IMDb RATING
7.1/10
7.4K
YOUR RATING
The lives of some California surfers from the early 1960s to the 1970s.The lives of some California surfers from the early 1960s to the 1970s.The lives of some California surfers from the early 1960s to the 1970s.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Hank Worden
- Shopping Cart
- (as Hank Warden)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGeorge Lucas and Steven Spielberg thought this film would be the American Graffiti (1973) of surfing films - that it was destined to be such a hit that they famously traded profit points on their next two films, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with director John Milius. This trade would earn Milius millions of dollars while his own film would flop at the box office.
- GoofsJack's induction notice says he is to serve in the United States Marine Corps. When he comes home from Vietnam he is an Army Airborne Ranger.
- Quotes
Matt Johnson: You know, Mrs. Barlow, there's something I'd like straighten out.
Mrs. Barlow: What's that, Matt?
Matt Johnson: Well, I did a lot of things around here I'm kind of ashamed of. I tore up your lawn with my '40 Ford...
Mrs. Barlow: Many times.
Matt Johnson: Took my pants off in front of your friends...
Mrs. Barlow: Oh, yes.
Matt Johnson: And I even passed out in your closet, but I never, and I don't know who could have if I didn't, but I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
- Alternate versionsABC edited 31 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Basil Poledouris: His Life and Music (1997)
- SoundtracksThree Friends Theme
Music by Basil Poledouris
Lyrics & Vocals by Keola Beamer (as Keola) & Kapono Beamer
Featured review
Classic beyond classic.
Down the street from my house is a restaurant/bar called RT's Longboard grill, which was opened by family as a tribute to a brother lost at sea. Adorning the bamboo laden walls, amongst yesteryear photos, boards, posters, and memorabilia, are TV screens which endlessly show classic surfing movies. The feeling one gets in this environment is similar to what one gets watching Big Wednesday. This isn't a surf movie in the sense of the word. You see, the trendy, infantile children that drunkenly roam the streets of Pacific Beach (where I live in San Diego)for the most part don't have souls, sadly, living in the very town in which many surf legends have been born. Hard pressed to find are the light hearted conversations over a good burger, malt, and a good set of waves. Big Wednesday contains such an epic story. OK... I seem bitter. It's because I am. I know the word "dude" and a nose covered in sunscreen is an easy stereotype... but the spiritual life altering experience behind surfing is most often misunderstood. What is your passion? Do you have one? It may be your children. It may be horses. It may be hockey. But no matter what goes wrong in your life, or who dies or what happens, at the core is your passion (translated : spirituality)... something pure. At the heart of this movie is this purity... and after the draft, relationships, addictions, and just plain adolescent insanity, the characters find that their friendship is still alive because of a common love. Don't try and make too much sense of this review. This isn't a restaurant review. I can't explain the feeling nor would I expect the 95% of America that doesn't live near a surf-able wave to get it...just watch the movie.
helpful•528
- Defenseman13
- Sep 28, 2004
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $11,000,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39:1
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