How Well Do You Know "The Big Lebowski"?

By: John Payne
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Well Do You Know "The Big Lebowski"?
Image: Working Title Films/ PolyGram Filmed Entertainment/ Gramercy Pictures/ Universal Pictures

About This Quiz

How well do you know Maude, the Nihlists, Walter Sobchak, Donnie, and, of course, The Dude? Test your knowledge of the 1990s cult hit, and perhaps you too can be a Little Lebowski Urban Achiever!
What Bob Dylan song plays during the film's opening credits?
"Lay Lady Lay"
"Like a Rolling Stone"
"The Man in Me"
"Forever Young"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The song comes from the album New Morning, which was released in 1970, during Dylan's country period.

What is The Dude's favorite drink?
Manhattan
White Russian (a.k.a. Caucasian)
Gin and Tonic
Old Fashioned
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dude drinks nine White Russians over the course of the film.

In what year does The Big Lebowski take place?
1988
1991
1994
1999
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The film takes place during the first Gulf War and a number of allusions are made to the conflict, including Saddam Hussein handing out bowling shoes in The Dude's dream sequence.

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What prolific Western actor narrates the film as The Stranger?
Sam Elliott
Clint Eastwood
Jeff Bridges
Robert Duvall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elliott has starred in Western and historical films such as Gone to Texas, The Quick and the Dead, Gettysburg, and Tombstone.

For what single item does The Dude write a check totaling 69 cents at the supermarket in the opening sequence?
Quart of Milk
An Orange
Beef Jerky
Candy Bar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The check is also dated September 11, 1991, which has led internet conspiracy theorists to claim that the film predicted 9/11.

What religion does Walter practice?
Catholocism
Southern Baptist
Islam
Judaism
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dude points out that before his marriage, Walter was Polish Catholic and is now living in the past, but Walter refuses to abandon "5,000 years of beautiful tradition -- from Moses to Sandy Koufax -- you're Goddamn right I'm living in the past!"

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Who is the "known pornographer" to whom Bunny Lebowski owes money?
Jack Horner
Ron Jeremy
Jackie Treehorn
Buck Swope
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When The Dude encounters Treehorn, he ends up being drugged and arrested by the Malibu police chief, who instructs him to "Stay out of Malibu, deadbeat!"

In what war did Jeffrey Lebowski (a.k.a. The Big Lebowski) lose the use of his legs?
World War I
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As Lebowski says, "some Chinamen" took the use of his legs from him. Walter would hasten to point out that "Chinamen" is not the preferred nomenclature.

What item does The Dude want The Big Lebowski to replace?
His rug
His car
His bowling ball
His door
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That rug really tied the room together.

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Which of the following is *not* one of the alternative names The Dude suggests to The Big Lebowski?
His Dudeness
Mounsieur Dude
Duder
El Duderino
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"I'm The Dude, so that's what you call me, ya know? That or His Dudeness or, uh, Duder or, uh, El Duderino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing..."

What acclaimed actor portrays The Big Lebowski's assistant Brandt?
John Goodman
Ben Gazarra
William H. Macy
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hoffman appeared in 55 films, was nominated for four Oscars, and won one for his portrayal of Truman Capote before his tragic death from a drug overdose in 2014.

What does Walter put in the "ringer" briefcase instead of the ransom payment?
Telephone books
Shredded paper
His dirty undies
Packing peanuts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The hand off goes terribly awry when Walter, armed with an Uzi, jumps out of the car after the ringer briefcase, but the kidnappers do get his dirty undies.

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What actor frequently used in Coen Brothers films portrays bowling rival Jesus?
John Turturro
Stephen Root
George Clooney
Steve Buscemi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Turturro is rumored to be reviving the over-the-top character in his upcoming film Going Places. Guard your eight-year-olds.

What actress plays Maude Lebowski?
Tara Reid
Julianne Moore
Tilda Swinton
Frances McDormand
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Coen Brothers based the character of Maude upon real-life artist Carolee Schneemann.

The Big Lebowski is largely inspired by the works of what well-known crime writer?
Elmore Leonard
Dashiell Hammett
Raymond Chandler
Agatha Christie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chandler is famous for books such as The Big Sleep and his detective character Phillip Marlowe. The Big Lebowski is largely a send up of Chandler's convoluted (but captivating) plots.

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After The Dude's car is stolen, he reports that a tape of what band was in the car at the time?
The Beatles
The Eagles
The Rolling Stones
Credence Clearwater Revival
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The cops told him not to hold out much hope for the tape.

After recovering his car, The Dude finds a document with whose name on it?
Maude Lebowski
Larry Sellers
Bunny Lebowski
Jackie Treehorn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The document purports to be Larry's homework, so The Dude and Walter confront him with it. Sadly, Larry never cracks.

Which member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers is among the gang of nihilists?
Anthony Kiedis
John Frusciante
Dave Navarro
Flea
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Flea has acted in a number of movies and TV shows, but was particularly prolific in 1998. In addition to The Big Lebowski, he also appeared in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Gus Van Sant's remake of Psycho.

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What is the name of the porn film starring nihilist Uli Kunkel that Maude shows to The Dude?
Assablanca
Logjammin'
Cumalot
Tits a Wonderful Life
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Maude tells The Dude, "You can imagine where it goes from here," The Dude responds, "He fixes the cable?"

The film was written and directed by what sibling filmmaker duo?
Andy and Larry Wachowski
Harry and Albert Warner
Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Joel and Ethan Coen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When they made The Big Lebowski, the Coen Brothers had just come off universal acclaim and several Oscar nominations and wins for their 1996 film Fargo.

What is Uli Kunkel's porn star name?
Karl Hungus
Ron Jeremy
Dirk Digler
Kurt Longjohn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to his porn acting, Uli and his fellow nihilists were in a band, Authobahn, which Maude disdainfully described as "a sort of technopop."

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What is the title of The Dude's dream sequence?
Strikin' Out
Picking up the Spare
Hittin' the Split
Gutterballs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The dream occurs after The Dude is drugged by Jackie Treehorn and features beautiful women and bowling. Naturally.

"Gutterballs" is set to the 1968 song "Just Dropped in (to See What Condition My Condition Was in)," which is sung by what future country music legend?
Johnny Cash
Kenny Rogers
Waylon Jennings
George Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the late 1960's, Rogers fronted the psychedelic rock band The First Edition -- before he went on to greater fame with country songs such as "The Gambler" and "Islands in the Stream."

What body part do the Nihilists send to The Big Lebowski?
Finger
Nose
Toe
Nipple
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The toe purportedly comes from Bunny, but in fact it belonged to the girlfriend of one of the Nihilists.

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For what metal band does The Dude say he worked as a roadie?
Judas Priest
Metallica
Megadeth
Black Sabbath
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Maude asks The Dude to tell her about himself, he goes through his work history (such as it is) and describes his former employers as a "bunch of assholes."

What 1962 political manifesto of Students for a Democratic Society does The Dude claim he wrote?
The Humanist Manifesto
Sharon Statement
The Libertarian Manifesto
Port Huron Statement
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Port Huron Statement was signed in 1962 and was actually primarily drafted by Tom Hayden, who was a University of Michigan student at the time.

While riding in a cab, The Dude asks the cabby to change the radio from what band?
Seals and Croft
The Eagles
Chicago
Fleetwood Mac
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dude explains that he "hate[s] the fucking Eagles," right before the cabby kicks him out of the cab.

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Who hired Da Fino, the private investigator who follows The Dude?
The Big Lebowski
The Nihilists
The Knutsons
Maude Lebowski
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After The Dude confronts him, Da Fino explains that the Knutsons are Bunny's family, who have been looking for her ever since she ran away from home.

Who kidnapped Bunny?
The Big Lebowksi
Bunny
The Nihilists
Jackie Treehorn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bunny "kidnapped" herself and took a trip to Vegas, allowing the Nihilists to demand a ransom from The Big Lebowski.

Who has the money?
The Big Lebowski
Bunny
The Nihilists
Jackie Treehorn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Bunny kidnaps herself, The Big Lebowski uses the opportunity to take money from his foundation and keep it for himself.

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What actor, who also worked with the Coen Brothers in Fargo, plays Uli Kunkel?
Steve Buscemi
William H. Macy
Peter Stormare
Harve Presnell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stormare is a Swedish actor and played kidnapper and wood chipper enthusiast Gaear Grimsrud in Fargo.

What Rolling Stones' song covered by Townes Van Zandt plays in the final scene of the film?
"Country Honk"
"Dead Flowers"
"You Can't Always Get What You Want"
"Let It Bleed"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The song originally appeared on the Rolling Stones' 1971 album Sticky Fingers, and Townes Van Zandt covered it on his live album Roadsongs in 1994.

You Got:
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Working Title Films/ PolyGram Filmed Entertainment/ Gramercy Pictures/ Universal Pictures