Jeff Bridges is looking back at The Big Lebowski 25 years after it was first released in U.S. movie theaters.
Working Title Films
This might be hard to believe for many fans of the film, but it’s now been 25 years since The Big Lebowski was released in U.S. movie theaters. From the Coen brothers, the iconic comedy was released on March 6, 1998. The film was a box office success, and while critical reviews at the time were mixed, The Big Lebowski has garnered a cult following over the past two and a half decades. It has since been added to the U.S. National Film Registry and there are annual gatherings of fans that celebrate “Dudeism” every year at what’s called Lebowski Fest.
Written by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, The Big Lebowski features an all-star cast including Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Tara Reid, David Huddleston, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It follows Bridges as Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, an everyman who’s mistaken by criminals for a millionaire with the same name. He’s hired by the other Jeff Lebowski (Huddleston) to deliver ransom money to save his wife (Reid), and the plan gets more complicated when The Dude’s pal Walter Sobchak (Goodman) schemes to keep the ransom money.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of the movie, Bridges shared some of his memories of The Big Lebowski in a chat with THR. While the film would get its credit in due time, Lebowski admits he was surprised that it wasn’t quite as well-received when it was first released in 1995. As the actor explains:
“I thought it was going to be a big hit. I was surprised when it didn’t get much recognition. People didn’t get it, or something.”
Bridges also recalls how he was intrigued by the script, though he also admits he was hesitant to take on the role of a pothead, as he was concerned about the example he wanted to set as a parent.
“My first impression was it was a great script and I had never done anything like it. I thought the brothers must have spied on me when I was in high school… My daughters were preteen, and I was concerned I would set a bad example. Being a child of a celebrity, I know what that’s like for a kid.”
Related: Jeff Bridges to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeff Bridges Is So Happy to Be in The Big Lebowski
Gramercy Pictures
Of course, Bridges would take on the role, helping to make The Big Lebowski to become the iconic film that it is. He couldn’t be happier with that decision, as when he looks back at the film now, Bridges feels nothing but love for his Dude character, noting how Jeff Lebowski even became an inspiration for the veteran actor himself.
“I’m so happy to be in that movie. I pretty much dug it all, man. There’s an aspect of the Dude I aspired to — he’s authentic, isn’t he? He’s who he is, and that’s about it. He’s a lovely cat.”
If you want to revisit The Big Lebowski, you can currently find the movie streaming on Peacock.
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