Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 236 Ratings

  • Starring: Jeff Bridges, John Goodman
  • Summary: A scattered farce about a pothead bowler who is mistaken for a deadbeat philanthropist.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 22
  2. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. It put a smile on my face that never left for 117 minutes.
  2. 80
    Brilliantly scripted and full of a virtual Who's Who of familiar faces, The Big Lebowski is yet another golden hunk of totally unique celluloid from the versatile Brothers Cohen.
  3. Reviewed by: David Denby
    60
    An off-kilter thriller with a sad-sack hero.
  4. Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    30
    If it's all supposed to be in fun, why does it feel so much like an insult?

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 82
  2. Negative: 3 out of 82
  1. My favorite comedy film of all time (Hot Fuzz is A VERY CLOSE 2nd), it is just genius and very subtle. The story is highly underrated, Walter Sobchak really makes this movie better, and The Dude being the main character is a genius choice (especially considering The Dude would seem like he would be a comic relief character in 95% of other movies if he were to be a character). This is a movie you should just see at least once just to get why this movie is a big deal. I am not one of the biggest fans of it (there's a religion based around this movie), but you should still see it because of how it shows a representation of the period (the 1990's) and I could go on more, but just see this important film. Expand
  2. I had never seen this movie until yesterday, and totally enjoyed it. Pure, intelligent, exciting entertainment. It's very well written, with a tight plot that will keep you engaged from the get go. Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore and all others in the cast create such wondreful characters. Especially "The Dude" You just love The Dude, man. John Goodman's character his hilarious, and he's calmer than you are. I see why this film is such the cult classic that it is. Be sure and check it out if you havent. Expand
  3. While not as funny as some comedies, The Big Lebowski relies on clever and intellectual humor that pushes it light-years beyond most. Add an ensemble cast, the greatest directing duo in Hollywood, and an interesting twist ending, this film remains a cult classic for good reason. Expand
  4. Some funny quotable lines smothered by to many too-long dream sequences, inane dialogue choking out clever bits, and overblown, monotonous banter. A rather bland combination. The only highpoint is the artfully crafted scenes and photography. In a nutshell:
    Dumb people think its boring
    Clever people think its smart
    Intelligent people find it trite
    Expand

See all 82 User Reviews

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