20 Things You Somehow Missed In The Big Lebowski

From minor details to goofs to cameos, here are all the things you don't notice in The Big Lebowski.

By Matthew Austin /

The Big Lebowski, written and directed by the Coen brothers, is one of the most memorable comedies of the 1990s as well as a highlight of Joel and Ethan's filmmaking career.

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Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and the inimitable Steve Buscemi, The Big Lebowski tells the story of a hapless stoner, Jeffery 'the Dude' Lebowski, (Bridges) and his two bowling buddies Walter (Goodman) and Donny (Buscemi) as they find themselves tangled up in a kidnapping plot intended for a completely different Jeffery Lebowski — this one nicknamed 'the Big.' It's a story of trickery, deceit, and sometimes even idiocy, but it's never not hilarious.

Endlessly rewatchable and chock-full of quotable dialogue that remains on the forefront of the minds of movie lovers all over the world, it's no wonder why The Big Lebowski has easily earned itself the status of contemporary classic in the decades years since its 1998 release.

Yet, even if you've seen the film countless times, there are still plenty of little details, minor goofs, and unexpected cameos that probably slipped right past you (even on your millionth rewatch).

20. The Dude Doesn't Bowl

Despite being a movie immersed in bowling culture, in reality, the Dude is never actually seen bowling. We see Walter and Donny bowl plenty of times — almost always strikes, as a matter of fact (but we'll get to that later) — but Lebowski never, ever tosses the ball down the lane himself.

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For a while, it also seems like Walter doesn't actually bowl, either. However, there is just one instance where he takes a turn. The closest the Dude comes to tossing the ball down the lane is when he's helping Maude bowl in one of the film's fantastical dream sequences.

With all this in mind, it seems there's a direct correlation between the luck of the characters and the amount of times they bowl.

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