The Big Lebowski
Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.
Directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen · Comedy · Crime · 117 min · 1998
Trailer
Director
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writer
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Studio
Working Title Films
Release
06 Mar 1998
Runtime
117 min
Genres
Comedy, Crime
Full Plot
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.
Cast & Characters
Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski
Jeff Bridges
Walter Sobchak
John Goodman
Maude Lebowski
Julianne Moore
Donny Kerabatsos
Steve Buscemi
Jeffrey "The Big" Lebowski
David Huddleston
Brandt
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Bunny Lebowski
Tara Reid
Jesus Quintana
John Turturro
The Stranger
Sam Elliott
Knox Harrington
David Thewlis
Jackie Treehorn
Ben Gazzara
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $15.0M, The Big Lebowski has grossed $47.0M worldwide — about 3.1x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
The Big Lebowski premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 1998, at the 1,300-capacity Eccles Theater.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
The Dude is mostly inspired by Jeff Dowd, an American film producer and political activist the Coen brothers met while they were trying to find distribution for their first feature, Blood Simple.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
The Big Lebowski holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (911,908 votes), 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 5, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (911,908 votes), 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Big Lebowski's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
The Big Lebowski holds a 79% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is The Big Lebowski's IMDb rating?+
The Big Lebowski has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 911,908 votes.
What is The Big Lebowski's Metacritic score?+
The Big Lebowski has a Metascore of 71/100 on Metacritic.
Is The Big Lebowski good? What are critics saying?+
The Big Lebowski holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (911,908 votes), 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71/100 on Metacritic.
How long is The Big Lebowski?+
The Big Lebowski has a runtime of 117 min.
Who directed The Big Lebowski?+
The Big Lebowski was directed by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen.
Where can I watch The Big Lebowski?+
The Big Lebowski is available to stream, rent, or buy on Netflix, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, JioHotstar.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Reviewers praise the film's cleverness, engaging storyline, and talented cast, particularly Jeff Bridges as "The Dude". Many also appreciate its unique blend of humor, quirky characters, and non-linear narrative. The film has garnered widespread acclaim for being an "unassailable masterpiece" that transcends criticism and gets better with each viewing.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Fun, clever and engaging. Joel & Eitan Cohen's most iconic creation
Film.Viewer.999 · 10/10<em>'The Big Lebowski'</em> is entertaining. Jeff Bridges and John Goodman are a fun duo, I even would've enjoyed this 1998 flick more if it was just those two for the whole near 2 hours. Everyone else on the cast is good too, amusing seeing Peter Stormare in a role like this - a…
r96sk · 8/10The “Dude” (Jeff Bridges) just wants to go through life drinking and bowling so is a bit narked when two thugs break into his apartment demanding cash! They’ve got the wrong “Lebowski” but only discover that after they’ve micturated on his rug! Determined to get some recompense,…
CinemaSerf · 7/10**Score: 20/10 A Perfect, Unassailable, and Utterly Timeless Masterpiece** Some films are good. Some films are great. And then there is *The Big Lebowski* a film that transcends criticism, defies genre, and somehow gets better with every single viewing. It is, quite simply, one o…
misubisu · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
if anyone disses this movie, just respond in the essence of the dude: 'well that's just like, ya know, your opinion, man'
@fatguysarewhales · 1463 likesPity the poor soul who had to condense this labyrinthine mindfuck of a film into a two-minute trailer.
@JoyGrenade · 1339 likesThat rug really tied the room together though.
@Juliannahjune · 1006 likesthat's the magic. everyone hates it the first time, if they're expecting the typical plot driven film, but once you accept the fact that is' just about a rug, and enjoy the characters, you will fall in love w them more each time you watch it!
@ViagensGringa · 239 likes"Dude, Where's My Car" : The Prequel
@JohnSmith-my8yp · 388 likesThis movie ties my life together like a red rug does to a room.
@Joelomite · 269 likesDefinitely one of the best movies ever made. A sequel to this film would do it an injustice. It was meant to be a classic and remain a classic for generations to come.
@AxelKrunska · 921 likescareful man, there's a beverage here XD
@lamaga60 · 177 likes
