The Big Lebowski (1998)
Times like these call for a Big Lebowski.
Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire, and finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes, and large sums of money.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 6 March 1998 |
| Genre | Comedy, Crime |
| Director | Joel Coen |
| Starring | Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Julianne Moore |
| Runtime | 117 min |
| Rated | R |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.5/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 79% · Metacritic 71/100 · TMDB users 7.8/10 |
| Budget | $15 million |
Where to watch The Big Lebowski
We could not find The Big Lebowski on any of the subscription services we track in the US right now. That changes often; open it in Binge Boss and we will show you where it lands.
Where to watch The Big Lebowski in 12 other countries
| Country | Streaming on (price a month) |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Max €10.99 |
| Denmark | Viaplay 289 kr DKK |
| Finland | Viaplay €13.99 |
| France | Canal+ €19.99, Max €9.99 |
| Iceland | Viaplay |
| India | Jiohotstar |
| Italy | Skygo, Now TV |
| Japan | U-NEXT ¥2189 JPY |
| Monaco | Max |
| Norway | Viaplay 159 kr NOK |
| Sweden | Viaplay 169 kr SEK |
| Switzerland | Canal+ |
Subscription, free and ad-supported services we track. All countries as data.
What kind of watch this is
The Big Lebowski runs 117 minutes and centers on a man who just wants to bowl and drink White Russians. He gets mistaken for a millionaire, which drags him into a mess involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes, and large sums of money. Directed by Joel Coen, it is a comedy and a crime film. It is the kind of movie that makes you want to sit on a couch and ignore the phone.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes sits at 79% as of January 2026, with an average review score of 7.5 out of 10 from October 2021. Metacritic lands on 71 out of 100, a score that signals generally favorable reception. The consensus notes the film’s rambling structure is compensated by Jeff Bridges’ laconic performance. Not everyone bought it. Peter Howell, writing for the Toronto Star, initially questioned the dialogue gaps, though he later called it his favorite Coen Bros. film. Todd McCarthy of Variety highlighted the soundtrack as a major triumph.
How it did with audiences
The budget was $15 million. It took in $46 million at the box office. In the US and Canada, it grossed $19.5 million. Outside those borders, it earned $28.8 million. That totals $48.3 million worldwide. On TMDB, users give it a 7.8 score. The numbers suggest the film found its people. They just took a while to show up.
What came next for the cast
Jeff Bridges went from Tron to Iron Man. John Goodman moved from The Flintstones to Argo. Julianne Moore left The Fugitive for the Hunger Games. Steve Buscemi shifted from Pulp Fiction to Wednesday. The credits list what came next, not why. They simply record the paths these actors took after 1998.
Where it left its mark
The Big Lebowski stopped being a movie and started being a lifestyle. Fans call themselves achievers, a label that stuck after Steve Palopoli documented the crowd at a 2000 midnight screening in Los Angeles. That article sparked a chain reaction. In Santa Cruz, a local theater held the film over for six weeks, a feat that had never happened before. The ripple effect reached Louisville, where Lebowski Fest launched in 2002 with 150 attendees. Today, it spans several cities, featuring unlimited bowling and costume contests. Jeff Bridges has even made an appearance. In London, the British equivalent, Dude Abides, keeps the tradition alive. It is a rare piece of pop culture that demands you bow, roll, and abide.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Big Lebowski.
Sources
- The Big Lebowski on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q337078 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Big Lebowski” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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