Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards 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
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • 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 Big Lebowski

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
827K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
453
11
Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (1998)
Theatrical Trailer from Gramercy Pictures
Play trailer0:31
4 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyCrime

Ultimate L.A. slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for a rug ruined by debt collectors, enlisting his bowling buddies for help whi... Read allUltimate L.A. slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for a rug ruined by debt collectors, enlisting his bowling buddies for help while trying to find the millionaire's missing wife.Ultimate L.A. slacker Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for a rug ruined by debt collectors, enlisting his bowling buddies for help while trying to find the millionaire's missing wife.

  • Directors
    • Joel Coen
    • Ethan Coen
  • Writers
    • Ethan Coen
    • Joel Coen
  • Stars
    • Jeff Bridges
    • John Goodman
    • Julianne Moore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    827K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    453
    11
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen
    • Writers
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • Stars
      • Jeff Bridges
      • John Goodman
      • Julianne Moore
    • 1.4KUser reviews
    • 209Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #207
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 18 nominations

    Videos4

    The Big Lebowski
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch The Big Lebowski
    A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    Clip 1:56
    Watch A Guide to the Films of the Coen Brothers
    The Big Lebowski: Bowling With 'The Jesus'
    Clip 4:25
    Watch The Big Lebowski: Bowling With 'The Jesus'
    The Big Lebowski: Cast Reunion
    Featurette 2:38
    Watch The Big Lebowski: Cast Reunion

    Photos167

    Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Jeff Bridges and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Steve Buscemi, Jeff Bridges, and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Jeff Bridges and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Ethan Coen and Joel Coen in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Jeff Bridges and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Jeff Bridges and Sam Elliott in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    John Turturro in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Steve Buscemi, Jeff Bridges, and John Goodman in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Peter Stormare, Flea, and Torsten Voges in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • The Dude
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • Walter Sobchak
    Julianne Moore
    Julianne Moore
    • Maude Lebowski
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Theodore Donald 'Donny' Kerabatsos
    David Huddleston
    David Huddleston
    • The Big Lebowski
    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    Philip Seymour Hoffman
    • Brandt
    Tara Reid
    Tara Reid
    • Bunny Lebowski
    Philip Moon
    Philip Moon
    • Treehorn Thug #1
    Mark Pellegrino
    Mark Pellegrino
    • Treehorn Thug #2
    Peter Stormare
    Peter Stormare
    • Nihilist #1, Uli Kunkel…
    Flea
    Flea
    • Nihilist #2
    Torsten Voges
    Torsten Voges
    • Nihilist #3
    Jimmie Dale Gilmore
    • Smokey
    Jack Kehler
    Jack Kehler
    • Dude's Landlord
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Jesus Quintana
    James G. Hoosier
    • Quintana's Partner
    Carlos Leon
    Carlos Leon
    • Maude's Thug #1
    Terrence Burton
    • Maude's Thug #2
    • (as Terrance Burton)
    • Directors
      • Joel Coen
      • Ethan Coen(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Ethan Coen
      • Joel Coen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Fargo
    8.1
    Fargo
    No Country for Old Men
    8.2
    No Country for Old Men
    Snatch
    8.2
    Snatch
    Trainspotting
    8.1
    Trainspotting
    Gran Torino
    8.1
    Gran Torino
    Reservoir Dogs
    8.3
    Reservoir Dogs
    The Big Lebowski 2
    2.2
    The Big Lebowski 2
    Full Metal Jacket
    8.3
    Full Metal Jacket
    Kill Bill: Vol. 1
    8.2
    Kill Bill: Vol. 1
    A Clockwork Orange
    8.3
    A Clockwork Orange
    There Will Be Blood
    8.2
    There Will Be Blood
    Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
    8.1
    Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, John Goodman stated that The Dude referring to The Big Lebowski as a "human paraquat" was one of the only improvised lines to make it into the final film. Virtually every other line, including every "man" and "dude," was scripted.
    • Goofs
      When The Dude is at Jackie Treehorn's and he rubs the pad of paper with a pencil revealing Treehorn's drawing of a naked man, The Dude tears the page off the pad and quickly crumples and shoves the paper into his pocket. Later while in the Chief of Police of Malibu's office and the Chief is going through The Dude's wallet, the same paper he tore off of Treehorn's pad is neatly folded in the wallet, with no sign of previous crumpling.
    • Quotes

      The Dude: [repeated line by The Dude and others] That rug really tied the room together.

    • Crazy credits
      Baby Wranglers: Howls/Giggles/Marmots
    • Alternate versions
      The version which premiered on USA Network in September, 2000 has been severely cut (aside from the usual edits for content). Among the story lines excised are virtually all the scenes involving Jesus Quintana (John Turturro), the private eye from Minnesota (Jon Polito) looking for Bunny Lebowski and the scene where Maud is trying to conceive The Dude's child.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Making of 'the Big Lebowski' (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Tumbling Tumbleweeds
      Written by Bob Nolan

      Performed by Sons of the Pioneers

      Published by Williamson Music Company / Music of the West c/o The Songwriters Guild of America (ASCAP)

      Courtesy of the RCA Records Label of BMG Entertainment

    User reviews1.4K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    The Deadbeat Lebowski
    How can anyone not dig The Dude? In a world where energetic go-getters are idolised and looked up to, it's nice to know that there are fat, indolent, scruffy, pot smoking, beer drinking bums out there taking it easy. Or they would be if people would leave their rugs alone…

    The Big Lebowski is a film where the plot is entirely inconsequential; it doesn't matter. It's just a mere device to set The Dude on his way. The joy is in watching him interact with all the weirdos in Los Angeles and in listening to the dialogue – the script is the most quotable since Withnail and I. Therefore it's the perfect film to just sit back and absorb.

    Picking a favourite scene in a film that is jam packed with great moments and wonderful lines of dialogue is a near impossibility, but you'd be hard pressed to beat the scene with the 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 behaviour. And I don't like you…jerk-off." And then to cap it off he throws his mug at The Dude's head. Brilliant! And making it even funnier is the scene that immediately follows it where the taxi driver throws The Dude out of his cab.

    But another favourite is Jesus. He only has two scenes but both are hilarious. (I hope the Coens make 'The Passion of the Jesus.') And I love the flashback where you see him knocking on doors to tell his neighbours that he's a pederast. Especially good is the way that a large, bearded man with a dirty shirt answers the door (I always crack up at the breath Jesus takes when he sees the man – I also noticed, for the first time, that Jesus in that flashback is visibly showing in his tight jeans; he's not a small guy).

    But then there's the scene where The Dude first meets Maude Lebowski (excellently played by Julianne Moore). "I'm sorry if your stepmother is a nympho, but…" And I also like the little dig at the porno film they're watching: "The plot is ludicrous." But the comment isn't really aimed at the porno film; the film is talking about itself. It knows the plot is nonsensical but it also knows that it doesn't matter – it's best to just let it wash over you.

    Mentioning porno has reminded me of Jackie Treehorn. Is there a better visual gag in modern cinema than The Dude scratching a notepad for a message or telephone number only to find a cartoon of a man with a gigantic erection? Well, maybe there is, because even earlier in the film there's the moment where The Dude spends a long time making a homemade device to keep intruders out only for him to forget the fact that his door opens outwards instead of inwards – he nails a bit of wood to the floor, props a chair up to the door handle to keep people out and the very second he walks away, the door opens and the chair comes tumbling down. Pure genius!

    And Jackie Treehorn's brainless goons are brilliant too. "You're not dealing with morons here." Oh yes we are. But the film's all the better for it.

    But I'm not sure what my favourite line in the film would be – again it's almost impossible to pick just one. But "I still jerk-off manually" would have to be up there, as would virtually every line Walter spews ("The Chinaman is not the issue…"). However, if I was forced (at gunpoint) to choose, I'd have to go with a piece of Dude wisdom: "Fortunately, I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regiment to keep my mind, you know, uh, limber." And The Dude's reaction when Maude tells him that she's trying to conceive is magnificent.

    Yet another brilliant scene is the Larry scene. Walter and The Dude are trying to get information out of some kid but the kid just stares impassively at them, so Walter destroys his car – or what he thinks is his car. Now at this moment I could quote the real dialogue, but the TV version dialogue is perhaps even better. "Do you see what happens, Larry? Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?" It's even better than: "Fun you, melon farmer!"

    Then there are the nihilists. "We believe in nothing, Lebowski. Nothing. And tomorrow we come back and we cut off your johnson." But try as they might to intimidate, the only scary thing about the nihilists is the techno music they listen to. Well, that and their obsession with the male member.

    But I could quote lines from The Big Lewbowski all day. I just dig the film so much because it puts a goofy grin on my face; its stupidity is remarkably intelligent. Plus, in the end, it's actually quite heartfelt – if the film's about anything, it's about friendship…well, that and smoking pot, drinking beer, bowling and keeping hold of your johnson. Yeah, the world's a better place with The Dude in it.
    helpful•66
    40
    • Ricky_Roma__
    • Oct 5, 2005

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ5

    • What is micturationed?
    • Is "The Big Lebowski" based on a book?
    • What's that song that is heard throughout the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Hebrew
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Bá Tước Lebowski
    • Filming locations
      • Ralphs Supermarket, South Pasadena, California, USA(opening sequence)
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Working Title Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $18,254,458
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,533,844
      • Mar 8, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $47,014,464
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski (1998)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of The Big Lebowski (1998) in Mexico?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.