Big Wednesday
1978 · Movie · PG · 120 min · ★ 6.9 · 61% critics
Three close friends grow up in the 1960s Southern California surf scene, chasing waves, parties, and a carefree sense of belonging. As time passes and real-world pressures like the draft and adulthood set in, they drift apart and later reunite, testing what their friendship still means when the ocean calls again.
Where to watch
Not currently available to stream in the US.
2 hours to watch.
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1978
- Release date
- 1978-05-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Critic score
- 61/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (193 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a warm, nostalgic coming-of-age story with lots of surfing, friendship, and a laid-back beach-community vibe; Not for you if you dislike slow, episodic storytelling or sentimental drama like The Sandlot.
Pros: exhilarating surf sequences; strong nostalgia; heartfelt friendship | Cons: slow pacing; episodic, disjointed story; melodramatic, clichéd moments
Themes
- friendship
- surfing
- california
- vietnam
- sports
- coming of age
- flash forward
- 1960s
Cast & crew
Jan-Michael Vincent
as Matt Johnson
William Katt
as Jack Barlow
Gary Busey
as Leroy "The Masochist" Smith
Patti D'Arbanville
as Sally
Lee Purcell
as Peggy Gordon
Sam Melville
as "Bear"
Reb Brown
as "Enforcer"
Robert Englund
as "Fly"
Joe Spinell
as Psychologist
Hank Worden
as Shopping Cart
Directed by John Milius