This 4/20, celebrate 25 years of Philly’s love affair with The Dude

The Big Lebowski is set entirely in the Los Angeles area, written and directed by a pair of filmmakers, Joel and Ethan Coen, from Minnesota. But ever since its release in 1998, the story of hippie-turned-layabout Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) and his foray into a complex L.A. mystery, has resonated deeply here in Philadelphia.

As the film returns to area theaters this week for a 25th anniversary showing, here are some of the ways Philly has made Lebowski its own.

It’s hard to go bowling without seeing references to the film. Multiple Philly bowling alleys, including North Bowl in Northern Liberties and South Bowl in South Philly, pride themselves on Lebowski-inspired artwork on their walls, and even have some merchandise for sale.

“I think we enjoy our downtime here, and I think there’s an element to that with Lebowski,” Oron Daskal, owner of North Bowl and South Bowl, told The Inquirer. And while he loves the film and has enjoyed the Lebowski-related events held at his venues — including touring LebowskiFests, which included people turning up in Dude-inspired costumes — he acknowledged that he’s heard the movie quoted less often by bowlers as the years have passed.

A Lebowski-themed cancer charity called The Dude Hates Cancer was founded in Philadelphia in 2006, after then-Philly resident Tim Maxwell’s father was diagnosed with cancer. The first fundraiser bowling event was held at Hi-Spot Lanes in Manayunk, before it moved to North Bowl.

According to Helen Chung, a member of the organizing committee, The Dude Hates Cancer has raised $842,000 to date for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Jeff Bridges has donated items and prizes, and the event has spread to other cities.

Lebowski fandom is often associated with drinking, and not just white Russians. Dude-inspired Quizzo nights are fairly common at Philly’s bars, restaurants, and bowling alleys.

While Philly lacks a Lebowski-themed bar, there have been plenty of Lebowski-inspired beverages. The Evil Genius Beer Company, at Philly Beer Week in 2019, unveiled a Dude-themed beer called the Doog Abides. It was, apropos, a white Russian amber ale.

“I hate the Eagles,” the Dude says in the film while dropping an f-bomb. He’s obviously talking about the band..

Jason Kelce has described The Big Lebowski as one of his favorite movies. After he became a new father in 2019, Kelce showed up to practice in a shirt with the Dude’s picture and the phrase “The Dad Abides.” And in 2022, Kelce sported a Dude-inspired sweater when he sang the national anthem at a Sixers game.

In a 2014 exhibit on Jews and baseball, one wall at the Weitzman Museum of Jewish History read, “Three thousand years of beautiful tradition: from Moses to Sandy Koufax. The Big Lebowski.” This paean to Judaism is recited in the film by Walter Sobchak (John Goodman), an angry Vietnam veteran who takes exceptional pride in his Jewish identity. The museum appears to have opted for that over Walter’s “I don’t roll on Shabbos,” as well as his paraphrase of Theodor Herzl: “If you will it, Dude, it is no dream.”

Three members of the movie’s cast — Coens’ mainstay Jon Polito, comedian Dom Irrera, and longtime theater actor Jack Kehler — are Philadelphia natives. Polito and Kehler have since passed away, but Irrera is still around and has been known as a frequent caller to local sports talk radio.

The Big Lebowski was released in March 1998, but for perhaps obvious reasons, 4/20 has been chosen as the date for this year’s commemoration. On Thursday, The Big Lebowski will have showings at several area theaters, including Regal King of Prussia Stadium 16, AMC Plymouth Meeting 12, and Cinemark 16 and XD in Somerdale. Theaters and showtimes are here.

Then, on May 15, the Bryn Mawr Film Institute will have a free online discussion of the film, hosted by screenwriter Tom Phelan and the institute’s director of programs and education, Jacob Mazer.

The discussion does not include a screening of the film itself, but you can stream The Big Lebowski on Prime Video or rent the film on most major VOD platforms.