The Big Lebowski is one of the most beloved cult hit movies of all time, starring Jeff Bridges as the legendary character ‘The Dude’. Alongside a great cast, The Big Lebowski sees the iconic slacker caught up in a bizarre plot when he is mistaken for a millionaire also called Lebowski. Directed by the fantastic Coen brothers, the film has a distinctive feel to it that has left viewers clamoring for similar experiences that capture the humor, quirkiness and absurdity of The Big Lebowski. Here we will identify movies like The Big Lebowski and where to stream them.
1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Based on the infamous novel by gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas contains some of the same dream-like weirdness that The Big Lebowski employs. It stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro as Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo as they embark on a drug fuelled romp through the city of sin. It also has a cult classic status, making it high up on our list of movies like The Big Lebowski. Interestingly, it was a commercial failure on release but has found a fanatic audience since.
You can stream Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on Prime Video.
2. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
There is no better way to experience the same feel of The Big Lebowski than watching the other work of the Coen brothers. As a loose retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, this movie follows three convicts after they escape from prison in search of a hidden treasure. Pursued by law enforcement, the quirky misfit main characters Ulysses, Delmar and Pete are reminiscent of the cast of The Big Lebowski. Not to mention that John Turturro plays Pete. Whimsical, musical and wildly enjoyable, you cannot go wrong with O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is available to stream via Netflix.
3. Fargo
Sticking with the Coen brothers for a second, we have one of their most acclaimed films, Fargo. Set in a sleepy Minnesota town, some bumbling criminals are pursued by a pregnant police officer called Marge Gunderson. She is played by the excellent Frances McDormand, who actually won an oscar for her performance here. With a quirky cast of characters, stylized set design and a crime-based plot, Fargo stands out among other movies like The Big Lebowski.
Fargo is available to stream via Prime Video.
4. The Nice Guys
This next entry is a criminally underrated buddy comedy starring the unlikely pairing of Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. After a private investigator attempts to solve the case of a missing woman, he reluctantly teams up with a hired gunman to solve a mystery that takes them to some weird and wild situations. Even though The Big Lebowski is not a buddy comedy, this movie captures the flow of the comedic characters encounterings strange people, locations and scenarios.
The Nice Guys is available to stream on Netflix.
5. The Royal Tenenbaums
Who better to capture the quirkiness of The Big Lebowski than the renowned director Wes Anderson? Aside from the wide cast of bizarre characters, there is also a meandering plot that surrounds this dysfunctional family. This family features some eccentric geniuses, who are all suddenly assembled under one roof after decades of turmoil. It features many of Anderson’s signature directing details such as colorful sets, thoughtfully composed shots and a memorable soundtrack.
The Royal Tenenbaums is available alongside some other Wes Anderson flicks on Disney+.
6. In Bruges
As a darker version of movies like The Big Lebowski, we have the excellent dark comedy, In Bruges. Two hit men (Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson) head to the picturesque city of Bruges to lay low after a job goes wrong. After a surreal series of events and some self-reflection for the characters, things come to a dramatic head when their past swiftly catches up with them. In Bruges is funny, exciting, shocking and deeply memorable, drawing some comparison to The Big Lebowski in its whimsical handling of criminal events.
In Bruges is available to stream on Netflix.
7. Being John Malkovich
A movie that matches the feel of The Big Lebowski is Being John Malkovich, which accomplishes the bizarre right from its very premise. After an unemployed puppeteer accepts a job as temporary filing clerk, he stumbles upon a mysterious portal that upon entering, allows him to take control of the actor John Malkovich. He eventually tells his female coworker, who tries the portal for herself and quickly becomes hooked. Featuring a strange plot, a whacky script and a cult status, this dark comedy is a triumph from director Spike Jonze.
Being John Malkovich is available on Apple TV.
8. Office Space
Speaking of cult hits, Office Space is one of the funnier ones out there that captures the irreverent tone of The Big Lebowski. After a software engineer becomes sick of his boring office job and learns that they are about to be downsized, he hatches a revenge plot to infect his company’s IT system with a destructive computer virus.
Office Space is available to stream on Disney+.
Wondering how we found these movies like The Big Lebowski?
The key to all cult classics nowadays is streaming. These eight comparable films are available on a wide variety of platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, AppleTV, and Disney+. We hope that if you have at least one of these subscriptions, you can try out a new movie this weekend.
When it comes to movies like The Big Lebowski, it is difficult to capture the exact feel and style of the film. But, with these couple of options, you’ll soon see a similar tone, humor and storytelling of the Coen brothers’ comedy classic.