Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi inThe Big Lebowski(1998).Photo: Mondadori Portfolio via Getty
Two decades after its release, the Coen brothers’The Big Lebowskiseems to have taken on a life of its own — in other words, “The dude abides.”
The 1998 cult classic boasted a cast of Hollywood A-listers, includingJeff Bridgesas “The Dude,”John Goodman,Julianne Moore,Steve Buscemi, and more. Since its debut, the whip-smart take on detective classics has amassed a legion of die-hard fans across the globe. Its iconic quotes, hilarious wardrobe, laissez-faire attitude and deep bowling appreciation has even been enough to create a new religion.
In 2014,The Big Lebowskiwas inauguratedinto the list of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” films preserved for future generations through the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry. In honor of its 20th anniversary, here are some oddball facts about the movie.
It inspired a new religion
The church, which has itsown bandcalled “The Doodles,” recently released an album of Lebowski-inspired tunesSongs in the Key of Lebowski (Volume I)available to stream on its website.
Polygram/Working Title
It has its own festival
An annual festival that began in 2002, “Lebowski Fest” first arose in Louisville, Kentucky, before quickly expanding to cities like, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, and even London.
In 2009, Eddie Chung’sdocumentaryThe Achievers, a common term used for self-identifying Lebowski fans, detailed the subculture and fervent fandom behind the festival.
It’s been cited in some weird places
In 2006,The Big Lebowskiproved its “achievers” reside in all corners of the world, astwo speciesof African spiders, “Anelosimus biglebowski” and “Anelosimus dude” were both given official classifications, alongsidean extinct conifergenus based on 270-million-year-old plant fossils called “Lebowskia grandifolia.”
Another bizarre placeThe Big Lebowskihas appeared? A Texas Supreme Court. In 2014, Justice Debra Lehrmanncited the filmin her decision of a freedom of speech appeals case, “Kinney v. Barnes,” stating “The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is similarly suspicious of prior restraints.” In Lehrmann’s footnote referencing popular culture, she included none other than Walter Sobchack’s movie quote:
“For your information, the Supreme Court has roundly rejected prior restraint!” he says in the movie, before continuing: “This affects all of us, man! Our basic freedoms!”
It has its own store in New York City
What began as a children’s bookstore in 2007 quickly turned into a galore ofLebowskifan paraphernalia in 2010, when Jeff Bridges’Crazy HeartOscar win called attention to his earlier roles. Soon enough, Roy Preston’s “The Little Lebowski” boutique in Greenwich Village was lauded as the one-stop shop to all thingsLebowski.
It has its own charity fund
The fund’s websiteoffers a variety of products—from tiny character sets to film-related merchandise—all the money of which goes to help “those without the necessary means for the necessary means,” according to its website. Among its beneficiaries, all featured on a page of the site, are a 63-year-old Colombian farmer who received beer to start his own bar, and an Armenian student who was awarded tuition money to complete her degree in Biology.
source: people.com
