The Big Kahuna (2000)
77%RT Audience Score: 71%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Wonderful adaptation of the stage play
The Big Kahuna is a movie that’s worth watching if you’re in the mood for some intense drama and profanely funny moments. The performances are top-notch, especially DeVito’s portrayal of a Willy Loman-like character. However, if you’re looking for something that’s not too stagy and doesn’t require too much effort to enjoy, you might want to skip this one. And let’s be real, Kevin Spacey’s performance is just a tad too effete to make his character as dangerous as he needs to be. But hey, at least Facinelli’s perfect performance gives us straight guys some hope!
Production Company(ies)
Final Cut for Real Sun Creature Studio Vivement Lundi
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Wichita, Kansas, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
2000
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 30m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2000 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2003
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacey, Peter Facinelli, Paul Dawson, George F Miller, Ron Komora, directed by John Swanbeck, written by Roger Rueff, produced by Elie Samaha, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Stevens, Comedy, Drama, R, Lionsgate Films, $3.2M, reviewed by Will Self, Neil Smith, Michael Atkinson, Paul Tatara, Jack Mathews, Lou Lumenick, David Thorpe, Stephen Whitty, Joe Leydon, Jim Lane, Joe Lozito, Philip Martin, industrial lubricant manufacturer, convention, salesmen, The Big Kahuna, potential customer, religious sanctimony, language, Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Worldwide gross: $3,728,888
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $6,467,442
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,098
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 705,283
US/Canada gross: $3,165,544
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,490,369
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,776
US/Canada opening weekend: $80,957
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $140,413
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,810
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $12,140,910
Production budget ranking: 1,588
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $6,537,880
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$12,211,349
ROI to date (est.): -65%
ROI ranking: 1,781
Danny DeVito – Phil Cooper
Peter Facinelli – Bob Walker
Paul Dawson – Bellboy
George F. Miller – Hotel patron
Ron Komora – The Big Kahuna
Director(s)
John Swanbeck
Writer(s)
Roger Rueff, Roger Rueff
Producer(s)
Elie Samaha, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Stevens
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (80) | Top Critics (28) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (21)
It doesn’t matter how much he pirouettes, paces, prowls and postures, there’s something just a tad too effete about Spacey’s performance to make Larry as dangerous a presence as he needs to be.
December 26, 2017
Will Self
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
August 17, 2004 | Rating: 3/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A ponderous stage adaptation that expends only the mildest effort to overcome its staginess.
January 1, 2000
Michael Atkinson
Mr. Showbiz
TOP CRITIC
You probably don’t need to run out to a theater to see The Big Kahuna.
January 1, 2000
Paul Tatara
CNN.com
TOP CRITIC
The performances are first-rate, particularly that of DeVito as The Big Kahuna’s version of Willy Loman.
January 1, 2000
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Definitely worth a look.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/4
Lou Lumenick
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
[Facinelli’s] perfect performance boldly proves that a handsome young man is a symbol of real hope, even to straight guys.
May 27, 2022
David Thorpe
Out Magazine
It’s no surprise, of course, to see co-star Kevin Spacey tear up the screen.
November 5, 2019
Stephen Whitty
Newhouse News Service
Sometimes profanely funny, sometimes intensely dramatic, The Big Kahuna is a richly amusing and provocatively insightful film that builds to a profoundly powerful cumulative impact.
August 6, 2014
Joe Leydon
The Moving Picture Show
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review
July 14, 2007 | Rating: 2/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Giving actors a chance to act seems to be the point…
January 2, 2005 | Rating: B+
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette…
Plot
On the last evening of a convention two seen-it-all industrial lubricant salesmen and a youngster from the research department gather in the hotel’s hospitality suite to host a delegates party. The main aim is to get the business of one particular big fish. When it becomes apparent that it is the lad who has developed a direct line to the guy, his strong religious beliefs bring him into sharp conflict with his older and more cynical colleagues.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Kevin Spacey’s performance as Larry is described as “effete” by one critic, while another praises his ability to “tear up the screen.”
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