Big Wednesday (1978): cast, story & where to watch
1978 · Film · ★ 6.9
Released in 1978, Big Wednesday is a comedy and drama film directed by John Milius, running about 120 minutes. “A day will come that is like no other... and nothing that happens after will ever be the same.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Three 1960s California surfers fool around, drift apart and reunite years later to ride epic waves.
Who’s in it. Big Wednesday stars Jan-Michael Vincent as Matt Johnson, William Katt as Jack Barlow, Gary Busey as Leroy "The Masochist" Smith and Patti D'Arbanville as Sally, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, Big Wednesday has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on TCM and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Big Wednesday page.
If you liked it. Fans of Big Wednesday tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Big Wednesday (1978)?
- In US, Big Wednesday is available to stream on TCM, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Big Wednesday worth watching?
- Big Wednesday holds an audience score of 6.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Big Wednesday?
- Big Wednesday stars Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, Gary Busey, Patti D'Arbanville and Lee Purcell.
- When was Big Wednesday released?
- Big Wednesday was released in 1978, with a runtime of about 120 minutes.