stigmata
    Donald Dunn
    Donald Dunn
    • Donald 'Duck' Dunnas Donald 'Duck' Dunn
    • (as Donald 'Duck' Dunn)
    Alonzo Atkins
    • Choirmasteras Choirmaster
    James Brown
    James Brown
    • Reverend Cleophus Jamesas Reverend Cleophus James
    Chaka Khan
    Chaka Khan
    • Choir Soloistas Choir Soloist
    Southern California Community Choir
    • Choiras Choir
    • (as James Cleveland's Southern California Community Choir)
    Armand Cerami
    • Trooper Danielas Trooper Daniel
    Steven Williams
    Steven Williams
    • Trooper Mountas Trooper Mount
    • (as Steve Williams)
    Stephen Bishop
    • Charming Trooperas Charming Trooper
    Carrie Fisher
    Carrie Fisher
    • Mystery Womanas Mystery Woman
    • Director
      • John Landis
    • Writers
      • Dan Aykroyd
      • John Landis
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    National Lampoon's Animal House
    7.4
    National Lampoon's Animal House
    Blues Brothers 2000
    4.9
    Blues Brothers 2000
    Trading Places
    7.5
    Trading Places
    Spaceballs
    7.1
    Spaceballs
    Airplane!
    7.7
    Airplane!
    Blazing Saddles
    7.7
    Blazing Saddles
    Wayne's World
    7.0
    Wayne's World
    Caddyshack
    7.2
    Caddyshack
    Stripes
    6.8
    Stripes
    Young Frankenstein
    8.0
    Young Frankenstein
    Planes, Trains & Automobiles
    7.6
    Planes, Trains & Automobiles
    The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
    7.6
    The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Permission to film in downtown Chicago was given after John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd offered to donate $50,000 to charity after filming.
    • Goofs
      When the Good Old Boys arrive at Bob's Country Bunker, it is clearly after closing time. No explanation is given as to why they are so late, and they would realize that the bar is now closed and would not expect to play their set.
    • Quotes

      Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses.

      Jake: Hit it.

    • Crazy credits
      When in Hollywood, Visit Universal Studios (Ask for Babs) [see also National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)]
    • Alternate versions
      The Collectors' Edition on DVD runs 18 minutes longer than the original release and includes the following expanded or newly added scenes:
      • The two Joilet guards come to get Jake in his cell and have trouble waking him up.
      • One additional line from Frank Oz as he rattles off Jake's material possessions.
      • An additional line for the Penguin regarding missions: "I'll be sent to the missions... Africa, Latin America... Korea."
      • Jake and Elwood discuss getting the money for the mission honestly outside of the Triple Rock Baptist Church.
      • The "The Old Landmark" number is considerably longer, incorporating more dance sequences and extra verses.
      • After the demolition derby in the shopping mall Elwood parks the Bluesmobile in a hiding place beside an electrical power box. (John Landis explains that Aykroyd thought this would show how the car gets its incredible endurance, but also goes on to explain that it never did make any sense, so the scene was cut.)
      • A few extra lines of dialog when Elwood and Jake rest in his apartment.
      • When the cops come to arrest Jake and Elwood in the motel, they first stop at the registration desk and intimidate the manager. They also greet Sam, who seems to be known by everyone.
      • An entire sequence with Elwood boosting chemicals from his day job, then quitting the job to become a priest, is restored.
      • After the above sequence, Jake and Elwood study a cigarette box with "the last known address of Bones Malone and Blue Lou Marini".
      • After getting the new address of Bones Malone, Elwoods thanks Ms Tarantino before leaving.
      • Jake has an extra line of dialog while pep-talking Murph and the Magictones at the Holiday Inn ("Now, who here at this table can honestly say that they played any finer or felt any better than they did when they played with the Blues Brothers?")
      • One line of dialog for Henry Gibson is restored for the Illinois Nazis scene at the bridge, with regards to the swastika ("The sacred and ancient symbol of your race since the beginning of time!")
      • The "Boom Boom" number is much longer, with extra shots of John Lee Hooker laughing and arguing with his band. Jake and Elwood watch for a moment then enter the Soul Food Cafe.
      • "Think" has extra verses and shots of dancing.
      • When the band arrives at Bob's Country Bunker, Bob hands the request list to Bones Malone, who looks at it blankly.
      • The "Theme from Rawhide" and "Stand By Your Man" numbers are slightly longer.
      • The original Picwood preview included another musical number, "Sink the Bismark", but that footage has been lost.
      • More lines of dialog for Maury Sline in the steam room scene, mostly regarding to the old gigs having been turned into (gay) discos.
      • When Jake fills up the tank for the Bluesmobile, he overfills it and gas spills over. When they peel out from the station, Elwood flicks a cigarette out of the window and causes the station to explode. (Landis now says he doesn't remember why this particular scene was cut.)
      • Before the sound-check Curtis (Cab Calloway) explains to the band that they need to do it for the kids, since the Blues Brothers will use the money raised from that concert to pay the taxes for a church. The look on the faces of the band after they hear it is priceless!
      • The "Minnie the Moocher" number is considerably extended.
      • As Jake and Elwood sneak into the show, Elwood takes the chemicals that he stole from the show and sneaks them into the tires of the cop cars.
      • Both the "Everybody Needs Someone to Love" and "Sweet Home Chicago" numbers are extended.
      • When Jake and Elwood sneak out, the gas in the cop cars tires reacts and causes the tires to explode on some to delay the police.
      • An alternate line of dialog for Carrie Fisher in the sewer when she confronts Jake, about how her father "used up her last favors" with the Mafia for her wedding. In the original release it was changed due to complaints of the Italian-American community.
      • The lengthy climactic chase to (and through) Chicago features many extra lines and shots of racing autos.
      • The "assault on Daley plaza" and the Assessor's Office scenes also feature extra lines and shots.
      • The "Jailhouse Rock" number is slightly longer.
      • As the prisoners riot at the end of the film, there is a brief shot of riot-geared police guards racing into the mess hall that has been added. It changes the end of the film subtly.
      • The "cast of characters" and end credits are extended to accommodate the new footage.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Stories Behind the Making of 'the Blues Brothers' (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Shake Your Moneymaker
      Written by Elmore James (uncredited)

      Performed by Elmore James

      Courtesy of Trip Records

    User reviews465

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Wild "musical comedy" offers long-lasting fun and excitement.
    What an impressive following this large movie is recently having! It would've been just another cult classic to begin with! THE BLUES BROTHERS is easily the best film collaboration with Dan ("Dry White Toast") Aykroyd, and John ("4 Fried Chickens & A Coke") Belushi. While it gets too overly far-fetched with the action plot, there is reason to sit back and chow down on the comical hilarity and nonsense thrills that only John Landis can master perfectly into a comedy.

    This is such a big deal after all because it offers a walloping combination of soul tunes, car chases, special effects, and crazy characters like female assassin Carrie Fisher and Nazi leader Henry Gibson. Put everything else together and you have one of the wildest experiences ever. If you want to know why it's so wild, the supporting cast of dancers, prison inmates, and law enforcers really shows that the movie itself is very hard at work! The music was supposed to be the main attraction in the first place, with real-life singers James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Cab Calloway. They add to the theme of this "bluesy" movie with their own style of performing familiar tunes. The real stars are Aykroyd and Belushi who can be both funny and talented on and off the stage. Probably the duo's all-time best performance is the singing numbers. But after the singing, we await the sudden amazement of car crashes and smashes that make up the excitement, with the largest impact ever since the 1974 cult classic GONE IN 60 SECONDS. It certainly has "Made In Chicago" stamped all over this picture! There are tons of entertaining moments that never go blind. Just sit back and watch it all go boom!

    Aykroyd and Belushi would have fared well in GHOSTBUSTERS had there been more movies produced, but this remains to be THE comedy classic for the wild SNL pair. DVD owners must not miss this one as it makes a valuable addition to your library. It's not really the masterpiece of a genius, but it is a good-natured effort in using different film genres in one complete package. Definitely recommended for Landis lovers out there.
    helpful•42
    20
    • emm
    • May 14, 1999

    FAQ12

    • How the heck many cars were trashed during the filming of this movie?
    • Why was the entire band in prison at the end of the movie?
    • Jake and Elwood left the concert early when it was dark. Why did it take them until after the sun came up to travel a little over 100 miles to Chicago?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 20, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Return of the Blues Brothers
    • Filming locations
      • Dixie Square Mall - 151st Street & Dixie Highway, Harvey, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $27,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,229,890
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,858,152
      • Jun 22, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $115,229,890
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 13 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd in The Blues Brothers (1980)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Blues Brothers (1980) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in July
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Hollywood Romances: Our Favorite Couples
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.