Overview
A laid-back slacker finds himself embroiled in a web of chaos and deception over a ruined rug.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- irreverent
- surreal
- cult movie night
- comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a shaggy, divisive crime comedy whose rambling comic invention and Jeff Bridges's laconic performance generate enduring cult appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Dude becomes entangled in kidnapping, extortion, and deception while primarily seeking rug reimbursement and preserving his relaxed routine.
Los Angeles bowling culture, wealthy eccentrics, nihilists, and countercultural figures form a bizarre neo-american social landscape.
The Dude's pursuit of compensation for his ruined rug initiates the investigation and repeatedly anchors his sense of injustice.
The mistaken identity case expands into kidnappers, a porn producer, nihilists, and surreal detours while retaining noir-like criminal intrigue.
Films like The Big Lebowski, and why
Fargo
shared shaggy crime plotting, absurdist humor, eccentric characters, and a laconic outsider protagonist
Inherent Vice
shared neo-noir mystery structure, offbeat comedy, stylized dialogue, and an aimless central investigator
Burn After Reading
shared Coen brothers absurdism, mistaken identities, criminal entanglements, and eccentric Americana
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
shared irreverent crime comedy, cult appeal, heightened dialogue, and colorful underworld characters
Movie Details
- Directors
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
- Release Date
- 1998-03-06
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (12517)
Cast
- Jeff Bridges
- John Goodman
- Julianne Moore
- Steve Buscemi
- David Huddleston
- Philip Seymour Hoffman
- Tara Reid
- Philip Moon
- Mark Pellegrino
- Peter Stormare
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Big Lebowski about?
- A laid-back Los Angeles bowler is dragged into a convoluted kidnapping mystery after criminals mistake him for a wealthy namesake.
- What is The Big Lebowski like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Big Lebowski as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Big Lebowski violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Big Lebowski as mild.
- What did critics think of The Big Lebowski?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a shaggy, divisive crime comedy whose rambling comic invention and Jeff Bridges's laconic performance generate enduring cult appeal.
- Which films are like The Big Lebowski?
- Films with a similar feel include Fargo, Inherent Vice, Burn After Reading, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
- How long is The Big Lebowski?
- The Big Lebowski runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Big Lebowski?
- In United States, The Big Lebowski is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
