The Big Kahuna

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The Big Kahuna

R

2000

1h 30m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

73%

Tomatometer

77 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

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Critics Consensus

Wonderful adaptation of the stage play.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

Dec 26, 2017

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.

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Ernest Hardy

Film.com

Jan 1, 2000

It's smart, funny and insightful and it's quite easy to see what attracted the stars to it.

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Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

Jan 1, 2000

Despite my reservations about Spacey's performance, the film is generally very well acted.

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David Thorpe

Out Magazine

May 27, 2022

[Facinelli's] perfect performance boldly proves that a handsome young man is a symbol of real hope, even to straight guys.

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Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

Aug 6, 2014

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.

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Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

3/5

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Matthew F

@RT18250991 Sep 18, 2026

I am drawn toward any piece that provides interesting insight into what makes people tick in a way that is creative and rings true. The writing of Ernest Hemingway, for example. Well, as far as film goes, I have never seen another that does this better than "The Big Kahuna." "Are you saying that I have no character because I've never done anything to regret?!?" "No, Bob. You've done plenty of things to regret. You just don't know what they are yet. And THAT is why you have no character." WOW!! If there has ever been a more spot-on exchange between two characters in a film, I've yet to see it! Watch "The Big Kahuna!!"

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Bulgantamir B

@RT36664197 Aug 10, 2024

The director is a good person with experience

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Бавуу Э

@RT26109709 Aug 10, 2024

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

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Sep 14, 2021

Great movie with an amazing performance from Kevin spacey - I miss him . Movie had strong glengary glenross vibes 4.5/5

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Mar 4, 2020

A great film with a noticeably above average performance from Kevin Spacey. Hopefully he’ll get back to his acting days soon because no matter what you think of him personally, he will always be one of the best actors of this century

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Apr 3, 2018

Slow paced and thoughtful, it has the marks of a stage play turned into a movie, which it is. The three main characters are drawn well and everyone else is landscape. A decent movie.

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John Swanbeck

Director

Kevin Spacey

Larry Mann

Danny DeVito

Phil Cooper

Peter Facinelli

Bob Walker

Paul Dawson

Bellboy

George F. Miller

Hotel patron

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Synopsis

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

Director: John Swanbeck
Producer: Elie Samaha, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Stevens
Screenwriter: Roger Rueff, Roger Rueff
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Franchise Pictures, Trigger Street Productions
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.2M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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